Feb 18
FontShop FontBook for 2 winners
2008 at 10.42 am posted by Veerle
It’s big, it’s heavy (3KG) and it’s yellow, what is it? It’s FontShop’s FontBook, an invaluable reference tool. I’m not 100% sure but I think it’s the largest type reference in the world. This is the 4th edition since it was first published in 1991. The FontBook 2006 edition was edited by Erik Spiekermann, Jürgen Siebert and Mai-Linh Thi Truong and it replaced the 1998 edition. I had the pleasure to ask a few things about it to Yves Peters from FontShop.be.
New and improved
Eight years passed before this one became available. Inside you'll find 32.000 type samples (30% more than in the previous FontBook), 7.400 cross-references (300% more than in the previous FontBook), more than 100.000 additional references and last but not least fonts by 90 type foundries (25 more foundries than in the previous FontBook).FontBook 2006 edition
Less Clutter
The types are organised into eight main groups: Sans, Serif, Slab, Script, Display, Blackletter, Symbols, and Non-Latin. Online sales and single weights removed the need for package information, so it's no longer included. You'll no longer find distributor information and font numbers in the main pages as well because these moved to the index. This information will not distract you anymore in the side bar.
The list with the 90 type foundries included in FontBook
More to look at
You don't have to take my word for it but go to the source instead. This is what Yves Peters of FontShop.be had to say about:
All Display (and some Script) entries have been customized. Instead of 12 pt blocks of text, there are now lines of 24 pt text for all weights. For single weight specimens this means a larger entry than before – the only occasion where FontBook editors have augmented rather than reduced presentation space. The extra pages are worth it. The rhythm of words is different from a static character set. It imparts a sense of the flow of a face, of its spacing and proportion. And in this case it’s large enough to see the detail in a group of fonts for whom 12 pt rarely does justice.
Sans Section
Families
You'll also notice that there is better balance. In the 1998 edition large text families used to take up more than their fair share of the space, some entries even spread over almost three pages. That overshadowded smaller families and ate up valuable room. It used to be that every weight had its own 12 pt text block, even if there were only a few characters. Weights are combined now. An example would be Small Caps that show up in a block of Roman text. This way you get a more authentic presentation plus it also saves space.
Serif Section
The eye
A very handy and simple useful feature in the book is the ample cross references. You can use the eye icon to see what familiar types are also available. This is what Yves has to say about it:
The familiar ‘eye’ is back – and it’s everywhere. With three times as many cross-references as before, a huge amount of time and energy has gone into creating this latticework of like-minded letters. Use them as a search tool, or let them take you for a ride. See something you like and start to follow the trail. It may lead you somewhere unexpected, you’re sure to see something new.
Slab Section
Script Section
Information heaven
Designer name; year of production; additional dates if it’s a revival. Cross-references throughout all sections referring to similar, related or relevant faces. Manufacturer information; product numbers; family relationships; style indications; additional encodings. It’s all here.
Display Section
Blackletter Section
Not your regular fontbook
This book isn't cheap but what do you expect for a 1.760-page, 3 kg encyclopedia. It costs 99 Euro but as you read above you'll get your money worth in return. It's available from FontShop. 2 winners of the "What is Graphic Design compettion" will get this book for free!
Dingbat Section
Latin Plus / Non-Latin
39served
1
Well I don’t think 99 Euro is really much for a big book like this one. Most books related to computers cost 50 Euros and are not half that big (and heavy) as this one.
2
That is a massive book! It must be hard to find the right font with so many! Sometimes a quick type and enter on the net would be easier but there are heaps of other benefits with this I suppose but 99euro is a fair dip in the pocket.
Good luck to the ppl in the comp.
3
Books are not about the weight but about the content.
4
On the subject of price, I don’t know if it’s a good idea to equate a books value by it’s size and weight; my phonebook was free. and there are plenty examples of quantity exceeding quality in the book scene.
That isn’t the case here tho.
5
Piotr and Pete B said:
Re-read what I said: “This book isn’t cheap but what do you expect for a 1.760-page, 3 kg encyclopedia. It costs 99 Euro but as you read above you’ll get your money worth in return.”
The phonebooks analogy doesn’t make any sense here. The money worth in return part is on the content, so on what you’ll find inside! I do know that you don’t judge price on books that way. I thought that was obvious. Sometimes it’s better to think before you post :)
6
WOW! That’s massive! one of the best prizes if you ask me
I love the ‘familiar eye’ function and how the whole thing was set up...it is a hell of a challenge to design a book like this (knowing it will be read by designers :P), and that alone is worth the price…
well it is for a type geek like me
are these separate prices Veerle? like 13-14th? or will they be included somewhere in between 1-12?
7
Good news are always welcome!
This book seems to be a piece of heaven. Thick as brick and a wonderful content.
Thanks for these wonderful prizes Veerle!
Cheers :^)
8
i think this is great prize, and for sure useful for the designers! At least i always prefer to look and compare typefaces on the paper instead of screen, if possible.
