Optima nova

Linotype Library Platinum Collection

Linotype

Designed by Hermann Zapf

Optima™ nova The source of the originals

The Optima nova story

S

ketches of Optima™ were done first on a 1000 Lire bank note in 1950. Hermann Zapf had no paper available to make

notes from inscriptions in Santa Croce in Florence,

E

rste Skizzen für die Optima™ entstanden 1950 in Florenz auf einem 1000 Lire Schein, da Hermann Zapf kein Schreibpapier

zur Hand hatte, um Inschriften in Santa Croce

so he used a bank note instead. In 1952 the first

abzuzeichnen. 1952 waren nach sorgfältigen

drawings were finished after careful legibility

Lesbarkeitsstudien die Reinzeichnungen fertig-

tests. The type was

gestellt: Die Schrift wurde in der Schriftgießerei

cut by the famous

D. Stempel AG in Frankfurt von dem berühmten

punchcutter August

Stempelschneider August Rosenberger

Rosenberger at the

geschnitten und ergänzt durch die Linotype

D. Stempel AG type-

Setzmaschinenmatrizen. Leider fertigte man

foundry in Frankfurt

keine richtige Kursiv zur Optima, lediglich

and was also produced

eine schräg gestellte Antiqua.

in matrices for the

Die Idee für die Optima Antiqua war eine

Linotype typesetting machines. Unfortunately

Gebrauchsschrift zu entwickeln, zwischen einer

no real italic was manufactured, only an oblique

serifenlosen Schrift, etwa der Futura, und einer

version of the roman.

klassischen Antiqua in der Art einer Bodoni.

The basic idea of Optima was to develop a

Um die geraden Linien einer Grotesk zu ver-

typeface between a sans serif like the Futura and

meiden, sind die Grundstriche leicht gebogen,

a classical Roman like the Bodoni. To avoid the

das typische Kennzeichen aller Optima

monotony of the straight lines of an ordinary

Alphabete. Dies gibt den Buchstaben ihren

sans serif the stems have slightly curved outlines,

charakteristischen eleganten Ausdruck.

typical of all Optima faces. This characteristic

50 Jahre nach den ersten Skizzen erfuhr die

lends the various Optima designs their elegance.

Schrift eine komplette Überarbeitung unter

About fifty years after the first Optima sketches,

der Bezeichnung Optima nova. Es war endlich

a complete redesign was made: Linotype Optima

möglich digitale Schriften herzustellen ohne

nova. It was finally possible to produce digital

technische Einschränkungen und Kompromisse.

alphabets without technical limitations and

Hermann Zapf überarbeitete zusammen mit dem

compromises.

japanischen Schriftdesigner Akira Kobayashi

Hermann Zapf and the Japanese type designer

alle Optima Alphabete und ergänzte sie durch

Akira Kobayashi collaborated on the new designs.

neue Garnituren: mit Kapitälchen, Mediäval-

They reworked the forms of the Optima and

ziffern und der Optima nova Titling, einem

added designs like small caps, old style figures,

Versalalphabet mit ungewöhnlichen Buchstaben-

and Optima nova Titling, which includes capital

verbindungen und Ligaturen. Die Optima nova

letters with special and unusual letter combi-

Titling eignet sich hervorragend für Überschriften,

nations and ligatures. Optima nova Titling is an

Logos und in der Werbung.

excellent typefaces for headlines, logos and advertising purposes.

AaBbCcDdEe

Two columns set flush left with dropped initials

The redesign of Optima nova Italic

P

remières esquisses de l’Optima™ : elles ont été tracées en 1950 sur un billet de 1000

la basilique Santa Croce à Florence. Après des tests de lisibilité minutieux, les premiers dessins

Optima nova Italic differs greatly from the old slanted roman of the original Optima. The new italic forms of the e, f and g are especially notable.

de l’Optima ont été terminés en 1952. August Rosenberger, graveur renommé de la fonderie res, produits également pour les composeuses Linotype.

Mais aucun véritable italique n’a alors été réalisé, seulement une version inclinée du style romain.

Le concept initial de l’Optima était de trouver un style entre une linéale comme le Futura et un romain classique comme le Bodoni. Pour éviter

/LD lGURE WITH DUCK BEAK

D. Stempel AG à Francfort, a réalisé les caractè-

la monotonie des droites d’une linéale courante, les contours des fûts ont été légèrement arrondis pour conserver cette caractéristique typique de tous les alphabets Optima car c’est elle qui leur confère cette note d’élégance.

