Standard Request is 100% handmade, and was inspired by both grafitti and comic book lettering. When viewed at large sizes, the handmade look and feel really stands out - at the same time, Standard Request, is super legible even at really small sizes. I've added 5 slightly different versions of each letter, and they automatically cycle as you type!
The “Moorish arch” treatment of certain letters on a 2001 book on Dutch design, executed by René Knip, provided the inspiration for this exotic unicase typeface. The font also includes arabesque designs in the brace, florin and section mark positions. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin and 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan) character sets.
A typeface named Times Gothic, which made its first appearance in the 1905 ATF specimen book, inspired this headline sans. Use it to add a bit of quirky visual interest to headlines and subheads. Both versions include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets, with localization for Lithuanian, Moldovan and Romanian.
This cuddly face is based very loosely on Dave Farey's Beesknees. This version is a little more regimented but no less fun, and is notable for the addition of a lower case, not found in Farey's design. This font contains the complete Latin language character set (Unicode 1252) plus support for Central European (Unicode 1250) languages as well.
Goddard is based on some very unsual lettering by Art Nouveau period calligrapher Samuel Welo. It offers a full normal character set, plus mutliple alternate versions of every lower case character and selected upper case characters as well, plus very fancy over-and-under kerning to produce a really unique look, like nothing we've ever done before.
An uncredited typeface discovered within the pages of Alphabete: Ein Schriftatlas von A bis Z named "Fat Cat" provided the pattern for this exercise in minimalist type design. Best used sparingly for inescapable, if somewhat cryptic, headlines. Both versions of this font include the complete Latin 1252 and CE 1250 character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.
An old printer's advertising cut for Red Star Oil Stoves yielded a typeface that was both vintage and somewhat techno at the same time. Originally drawn as a slanted logo, the individual letters had an array of chamfered, angled and flat sides combined with a bold outline. This font is available in both vertical and oblique versions.
This stunning display face is based on Hans Bohn’s 1929 opus for Gebr. Klingspor, originally named Orplid. One of the treasures discovered in the legendary green vinyl binder that launched Nick’s love of type, it’s a real crowd pleaser. Both versions of this font include the complete Latin 1252, Central European 1250 and Turkish 1254 character sets.
The hand lettered title on the 1911 sheet music for “That Railroad Rag” was designed in a block style letter with spurred serifs. This simple typographic layout evokes the imagery of early rail transportation although the song itself is was a ‘modern’ composition of then-popular ragtime music. Railway Station JNL is available in both regular and oblique versions.
An isometric grid of a font, Gridlock takes an italicised modular approach to its letterforms. It is, however, not willfully strict about the application of that grid - the W and V and S, for example, have carefully considered diagonals that freely intersect the layout. More strictly designed but possibly less attractive versions are available as alternate characters.
Sweepy is based on his popular Pooper Black but it is lighter and has connecting letters. Sweepy is a brush script that is casual and fluid. In the expanded OpenType version Sweepy is loaded with over 50 alternate characters and ligatures that offer more flexible lettering options. (Sweepy Basic includes 230 glyphs, Sweepy Pro includes 462 glyphs.)
A font with a strong architectural feel, inspired by those great commercial emporiums of a bygone era. To cap the crossbars, use [brackets] to enclose uppercase letters, {braces} to enclose lowercase letters, and the upright bar | between upper- and lowercase letters. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).
Here’s a typeface with a stance as big as Texas. It’s based on Vincent Pacella’s 1960s oeuvre for Photo-Lettering, Inc. called Pacella Vega Extended 10, and named for a county in Central Texas, home of Possum Kingdom Lake. Both versions of this font include the complete Unicode Latin 1252 and Central European 1250 character sets.
Isfahan is based on the middle-eastern style decorative initials Willy Pogany drew for his edition of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayaam. This font has both full-size capitals and reduced size small-caps versions of each letter, but although it could be used as a titling font, it is really intended more for decorative character placement.
This elegant semicursive face is based on the works of J. M. Bergling from his 1914 classic Art Alphabets and Lettering. Suitable for announcements, awards and invitations, or for distinctive and unusual drop caps. Both versions of this font contain the Unicode 1252 (Latin) and Unicode 1250 (Central European) character sets, with localization for Romanian and Moldovan.
Fine and Dandy JNL comes from the hand lettered title of the 1929 movie "Isle of Escape"; found on the sheet music for its theme song "My Kalua Rose". An engraved and fancy Roman, the style combines elements of Western, Art Nouveau and Art Deco into one attractive type design; available in both regular and oblique versions.
Hermann Zapf and Akira Kobayashi redeveloped Palatino for the 21st Century, creating Palatino nova. The Palatino nova family also includes revised versions of Aldus (now called Aldus nova). A bold weight is added into the font family. The character set support is similar to Palatino nova, but Greek and Cyrillic are not available in book weight fonts.