9
Ale said:
Those are extra prizes indeed! Number 13 and 14 :)
10
Wow! Invaluable reference indeed looks gorgeous!
11
Wow - this is GORGEOUS!!!
12
Wow, I would love to have this reference. Ah, all those beautiful fonts!
13
Oh, sweet mother of letter form, I hope I win it. I’ve been wanting it since it came out, but can’t afford it on my student budget.
Great score, Veerle!
14
True. If you want confirmation of the goodness inside this massive tome, have a look at the reviews.
15
Hello,
about the FontBooks being prizes 13th and 14th respectively.
I think the value of these books is being underrated. Wouldn’t a contestant prefer to win a FontBook rather than some of the other prizes? I don’t know, maybe it’s because I would.
16
Jaime Martínez Domínguez said:
Don’t attach too much value to the numbers. It’s just 13 and 14 because these prices came later and I already made the other packages and don’t really have the time to change the post again. I have to work too you know plus checking all 660 entries ;) Don’t worry these books will be rewarded to someone who deservers it :)
17
I think this is great prize for someone who can handle 3KG book :) Regards
18
Sorry,
my mistake. I liked your anser very much.
Thanks
19
Oooo, nifty. What a wonderful reference that would make.
20
The first time John talked about it, i knew i have to get it - one day.
It sure is right that books should be measured by the quality of its content, and it is so obvious that this book is ways more worthy than 99 euros, but i find it funny that it is as well so cheap if you consider the “huge factor”.
You know of which book this competition reminded me of? Tres Logos.
It’s 500 pages á 8” × 10” full of logoart. A must see if you haven’t heard about it yet!
Anyways, such a great price! Good luck everybody! :) And btw, you guys at duoh already have one at the office?
21
Yes, it is the largest published type reference. book, and invaluable for any who work with type. It’s well conceived and well produced. I hear that Erik Spiekermann also use one as a doorstop, so, yes,it’s weight is important.
Of all its features, the cross-references are my favourite--references to similar types.
22
Hehe, Veerle, what about postage for 3 kg book ;) It will increase the book price a lot! Just kidding :)
Anyway, great reward! :)
23
Manuel Martensen said:
This is a wonderful book indeed. I have also Los Logos and Dos Logos. They are a great inspiration resource for logo designers.
Hehe that’s a funny one to answer actually, because I have to say ‘yes, we have them at the office’. Only, they’re not for me but for the winners :) We don’t own one ourselves.
24
Drool....
25
Who wants to chip-in and buy Veerle & Co. a copy of FontBook? I’ll start with my $10; anyone else?
I’m lucky enough to own FontBook; mine has its own shrine to which I make daily offerings. And more seriously, I use it every day; and sadly(?) I’ve been know to take it to bed with me.
26
that might possibly be the coolest book ever.
27
You should extend the contest! I missed this and I think the entries right now are just OK.
28
Definitely worth it. Mine arrived last week and I spent two happy hours paging through it.
29
Thanks for the insight into a very useful tool. Even at 99 euros this would be a very useful addition to any designers repitoire. If it was half as useful as my Pantone bridge with PMS conversions to CMYK, RGB and websafe colours it would pay for itself in no time. I wonder what postage would be like to Canada?
30
Uhm did you just insult 550 people all at once? Well done!
31
That is a fuckin’ splendid idea, John! Here are $10 from the north frisian islands! Just another way to say “thank you for the competition and the inspiration i got from it”…
Well, where do we send it?
32
doesn’t really make much sense to me - why don’t you keep one FontBook for yourself, Veerle, and give away only one book as the prize?
33
Now that looks really interesting! :) That’s tons of fonts I guess on that… :D It seems too thick for a font book?
34
Veerle, you must have got it wrong. My post was in response to the one of Andreas:
35
johno + Manuel Martensen said:
Guys, I really appreciate the thought but it’s not really necessary :)
Paul McLaren said:
Hmmm, not sure where you got that idea.
inspirationbit said:
I got these to give away so it wouldn’t be fair to keep them for myself. The candidates deserve to get these prices for their effort.
Piotr said:
Ah ok. It’s better to always use blockquote, it makes it much easier to see who you are referring to and to avoid mistakes :)
36
Sorry Veerle I was responding to Nate, I’ll try and use the blockquote, when responding as well.
37
Veerle,
I am soooo sorry, I should have given Duoh also a FontBook at the same moment as we send the two others, just as a kind of reward for organizing this contest.
But consider it done, we will send one for Duoh on monday.
BTW did you see this one : http://ilovetypography.com/2008/02/03/sunday-type-frodo-type/
38
Rudy said:
No need to be sorry. Wow this sure makes my day woot! That link is awesome, never knew the book was everywhere :D
39
Hehehe, glad to hear the cross-references are appreciated by so many. Stephen and I worked our collective asses off over the course of two or three weeks and managed to include 7400 of them. And we did all that work for the glory, as originally there was no budget left. Being able to contribute to the production of the FontBook has been an honour.