The new fonts included with Windows Vista are called Calibri, Cambria, Candara, Consolas, Constantia, and Corbel, and even though you don’t have Vista you know you want them.

These are the new and improved fully finished versions. Update (March 31, 2008) I was asked to remove my link by someone sounding official, but since you can just install PowerPoint Viewer 2007 and the fonts will be available in your Windows system, I decided to take my links down. (Disclaimer: Read the legal fine print on Microsoft’s site for usage rights.)

(Wikipedia entry on Calibri)

(Wikipedia entry on Cambria)

(Wikipedia entry on Candara)

(Wikipedia entry on Consolas)

(Wikipedia entry on Constantia)

(Wikipedia entry on Corbel)

Previously: Windows Vista Fonts Now Available and Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack.

Ryan Uhrich, an artist living in Edmonton, AB has created a wonderful motion graphics piece called Typographics (19mb Quicktime).

I love watching this kind of thing and wish I was more experienced with compositing.

Every year for the past 3 or 4 years I have been disappointed that I’m not in a position to fly down to the South by Southwest Conference in Austin Texas. I’ll go next year, for sure!

However, I still enjoy following along with some of the interesting presentations such as this fabulous look at typography for the web by Richard Rutter and Mark Boulton.

Also to check out from SxSW 2007, Will Wright’s fantastic keynote address.

I’m a typographic artwork fan, a Quintin Tarrentino movie fan and I really like motion graphic compositing projects, so, when I saw Jarratt Moody’s time-based typography assignment (at SCAD) based on Samual L. Jackson’s “Say What Again” dialogue from Pulp Fiction, I figured I couldn’t pass up the chance to share this:

The basic idea of the project is to take a piece of audio from wherever (movie, song, poetry reading, answering machine) and then represent that audio on screen using only typography.

Jarratt chose a famous bit of dialogue from Pulp Fiction as his subject matter. (Okay, what dialogue from Pulp Fiction isn’t famous?) The resulting piece is full of whimsy and style. Jarratt does some great things with scale and simple but effective camera movements. Get those headphones on and prepare yourself for several lashings of Samuel L. Jackson’s naughty tongue.

Watch the piece | Visit Jarratt’s Site

The 2007 version of Microsoft’s Office Suite supports new file formats and new fonts that won’t work on older versions without a compatibility upgrade.

Users of the Office Suite can check out Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats. Just download O2007Cnv.exe in the language of your choice and install. Your system will be updated to allow backwards compatibility with files saved from the newer versions and even if you don’t have MS Office, you will be pleased to note that this .exe will also automatically install Microsoft’s new Vista fonts including Calibri which is slated to replace Times New Roman.

I question the logic behind replacing the most ubiquitous serif font set of the past 10 years, Times New Roman, with a sans-serif font, Calibri. While sans-serif fonts are known to be easier to read on screen, it seems to me that most of the things people type in word processors are going to be printed anyway.

Having said that, I still like the new fonts.

I like the combination of new media skills that were used to create this interesting Toyota commercial.

Back in New York City for post production, the most interesting challenge was to design the type. We ended up designing just one custom-made alphabet for all the cars, but made all sorts of letter-like shapes for everything else. We made fun letters looking like buildings, trees, clouds, leaves and birds. We made letters carved into a cliff, and a flock of sheep forming a sentence. None of it could have been achieved with off-the-shelf fonts.

After watching the video, take a second to go back and pan through the video to see all the creative font placements. Also check out the this second ad in the series.

WHO ACTUALLY USES THE CAPS LOCK KEY ANYWAY? Oops, I mean who actually uses the caps lock key anyway? People who like to shout, that’s who. But having spent upwards of 3 minutes contemplating the usefulness of the caps lock, I for one agree, it’s time to do away with caps lock key.

I should also mention that it’s high time we get rid of comic sans and while we’re at it let’s give the planet Pluto a demotion. Can you hear me? DEMOTE PLUTO NOW!

Upon further consideration caps lock is kind of handy for easy yelling. KNOW WHAT I MEAN? :)

I’m not sure if the Von Dutch trucker hats are still considered trendy, but somebody certainly still thinks Von Dutch is pretty cool. Recently on Ebay, Von Dutch’s personal paint and pin striping box sold for $270,000.00!
From the description on Ebay:

Von Dutch - The Personal Paint and Pin Striping Box

Without question, the all original Paint Box we have the pleasure of offering here is one of the most important personal pieces of Von Dutch memorabilia ever offered for sale to date. This is the actual paint box carried by both Von Dutch and most impressively, his father throughout both their legendary careers. The story begins in the 1930s with Walker Howard, father of Kenneth Howard aka Von Dutch, who was one of the most respected sign painters in all of Los Angeles. The young Kenneth Howard was said to accompany his father on many of his jobs, and legend now relates that Howard could paint and letter at a professional level at the age of 10. Though the paint box first belonged to Wally Howard, it was passed on to his son, Kenneth Howard now known as Von Dutch, who continued to use and treasure his paint box and family heirloom for the rest of his painting career and life.

This got me thinking, I should develop a “Milner” font-face and paint into onto a box like this. Who knows, if I become famous then maybe one day my descendants can sell their valuable family heirlooms for oodles of cash too.

Future descendants you have my permission to sell any personal artwork you inherit from me if you can get at least $270,000.00 for it (adjusted for inflation of course).

(via Hypnotik Eye)

As a fan of both typefaces and silly time wasting flash games, I feel a certain responsibility to show you Helvetica Vs. Arial.

Windows Vista (formerly code-named Longhorn) will have six new fonts included when it is released next year. The fonts are called Calibri, Cambria, Candara, Consolas, Constantia and Corbel and are available for download. Constantia is my favorite.

(via tipmonkies)

Update (September 20, 2005): It appears that the download link above is not working. Try these links instead: Calibri, Cambria, Candara, Consolas, Constantia and Corbel.

Update (November 23, 2006): Microsoft has released a compatibility upgrade for older versions of Microsoft office, and within that package they have included finished versions of the new Vista fonts. I’m removing the old incomplete versions from my server now. See my post, Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for more details and your link.

Update (March 4, 2007): Looks like the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack has been removed, so I’ll just put my links back up. Update (March 31, 2008) It’s back up.

Update (October 2, 2007): The fonts have been out of beta for a long time, but the versions here are incomplete. Check out the new and improved versions.

Update (March 31, 2008) I’ve been asked to take the links down. Luckily Microsoft is still offering the fonts on their website, so find them there.