What font do most Architects use?

[nospleen]

I like the font on most Blue Prints. I talked to an architect today and he said it is helvetica. But, I looked at that font and it did not seem right? I want to use this font on my business cards. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

[janey]

mebbe it's a variant of helvetica.

[shadowfax]

could you post a scan of a section of blueprint with the text you like on it? perhaps we could recognize it for you.

[shecky]

if its like this:

http://www.dsiegel.com/newhome/back_legend.gif

then its a font called Graphite

[Wardofsky]

My F.O.C* is Gadget.
It's so techno-savy...

*: Font of choice

[iGav]

Originally posted by übergeek
mebbe it's a variant of helvetica.

Exactly what I was thinking... there are many different weights and versions of Helvetica...

And it's still the best typeface... :)

[phaeton]

... DIN

[nospleen]

Originally posted by shecky
if its like this:

http://www.dsiegel.com/newhome/back_legend.gif

then its a font called Graphite

Ding, Ding, Ding!! We have a winner!! That is the exact font!! Thank you so much!:D

[nospleen]

Originally posted by shecky
if its like this:

http://www.dsiegel.com/newhome/back_legend.gif

then its a font called Graphite

NOOOOO! That font is not in my Word program! Where can I get that font?

[iGav]

Originally posted by nospleen
Ding, Ding, Ding!! We have a winner!! That is the exact font!! Thank you so much!:D

That's nothing like Helvetica... :p :p :p I wouldn't trust that Architect if I were you... heh-heh

[Wardofsky]

No one likes Gadget, fine, I can live with that...

[mrjamin]

Originally posted by nospleen
NOOOOO! That font is not in my Word program! Where can I get that font?

here: http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/fontbureau/graphite/

It'll probably cost you several thousand for the entire set of faces. fonts are an expensive business.

[mrjamin]

Originally posted by Wardofsky
No one likes Gadget, fine, I can live with that...

i love that font. I'm also a very big fan of Helvetica Neue (http://www.adobe.com/type/browser/P/P_059.jhtml).

[DavidFDM]

Adobe Texton is a hard-working typeface I have seen used for this purpose. It comes in a variety of weights.

[mactastic]

There's actually a font called blueprint that is similiar to the one you showed, and I think is easier to find. I used to have it somewhere, but I have a couple zip disks of fonts to go through from when I used to work as a graphic artist and printing press operator. I'll keep looking. It may take a while, since my zip drive died a while ago and I am currently without one.:(

[nospleen]

Originally posted by mactastic
There's actually a font called blueprint that is similiar to the one you showed, and I think is easier to find. I used to have it somewhere, but I have a couple zip disks of fonts to go through from when I used to work as a graphic artist and printing press operator. I'll keep looking. It may take a while, since my zip drive died a while ago and I am currently without one.:(
Tks!!

[meta-ghost]

Originally posted by iGAV
That's nothing like Helvetica... :p :p :p I wouldn't trust that Architect if I were you... heh-heh

I'm with you iGav. The choice of that font is extremely revealing.

[nospleen]

Originally posted by meta-ghost
I'm with you iGav. The choice of that font is extremely revealing.

Actually it was his assistant, but either way, it is way off.:D

[meta-ghost]

Originally posted by nospleen
Actually it was his assistant, but either way, it is way off.:D

I meant something else entirely. Namely, that font mimics a method of writing that was done by hand. Using a machine to reproduce a style developed by hand is silly. The machine has an aesthetic. Explore it.

[dkeninitz]

There's a font in Windows (gasp..don't flame me for using the Word) called Technical that also resembles the blueprint font.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by meta-ghost
I meant something else entirely. Namely, that font mimics a method of writing that was done by hand. Using a machine to reproduce a style developed by hand is silly. The machine has an aesthetic. Explore it. :confused:

handwriting fonts aren't silly. they serve a differrent purpose than text-book fonts. it's like the difference between serif and sans serif.

computers have tons of aesthetics. he's exploring one. he's clearly explored the aesthetic of times new roman and courier, and now he's onto something else.

open your mind.

[Finiksa]

Originally posted by meta-ghost
I meant something else entirely. Namely, that font mimics a method of writing that was done by hand. Using a machine to reproduce a style developed by hand is silly. The machine has an aesthetic. Explore it.

The chiselled pencil style is a hold over from manual drafting lettering techniques in Industrial Design, Architecture and Interior Design. Basically all designers have to learn to write like that in school, it's an industry standard to ensure legibility in designs and blue prints. It's just been carried over to CAD systems for consistency.

Plus it looks well funky! (but bloody hard to learn)

[Finiksa]

Originally posted by nospleen
I like the font on most Blue Prints. I talked to an architect today and he said it is helvetica. But, I looked at that font and it did not seem right? I want to use this font on my business cards. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

I've been going through my reference materials trying to find a variation of the font you're after, but all I have avaliable at the moment are Engineering Drawing volumes. These are only listing Gothic variations or "ISO 3098/1 Type B upright or sloping character sets" Which aren't quite what you're after, but if you do some Googling you might find something.

I did however stumble acoss this font (http://fonts-free.com/font/architect-free.html) which is pretty damn close... and it's free!