/PTIMAõNOVAõ)TALICõ õ É

Environ cinquante ans après les premières

/PTIMA NOVA WITH 0INOCCHIO NOSE

lires car Hermann Zapf n’avait pas de papier

sous la main pour transcrire les inscriptions de

esquisses, l’Optima a été intégralement revu pour créer ainsi l’Optima nova. On a finalement réussi à obtenir des alphabets numériques sans restrictions et compromis techniques.

Hermann Zapf et le typographe japonais Akira Kobayashi ont collaboré pour développer ce nouveau style. Ils ont ainsi revu les formes des

Ein markanter Unterschied zur ursprünglichen Optima ist bei der Optima nova Italic zu erkennen, da sie erheblich von der schräg gestellten Antiqua abweicht. Die neuen fließenden (kursiven) Formen beim e, f und g zeigen dies deutlich.

différents alphabets Optima pour y ajouter égale­ment de nouveaux éléments comme les petites capitales, les chiffres elzéviriens et les majuscules de titrages Optima nova Titling incluant les capitales avec des com­binaisons particulières et inhabituelles de lettres et ligatures. L’Optima nova Titling est une police de caractères

Une différence fondamentale avec l’ancien Optima: le nouvel Optima nova Italic s’écarte considérablement de l’ancien Optima qui est seulement incliné. Les nouvelles formes penchées (italique) sont très nettes dans le cas des e, f et g.

parfaitement appropriée pour les titres, logos et publicités.

AaBbCcDdEe Comparison of the original Optima with the new Optima nova

Advantages of the Optima type family: OPTIMA = an original Linotype typeface, completely redesigned and updated

Eine original Linotype Schriftfamilie, komplett neu gestaltet und aktualisiert Une famille des caractères Linotype d’origine, entièrement revue et mise à jour OPTIMA = the result of years of research and many tests of legibility Das Ergebnis aufwendiger Untersuchungen und vieler Lesbarkeitstests Le fruit de nombreuses années d’études et de tests de lisibilité très minutieux OPTIMA = fulfils today’s requirements for functional and versatile applications Erfüllt die heutigen Anforderungen an Funktionalität und Anwendungsvielfalt Pour satisfaire aux critères actuels imposés aux fonctions et aux applications

OPTIMA = the welcome answer to the monotony of sans serif types in text pages Die willkommene Antwort auf die Monotonie der serifenlosen Textschriften La réponse désirer vivement à la monotonie des linéales pour les textes OPTIMA = a typeface for advertising, art books, scientific publications, etc.

Eine Schrift für Anzeigen, Kunstbücher, wissenschaftliche Publikationen, usw.

Une police pour les publicités, les livres d’art, les publications scientifiques, etc.

OPTIMA = an all-purpose type family with a fresh, stimulating appearance Eine universelle Schriftfamilie mit frischer und anregender Erscheinung Une famille universelle avec une impression de fraicheur et de vivacité OPTIMA = although copied and imitated, no other version could match the original Obwohl oft nachgemacht und kopiert, erreicht keine Version das Original Quoique souvent copié, aucune autre version ne peut se comparer à l’original OPTIMA = simple, elegant, legible – a classic design with a contemporary look Einfach, elegant, lesbar – ein klassisches Design mit zeitgenössischem Aussehen Simplicité, élégance, lisibilité, esthétique classique avec caractère contemporain OPTIMA = proven worldwide over 50 years in hot metal, photocomp, and digital Weltweit über 50 Jahre bewährt im Blei-, Fotosatz und digitalen Anwendungen Eprouvé dans le monde entier depuis plus de 50 ans dans la composition

FfGgHhIiJjKk

Characteristics and descriptions of the Optima designs. Set flush right

The Optima nova type family ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890 Optima nova Light

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890 Optima nova Regular

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890

The first five weights of Optima nova come complete with small caps and old style figures.

They are designed with ascenders and descenders to be used for setting text because they harmonize well with the lowercases.

The small caps fonts contain lining figures.

Optima nova Medium

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890 Optima nova Demi

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890 Optima nova Bold

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890 Optima nova Heavy

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890 Optima nova Black

FfGgHhIiJjKk Seven different upright weights of Optima nova

The newly designed true italics of Optima nova ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890 Optima nova Light Italic

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890 Optima nova Italic

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890

The first five weights of Optima nova Italic come complete with small caps and old style figures.

