Optima
45834
225378717
2008-07-13T10:57:14Z
121.120.232.196
/* Usages */
{{Otheruses}}
{{Infobox font
| name = Optima
| image = [[Image:OptimaS.svg|240px|Optima]]
| style = [[Sans-serif]]
| date = [[1955]]
| creator = [[Hermann Zapf]]
| foundry = [[Linotype]]
| variations = [[Optima Nova]]
|}}
'''Optima''' is a [[humanist sans-serif typeface]] designed by [[Hermann Zapf]] between [[1952]]-[[1955]] for the [[D. Stempel AG]] foundry, [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]].
==Characteristics==
Though classified as a sans-serif, Optima has a subtle swelling at the terminal producing a suggestion of a glyphic serif. Optima’s design follows humanist lines, but its italic variant is merely an oblique, essentially a sloped roman without characteristic italic letterforms such as a single story '''a''' and rounded base of '''v''' and '''w.''' This is more typical of a realist sans-serif such as [[Helvetica]] or [[Univers]]. Also unconventional for the contemporary sans, Optima's capitals (like Palatino's) are directly derived from the classic [[Roman square capitals|Roman monumental capital model]] (one other well executed example is Meier's [[Syntax (typeface)|Syntax]]). It is clear from the reverence in Zapf's designs that he regards the Roman capitals as ideal forms, and his executions in type prove the thesis. Like [[Palatino]], another Zapf design, Optima is both widely admired, and much imitated. Optima and Palatino are trademarks of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
In the [[Bitstream Inc.|Bitstream]] font collection, Optima is called Zapf Humanist. Other Optima clones include Optane from the WSI Fonts collection, Opulent by Rubicon Computer Labs Inc., Ottawa from Corel, CG Omega, and Eterna.
==Optima nova (2002)==
Optima nova is a redesign of the original font family, designed by Hermann Zapf and [[Linotype]] GmbH type director Akira Kobayashi. The new family contains 7 font weights, which adds light, demi, heavy font weights, but removed extra black weight. Medium weight is readjusted to between medium and bold weights in the old family scale. Glyph sets are expanded to include Adobe CE and Latin Extended characters, with light to bold weight fonts supporting proportional lining figures, old style figures, small caps. Italic fonts include [[italic type]] features instead of just tilted romans. Even in roman fonts, letters such as Q, a, f are redesigned. The overall bounding boxes were widened in Optima nova.
===Optima nova Condensed===
It is a condensed variant is which consist of light to bold weights, but no italic fonts. Glyph set does not support proportional lining figures, old style figures, small caps.
===Optima nova Titling===
It is a [[Titling capitals|titling capitals]] variant, which contains only capital letters, with restyled letterform. Glyph set is same as Optima nova Condensed, except it also includes extra ligatures.
In the tradition of hand lettering and lapidary inscription, the titling face shares similarities with the work of Zapf's friend [[Herb Lubalin]] especially the exuberant ligatures (for which Lubalin's ITC Lubalin Graph and ITC Avant Garde are notable). Further influence of [[A.M. Cassandre]] and [[Rudolf Koch]], whose work greatly inspired the young Zapf, can also be seen in Optima.
==Usages==
Optima is the typeface used on the [[Vietnam Veterans Memorial]]. Optima, or a version of it known as Optimum, has been used by [[Marks & Spencer]], PLC. Optima is used by the 2008 [[John McCain]] presidential campaign, possibly a reference to its use on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial<ref>{{cite news |title=The character issue |url=http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-ig-font30mar30,0,2170930.story |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Adam |last=Tschorn |date=[[March 30]], [[2008]]}}</ref>.
==References==
*Blackwell, Lewis. ''20th Century Type.'' Yale University Press: 2004. ISBN 0-300-10073-6.
*Fiedl, Frederich, Nicholas Ott and Bernard Stein. ''Typography: An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Through History.'' Black Dog & Leventhal: 1998. ISBN 1-57912-023-7.
*Jaspert, W. Pincus, W. Turner Berry and A.F. Johnson. ''The Encyclopedia of Type Faces.'' Blandford Press Lts.: 1953, 1983. ISBN 0-7137-1347-X.
*Lawson, Alexander S., ''[[Anatomy of a Typeface]]''. Godine: 1990. ISBN 978-0879233334.
*Macmillan, Neil. ''An A–Z of Type Designers.'' Yale University Press: 2006. ISBN 0-300-11151-7.
*Zapf, Hermann. ''Manuale Typographicum.'' The MIT Press: 19534, 1970. ISBN 0-262-24011-4.
<references/>
==External links==
* [http://typophile.com/wiki/optima Typowiki: Optima]
* [http://www.linotype.com/1494-12709/thetypefacespalatinoandoptima.html/ The story of Palatino and Optima from Hermann Zapf]
* [http://www.linotype.com/223/optima.html/ Linotype: Optima from Hermann Zapf]
* [http://www.linotype.com/1808/optimanova.html/ Learn more about Optima nova from Hermann Zapf and Akira Kobayashi]
[[Category:Stempel typefaces]]
[[Category:Linotype typefaces]]
[[Category:Humanist sans-serif typefaces]]
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[[ja:オプティマ]]
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