IBM Release Open Source Font

[Lucap]

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/11/use- ... ont-ubuntu

Last week computer giant IBM unveiled it’s own, bespoke typeface.

The font is called IBM Plex. It’s designed by IBM designers, and will (say FastCoDesign) be “be used almost everywhere letters appear”, from software and websites, to press releases, visitor passes, and PowerPoint presentations.

Anyone feel brave enough to try it?

[Portreve]

Sounds interesting. I've always been a typeface junkie, so I'll be happy to add this to my libre licensed collection.

[Lucap]

Not sure if pixel hinting will be needed , I hate pixel hinting but some fonts look horrid without it.

[BenTrabetere]

Anyone feel brave enough to try it?

I tried it when it was first announced. First impression was good, but that quickly faded when I compared Plex to DejaVu, Free, Liberation, Nimbus, and Noto typefaces. There are differences between these typefaces, and between them and Plex, but I find the differences are so slight that they all are pretty much interchangeable.

[Lucap]

Thanks BenTrabetere

[Portreve]

It's interesting to see the structure of the ZIP archive and what that (might?) reveal about the mindset of the font developers.

They have each variation (Sans, Serif, Mono) broken down separately, which is fine, but when you look at the desktop versions of the fonts, they've clearly delineated Mac users from Windows users. Mac users get the OTFs, and Windows users get the TTFs. It makes you wonder if they're trying to imply something there.

Friends don't let friends use Windows... or TrueType fonts, either.

[Portreve]

I installed it and tried switching the various UI font categories over to IBM Plex. No thanks. It's really not elegant at the sort of sizes involved. I'm sure for print purposes it will be just fine.

[InkKnife]

It's interesting to see the structure of the ZIP archive and what that (might?) reveal about the mindset of the font developers.

They have each variation (Sans, Serif, Mono) broken down separately, which is fine, but when you look at the desktop versions of the fonts, they've clearly delineated Mac users from Windows users. Mac users get the OTFs, and Windows users get the TTFs. It makes you wonder if they're trying to imply something there.

Friends don't let friends use Windows... or TrueType fonts, either.

That confused me because Windows can use OTF fonts, and Macs can use TTF so I don't get the distinction.

As for the font it looks nice, might even install it.