They are designed with ascenders and descenders to be used for setting text because they harmonize well with the lowercases.

The small caps fonts contain lining figures.

Optima nova Medium Italic

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890 Optima nova Demi Italic

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdef € 1234567890 & 1234567890 Optima nova Bold Italic

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890 Optima nova Heavy Italic

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890 Optima nova Black Italic

LlMmNnOoPp

Seven different italics of Optima nova

The Optima nova Condensed ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890 Optima nova Light Condensed

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890 Optima nova Condensed

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890 Optima nova Medium Condensed

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890 Optima nova Demi Condensed

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz € 1234567890

The Optima nova Condensed alphabets are welcomed new additions to the Optima type family, they are useful for headlines and many applications in advertising.

Die Optima nova Condensed Alphabete sind eine willkommene Ergänzung der Optima Schriftfamilie, sehr geeignet für Überschriften und viele Anwendungen in der Werbung.

Les alphabets Optima nova Condensed complétant avantageusement la famille Optima sont particulièrement appropriés pour les titres et les nombreuses applications dans le secteur publicitaire.

Optima nova Bold Condensed

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

The five weights of Optima nova Condensed have only lining figures, no old style figures or small caps.

€$¢£ƒ¥0123456789°&#½¼¾¹²³%‰ @!?¿¡†‡*/(|)[/]{\}ªº®©™»›‹«.,:;·•"'“”‘’,„…_-–— ¶æœøðłþßÆŒÐŁÞfiflIJij +­­­−± =≠≈∞<>≤≥¬µΔΩ∂∆∏∑√∫◊ℓ℮ áâàäãåāăąçćĉċčďéêèëēĕėęěĝğġģĥħíîìïĩīįıĵȷñńņňʼnóôòöõøōŏőŕŗř šśŝşšţťŧúûùüũūŭůűųŵÿýŷžźżž ÁÂÀÄÃÅĀĂĄÇĆĈĊČĎÉÊÈËĒĔĖĘĚĜĞ ĠĢĤĦÍÎÌÏĨĪİĴĶĹĽĿÑŃŅŇÓÔÒÖÕØŌŎŐŔŖŘŠŚŜŞŠȘŢŤŦÚÛÙÜŨŪŴ ŸÝŽŹŻŽ `´ ˆ ˜ ¯ ˘ ˙ ¨ ˚ ˝ ˇ ˛ ¸

LlMmNnOoPp The five different weights of the newly designed Optima nova Condensed

Examples of text emphasis with Optima nova

S

ome recommendations and hints for good typography using initials and Small Caps to present more attractive, effective flyers, newsletters,

brochures, etc.: This text begins with a two-line dropped initial to capture the reader’s attention. Initials emphasize the opening of a text or chapter.

They can run over two or three lines of a text. The remaining letters of the first word can be set in CAPITALS or Small Caps to support the large initial. To avoid difficulties with dropped initials, they could also stand as raised initials on the base line of the first line of text.

Note that all the paragraphs of this text are arranged with dropped beginning lines. This is one technique that departs from the ordinary left indentation which usually begins a paragraph, an idea which is perhaps especially welcome in the advertising branch.

Emphasizing the names of products, of people, etc., can be done with Small Caps. They can be applied with or without the capitals, in a heavier weight, or in italics. Optima nova offers 5 weights of Small Caps: Light, Regular, Medium, Demi and Bold. For increased emphasis on important words, use ALL CAPITAL letters in the same size as the text, or use one of the heavier or italic weights of Optima nova.

If this is still not powerful enough, the words can be printed in a larger size in alignment with the text lines or as demonstrated here OPTIMA

NOVA set in the middle of the text lines.

QqRrSsTtUu

Using Optima nova Small Caps

Helpful proposals for good typography LEGIBILITY is the primary consideration and the most important part of any printed communication. Additional line spacing for instance or the selection of a larger size helps information to be read more easily and quickly. Another possibility are free arrangements of text lines as demonstrated on this page done in another typeface or in color. A Choose oldstyle figures within a text instead of lining figures and they should be used for telephone and cell phone numbers numbers

E

7

076-5287 and for telefax

076-5289. Here they are combined with the new ›Zapf Essentials‹,

a series of digital dingbats and ornaments with 372 different designs, available from Linotype Library. A As an additional possibility shown here, paragraphs can be divided with a bullet, a special star, or one of the many Zapf Essentials ornaments.

f

U An experienced eye is necessary for the free arrangement of lines in a short message or to emphasize an important note.

