Bembo booklet

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BEMBO Seduction

ABCDEF GHIJKLM NOPQRST UVWXYZ

abcdefghijklmn opqrstuvwxyz 1234567890

1234567890

ciao bella! io sono Bembo vengo da Italia (Hello Gorgeous! I am Bembo. I come from Italy)

&

The history of Bembo originates in Venice, an important typographic center in fifteenth and sixteenth century Europe. Many printers established businesses in Venice at this time, but none so significant as Aldus Manutius. Late in the fifteenth century, Aldus published a relatively insignificant essay by the Italian scholar Pietro Bembo. The type used for the text was a new design commissioned by Aldus and cut by Francesco Griffo, a goldsmith turned punch-cutter. Griffo’s design was lighter and more harmonious in weight than earlier romans. Text set in the face was also more inviting and easier to read than previous designs. Three years later, the basic font was enhanced by the introduction of a suite of corresponding capital letters. (Capitals were pulled from other fonts prior to the release of these new designs.)

Francesco Griffo Aldus Manutius

1495

& 1929

Monotype

Stanley Morison In the early part of this century, the designers in the Monotype drawing office used antique books and specimen material set with Aldus’ original fonts as the foundation for their revival of the Bembo type. The italic proved to be a significant challenge. Aldus’ Bembo had no italic designs, so the Monotype design staff created a new italic based on the works of Giovanni Tagliente, a 16th century writing master.

In the 1980s, Monotype produced a faithful digital rendition of their original metal revival. The staff designers also added Semi Bold and Extra Bold weights to the family.

As a result, this exceptionally important and wonderfully powerful communication tool is available as PostScript, TrueType and fully functional OpenType fonts. Today, a 500-year legacy of great typeface design continues.

Io ho un

sexy accento (I have a sexy accent)

à

Cara mia,

lasciate dei mie

Latin angled top serifs on lower case letters

double-storey a

short, bracketed serifs with cupped bases

Bembo Book Bold

che vi mostri alcuni ei migliori attributi (Darling, let me show you some of my best attributes)

Lover oblique stress

small x-height

Bembo Book Bold Italic

Come un buon

italiano ho un grande senso dello stile

(As a good Italian, I have a great sense of style)

ff fj fh ffi

fb fl st fk ct fi ffj ffl

,

,

Mi sento como se questo è vero

amore (I feel this is true love)

Bambina, portami a casa!

(Baby, take me home!)

§§ monotype.com

Monotype Imaging is a multifaceted enterprise that combines technology with design to help the world communicate. The company has more than 150 years of experience serving the typographic needs of the design industry.

As one of the most established type foundries in the world, Monotype offers a myriad of typefaces through its designer-focused portal, www. fonts.com.

Established in 1929, the Academy of Art University is the largest private school of art and design in the country. Located in downtown San Francisco, the university believes that established artists and designers are best at training the next generation of professionals. The school’s highly regarded Graphic Design program maintains an international student body that has won numerous student design awards. The program enjoys a strategic partnership with Monotype Imaging, which provides students with scholarship funds as well as numerous other opportunities.

Designer: Flora Cruells Benzal Degree: MFA Class: Type Composition Instructor: Andrew Loesel