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Finiksa
I did however stumble acoss this font (http://fonts-free.com/font/architect-free.html) which is pretty damn close... and it's free! you should try this in bold and see what it looks like. it might be reasonably close!

[meta-ghost]

Originally posted by Finiksa
The chiselled pencil style is a hold over from manual drafting lettering techniques in Industrial Design, Architecture and Interior Design. Basically all designers have to learn to write like that in school, it's an industry standard to ensure legibility in designs and blue prints. It's just been carried over to CAD systems for consistency.

I think the carry over has less to do with consistency than most people moving to drawing on the computer uncritically. I agree that people need to explore different aesthetics and come around to what works for them. The problem is, and I'm speaking with historical experience here, very few people did this. Instead, dimension line styles used slash marks (easy with a triangle), graphic info symbols still mimicked the templates made for hand drawing, and of course, the handwriting font went with it. I'm not saying I would never use a handwriting(or publishing) font but rather it has to make graphic sense in the larger scheme.

It can be possible that a set of drawings produced graphically uncritically can represent a product that is itself uncritical.

[Finiksa]

Originally posted by nospleen
Ding, Ding, Ding!! We have a winner!! That is the exact font!! Thank you so much!:D

Doh! if I wasn't so drunk at the moment I might have used my brain. The font you want is ofcorse call Graphite as stated above!

You can download it from fonts.com (http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=204641) in Postscript format for $22 or from the Adobe Type Library (http://www.adobe.com/type/browser/F/GRPQ/F_GRPQ-10005000.jhtml) in OpenType format for $29. :rolleyes:

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Finiksa
Doh! if I wasn't so drunk at the moment I might have used my brain. The font you want is ofcorse call Graphite as stated above!

You can download it from fonts.com (http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=204641) in Postscript format for $22 or from the Adobe Type Library (http://www.adobe.com/type/browser/F/GRPQ/F_GRPQ-10005000.jhtml) in OpenType format for $29. :rolleyes: of course, it's $200 if you want the entire set. (http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?nCo=AFMT&pid=243124) fonts get so expensive!

[KlausBR]

Hei.
I'm also looking for a font type to use with techical drawings. My sugestion is to use a DIN or the one that it's in the box from the DATACAD software. But I don't know what font it's. Someone may help me with the name of this font.
Thanks

[tangerinedream]

The architect you spoke to most likely told you Helvetica because it's a clean looking sans serif. The lettering architects master is learned because it is also clean and easy to read (as far as handwriting goes). The "industry standard" for architectural software is AutoCAD, and it ships with two and written TT fonts, CityBlueprint and Country Blueprint. Country Blueprint is a little sloppier. If you want to use this on a card, pick up a copy of Francis Ching's book Architectural Graphics, learn how to write like that, practice, draw up your card and scan it. These fonts aren't used by a single reputable architect. You have a wealth of resources before you, don't rip off someone's handwriting.

[Doctor Q]

Somebody once gave me a link to a site that lets you upload a font sample and it tells you what font it is, from the large collection it recognizes. I don't have a bookmark to it anymore. Anybody remember the URL?

[mangoman]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
Somebody once gave me a link to a site that lets you upload a font sample and it tells you what font it is, from the large collection it recognizes. I don't have a bookmark to it anymore. Anybody remember the URL?

www.veer.com will let you do this, among others. I think www.myfonts.com has a font viewing box now, as well.

Still looking for architect-type fonts? Take a look at http://www.provtype.com/index2.html and check out three of the 'faces there: Architect, Draftsman, and Designer (scroll along the top of the window). I own 'em all and recommend 'em.

Happy hunting!

[tazo]

haha lets just say on my pc I don't 'own' about 60% of my fonts ;)

[mangoman]

Hey tazo, I'm not tryin' to bust your stones, but it's not cool to brag about font theft. I know a few guys who create typefaces for a living, and it puts the crunch on their income when the stuff gets passed around.

For the record, these are the guys:
www.houseindustries.com

Food for thought...

Peace,

mm

[tazo]

I actually did pay for one variant of Futura [22 bux from that site someone mentioned] because that is the font needed to replicate buymusic's homepage for my website :)

[mangoman]

Cool... Cool...

I don't wanna admit how much money I've shot on fonts. It's.... scare-eeeeee. :eek:

[suz]

try Intergraph Architectural font.. you can find it on the internet

[WildCowboy]

Way to bring up a three year old thread... :eek:

[mkrejci]

3 year threads are good if they answer questions!! Here's a good free blueprint font: City Blueprint. Got it at http://fsmgs.tripod.com/Fonts/

[CanadaRAM]

3 year threads are good if they answer questions!! Here's a good free blueprint font: City Blueprint. Got it at http://fsmgs.tripod.com/Fonts/
O good, because the guy withthe Tripod member account says its free, then it must be free...
He says he created them -- but didn't bother to change the name from the commercial fonts they are copied from..

[corywoolf]

I have 9 GB of fonts (50,000) on my computer, is that a bad thing? :confused: :D

[mouchoir]

Ding, Ding, Ding!! We have a winner!! That is the exact font!! Thank you so much!:D

Do not use that font on your business card! :eek:

Mock hand drawn typefaces look tacky and date very quickly... Stick with Helvetica!