Balance the lines carefully in varying short and longer lines and break lines within sentences logically and conveniently to reflect the dynamic rhythm of the words.

C

reative typography is the key to text composition. This is especially true today,

given the enormous capability and range of typefaces at our disposal and the digital possibilities which can stimulate the imagination. Many ideas are just waiting to be executed with Optima nova.

✍

QqRrSsTtUu Optima nova Regular and Bold Italic together with Zapf Essentials

Samples of stationery and business cards

RIT

Rochester Institute of Technology School of Print Media College of Imaging Arts and Sciences Frank E. Gannett Building 69 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, New York 14623-5603 Tel. 585-475-2728 Fax 585-475-7029

BMV

B e a t r i c e M . Vo l t a n i -To r z a n o Campo S. Maria Del Giglio 2162·30124 Venezia Te l ( 0 4 1 ) 7 0 5 . 1 6 6

COMPUTER MUSEUM BOSTON 300 Congress Street · Boston, Massachusetts 02210 · Tel. (817) 426-2800

Charles Derriey Imprimerie 76, rue Saint Jacques Paris · Tel. 713.652

August Rosenberger

Frankfurt am Main Wittelsbacher Allee 156 Telefon: 45 37 69

10

Optima nova Small Caps and Titling combined with Zapfino

Optima used in publishing Title page in two languages, justified lines

MANUALE TYPOGRAPHICUM

Title page arranged with content

Hermann Zapf

100 typographische Gestaltungen mit Aussagen über die Schrift, über Typographie und Druckkunst, aus Vergangenheit und Gegenwart, in achtzehn verschiedenen Sprachen 100 typographical arrangements with considerations about types, typography and the art of printing selected from past and present, printed in eighteen languages.

Französisches Theater 6

Theaterstücke

jean giraudoux Kein Krieg in Troja

paul claudel Verkündigung

89

jean-paul sartre

203

jean anouilh

249

albert camus

349

eugène ionesco

409

Bei geschlossenen Türen Jeanne oder die Lerche Die Gerechten

Der neue Mieter

Z- P R E S S E F R A N K F U R T NEW YORK MCMLXVIII

Seite 5

Mit einem Nachwort von S. Melchinger Büchergilde Gutenberg Frankfurt/Main

BOOKS ABOUT BOOKS An international Exhibition on the Occasion of the International Book Year 1972 Proclaimed by UNESCO

Kindlers Malerei Lexikon. Kindler Verlag, Zürich Frankfurt am Main

Exhibition catalog. Title page flushed left in Optima bold.

Logo design by Michel Olyff, Brussels

Federal Republic of Germany Frankfurt Book Fair

Three variations of title pages in different designs

11

Optima for indoor and outdoor posters Once upon a time

there was an Art Director

With blood and sweat, day and night, he labored to conceive a new idea.

And behold, he found he had created a blue-blooded stallion, with flashing eyes, proudly-arched neck, powerful legs and a flowing tail.

D. Stempel AG, Frankfurt Text: Rudolf Schmidt-Mannheim, Translation by Paul Standard Illustration: Erwin Poell, Heidelberg (1960)

The Fine Art of Letters

This was such a perfect animal, in short, that not even the ancient gods could have done better.

A conference was then called to inspect the masterpiece.

The sales manager declared: »He trots too lightly.«

There was a lot of talk and the stallion was given the feet of an elephant.

Someone else piped up:

»I think his range of vision is too limited.« There was more talk and the stallion wound up with a giraffe’s neck.

Finally the boss remarked: »He isn’t fancy enough.« They agreed, and gave the animal a peacock’s tail.

And then everybody wondered why the idea didn’t pull

The Work of Hermann Zapf at The Grolier Club 13 December 2000 – 10 February 2001 47 East 60th Street · New York City

Champion Papers

Imagination Scholarship Program

Poster design: Jerry Kelly, New York

Consider the power of paper used with imagination and you could be a winner.

University poster.