A 1928 menu for the restaurant “Rotisserie Du Cardinal” had the word “Cardinal” hand lettered in quite an unusual Art Nouveau type design consisting of thick and thin lines using angles to form the letter shapes. This eccentric (yet charming) style of lettering is now available as Rotisserie Menu JNL in both regular and oblique versions.
Praise is a versatile script with variations from Casual (non-connecting) to Formal appeal. If you're a professional graphic designer, and use Adobe Illustrator®, or InDesign®, the PRO version is the way to go. With nearly 1600 Glyphs, the Praise OpenType programming gives a powerful solution to the design needs of the graphic design professional.
Another in the Whiz-Bang Woodtype series, based on authentic xylographic designs from the late nineteenth century. Named after (surprise!) a small town in Texas. The net effect is a typeface which can add style and warmth to any project. Both versions of this font include the complete Unicode 1252 Latin and Unicode 1250 Central European character sets.
This elegant unicase uncial face is based on a work by German type designer Ernst Engel from 1927.This typeface masterfully combines Art Deco sensibilities with medieval letterforms, and is suitable for both text and headline use. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin and 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan) character sets.
A couple of pieces of sheet music from France [circa 1925] offered the inspiration for Chanson De Paris JNL (Song of Paris), which is available in both regular and oblique versions. This hand lettered Art Nouveau style features a unique take on thick-and-thin lettering which foreshadows the Art Deco typefaces to come during the 1930s.
Schoolyard Blues JNL is based on the hand lettered title found on the sheet music for the 1938 song "I Was Late for School". A condensed sans serif with chamfered corners, it reflects the Art Deco influences of the day in some of the letter forms. This type design is available in both regular and oblique versions.
Theater Tickets JNL was inspired by a photo of the marquee signage for Detroit’s Majestic Theater (built in1934), and is available in both regular and oblique versions. The theater was renovated and restored in 1987 and its marquee replicated the original one. What’s interesting is that the signage actually resembles squared pen lettering with rounded corners.
This stylish stout script was originally issued in the 1930s under the name “Fulgor” by the spanish foundry Fundición Gans. Cursory research suggests that Saks-Fifth Avenue found it suitably snooty to use extensively in its newspaper ads of that period. Perhaps somewhat ironically, this version takes its name from one of comedian W. C. Fields' many odd aliases.
Avenue is an eleven font family with five synthesist serif faces, five humanist sans serif faces, and one old style face. It is designed as an extrememly versatile body copy set. There are many special dingbats for bullets, and so on. It has oldstyle numbers and the small caps versions have lining numbers and small caps numbers.
A 1930s luggage tag from an eponymous hotel provided the inspiration for this face. The uppercase letters lean to the left and the lowercase letters lean to the right, so aLtErNaTiNg the two will give your headlines a little bounce. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin, 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan).
Here's an offering from the Blackfriars Type Foundry of London that's perfect for commanding headlines. The letterforms have been carefully kerned for a tight fit to increase the visual color of this nostalgic behemoth. All versions of this font include the Unicode 1250 Central European character set in addition to the standard Unicode 1252 Latin set.
Presenting a condensed Art Deco sans serif font with rounded corners and squared inner lines, based on the hand lettered title on the cover of the sheet music for 1944’s “Just A Little Fond Affection”. Allerton JNL is available in both regular and oblique versions, and was named after a neighborhood in the Bronx, New York.
Chancellor is a robust hand-drawn sans serif display typeface. Its sturdy letterforms takes inspiration from Plakatstil era posters, while bringing up also cool adornments to flourish your lettering designs. This all caps typeface has two versions for each letter, amplifying your composition choices. It's positively a great tool for a wide range of creative display uses.
The pattern for this classic typeface was originally called "Viking Oldstyle", from the 1909 H.C. Hansen Type Foundry catalog. To enhance its weathered look, the inside corners have been rounded to simulate ink buildup on metal typeforms. Both versions of the font include 1252 Latin and 1250 CE (with localization for Romanian and Moldovan) character sets.
The Core edition unleashes the true nature of Basika. A powerful communication means for designers and a bridge from the past into the future of experimental typeface design. Basika Core comes in three styles, it includes discretionary ligatures and stylistic alternates. Don't hesitate to get in touch at nos.ink. Basika Core current version: 1.0 - released in May 2022.
Penna is a calligraphic type system designed by Pedro Leal. Amidst the four available styles you get four different ascender and descender styles, two different styles of starting and ending swashes, a plethora of ligatures and several other features. Choose between regular, swashes, unconnected and connected versions or mix them all up for a deeper calligraphic feeling.
Jungle Drums JNL is based on the hand-lettered title on the 1929 sheet music of its musical namesake. A bold, free form design with a hint of the Art Deco movement of the coming decades, this casual typeface has the vintage charm to enrich many design projects. Jungle Drums JNL is available in both regular and oblique versions.
The title hand lettered onto the 1933 sheet music cover for “Yours is My Heart Alone” represents the classic Art Deco typographic features of unusual character shapes and widths, yet at the same time it projects simplicity in geometric design. This served at the basis for Deco Diva JNL, which is available in both regular and oblique versions.