Champion Papers

12

Champion International Corporation, Hamilton, Michigan

Examples of posters in extremely reduced sizes

Optima for business documents and graphic design

The Franklin Society Newsletter IV / 2002

D

UB

LIN TOURIS M

JAMES JOYCE 1882â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1941 LIVED IN THIS HOUSE

Zapf Essentials Ornaments (the ornament will change with each issue)

FROM THE AGE OF 2 TO 5 YEARS

Optima nova Titling

AND WROTE HIS FIRST WORDS HERE

Design: Heinz Schillinger

Photo: Anngret Simms, Dublin

A typeface for annual reports, announcements, magazines, etc.

Optima and Palatino are used worldwide on postage stamps

13

Optima three-dimensional Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC Photo: Ann Hawkins, Washington, DC Photo: Patrick Leung, Hong Kong

Photo: Ryuichi Tateno, Saitama/Japan

Wetzlar. Photo: Franz Pahnem

San Francisco Public Library Photo: Susie Taylor, San Francisco Mannheim Photo: Kurt Vogler, Heidelberg

14

Examples of Optima in large outdoor lettering

Optima used for signs and corpoate designs Florence/Italy. Photo: Kurt Vogler, Heidelberg Corporate design in Optima

Nancy/France Photo: Kurt Vogler, Heidelberg

National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC Photo: Kathleen Buckalew

Poster in the lobby of the United Nations building in New York Optima combined with Palatino Italic Hixon Design Consultants, New York, UN photo 188956, E. Schneider

15

Optima nova Titling: the addition of 84 new letters Optima nova Titling with all special characters

ABCDEFGHIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ •0123456789/ &aachcoefthe hr ka la li ll me ne nn oo ooq qu raresa st t te th ti tt u Ve Æ ää Œ ö ö Ø ü ü ü €$¢£¥ The complete font includes accented letters, punctuations, etc.

VvWvXxYyZz 16

The 84 letters of Optima nova Titling with ligatures and combinations

Specially designed as a display face to accompany the Optima nova weights, the detail of the rounded corners can be seen at larger point sizes. It is an excellent choice for posters and

magazine headlines.

Sculpture executed in aluminium

Besonders für den Einsatz als Display Schrift passt sie zu den anderen Optima nova Schnitten.

Die abgerundeten Ecken sind in großen Graden sichtbar. Sie ist hervorragend geeignet für

Plakate und Überschriften in Zeitschriften.

Notamment pour les présentoirs, elle harmonise parfaitement avec les autres polices Optima nova. Les coins arrondis sont visibles dans les grands corps. Parfaitement appropriée pour les

panneaux publicitaires et les titres dans les revues.

thE NEW OPtiMA NOVA tiTliNG

How to use Optima nova Titling

VvWvXxYyZz Optima nova Light with dropped initials and Optima nova Titling

17

Sample character set showing

¶ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST UVWXYZ & ÆŒIJ* @abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz æœß fi fl ij 0123456789 0123456789 0123456789… 0123456789 €$¢£¥ ¤.,:;”„“’»«›‹?!¿¡#†‡§'" abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz& (0123456789) € $¢£ƒ¥ © ąăčđęłřşű H•H·H-H−H—H h-h–h—h†h‡h [({%‰¼½¾})]/|\¦ ∂µπ∆Ω ∑√+−±·×÷¬ = ≠ ≈ ~<>≤≥∞∫∏ ©® ™ ąăčđęłřşű ąăčđęłřşű

Proportional lining figures

Tabular lining figures

Proportional old style figures

Tabular old style figures

Small Caps

All OpenType fonts have accented letters for Western and Eastern European languages

1234567890 18

List of glyphs in the Optima nova OpenType Platinum fonts

Condensed

Italic Old Style Figures

Italic Small Caps

Italic

Old Style Figures

Upright

Small Caps

The Optima nova project 20 typefaces

Light

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg

Regular

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg

Medium

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg

Demi

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg

Bold

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg EQ afg 238

EQ afg

Heavy

EQ afg

EQ afg

Black

EQ afg

EQ afg

Titling

EQ chli

1234567890 Diagram of the weight progression in the Optima nova type family

19

ON-BR607DEF1.0MP1

Linotype GmbH Du-Pont-StraĂ&#x;e 1 61352 Bad Homburg Germany

A +49 (0) 6172 484-418

d +49 (0) 6172 484-429 info@linotype.com

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Š 2003 - 2006 Linotype GmbH. We reserve the right of errors and changes.

Linotype, Linotype Library and Optima are trademarks of Linotype GmbH, and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

Design: Hermann Zapf

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