onpaperwings

onpaperwings, 10 months ago to random

I’m crushing HARD on this specific e-bike. We have a small garage, so I can’t fit a big, long bike, but I desperately want to cut down on all of my small car trips and this looks just about perfect.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/haul-st/p/200057

onpaperwings, 8 months ago to random

Type nerds with lots of fonts on their computer: What have you replaced FontExplorer X with?

https://rightfontapp.com/

or

https://typefaceapp.com/

or something else?

onpaperwings, 11 months ago to random

I am researching today at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, Massachusetts!

Follow along with my discoveries on the LBP Insta:

https://instagram.com/stories/linotypebook/3141004677239070284

onpaperwings, 1 year ago to random

Hey type designers!

Is there another term that has been adopted to replace the obviously heavy-laden “master/slave” in reference to type design?

Working on a project where the font files have been “re-mastered” and I would love to use a different word.

Found this guide for Inclusive Naming: https://inclusivenaming.org/word-lists/ but very curious to hear from actual type designers.

onpaperwings, 4 months ago to random

I know this is an extremely niche post and only a few people will know or even care, but HOW can the world’s best watch company, Patek Philippe, make amazing watches with incredible technical prowess and then just phone it in on the typography on the dial?!

Truly the most 🤢 watch dial in my opinion and an affront to their entire catalogue of beautiful watches.

Patek Philippe World Time 5231G Enamel Dial 18K White Gold watch with very boring and possibly artificially condensed all-caps serif type.
Patek Philippe World Time 5231J Enamel Dial 18K Yellow Gold watch with ugly typography around the dial.
A green Patek Philippe World Time 5930P Chronograph Platinum Green Dial watch with cheap-looking, san-serif typography.

onpaperwings, 7 months ago to random

Microsoft Teams really is the worst of everything, isn’t it?

Chat: A worse Slack

Calls: A worse Zoom

Word: A worse Google Docs

Excel: A worse Google Sheets

Outlook: A worse email & calendar

One Drive: A worse Dropbox (which is hard to do these days)

onpaperwings, 1 year ago (edited 1 year ago) to random

🚨 Announcing the Linotype Book Project! 🚨

Over a decade of researching and collecting, over a year in my head, and over five months in the making; I am thrilled to announce I am writing a book about the dramatic impact of the Linotype on journalism, communication, and all of society.

Follow along by joining the members-only newsletter to get behind-the-scenes access while the book is being made.

https://linotypebook.com/

onpaperwings, 8 months ago to random

Finally breaking down and creating a big ol’ spreadsheet of all of Mergenthaler Linotype Company’s printed publications over the years.

Wish me luck.

onpaperwings, 1 year ago to random

Hey type designers: I know that the M or W are the widest letter characters, but what is the widest figure/number?

5?

Is there a consensus on this?

onpaperwings, 10 months ago to random

[working on freelance project]

“If I die, tell my wife was death by 1,000 cuts from Adobe XD and it was nice knowing her.”

onpaperwings, 8 months ago to random

WHEW - after three days of work (prob 15 hours), I have finally dug through all of the “Inland Printers” from 1886 to 1900 and have a 219 page PDF of any time the words “Linotype” or “Mergenthaler” was mentioned.

😫 😫 😫

onpaperwings, 7 months ago to random

Sigh.

I’m going to write a whole blog post about these amazing “Linotype Bulletin” covers, aren't I?

I can’t help myself, can I?

<sarcasm> Good thing I have nothing else better to do… </sarcasm>

onpaperwings, 4 months ago to random

I am 1000% aware this will sound like a sponsored post from my employer, but I promise it is not.

I’m designing with Helvetica in the first time in quite a long time and using Helvetica Now.

And dammit, it is a better digital version of Helvetica.

The optical sizes of display, text, and micro are genuinely well done and useful. I’m only sharing because I’m humbly going back on my cynical take from when it was released.

onpaperwings, 5 months ago to random

Alright web devs: Can I stop offering EOT font files yet?

In theory we are way past that crap, but are we in reality past it or is it better to be safe?

Asking for me.

onpaperwings, 8 months ago to random

Seriously considering cancelling Amazon Prime as it is up for renewal in a month at $139 plus tax.

We don’t use it ALL the time, but of course it is nice to have for the “free” shipping.

Any other people (or families) out there that have done it?

onpaperwings, 1 year ago to random

I love hearing from people that have received their free copy of “Linotype: The Film” after signing up for the Linotype Book Project.

The fact that now, 12 years from the release, people are still watching and enjoying our film about quirky people and a quirky machine brings me much joy.

https://vimeo.com/15032988

onpaperwings, 9 months ago to random

Just sent out my 5th (!) update on the Linotype Book Project all about my visit to “The New York Times” morgue back in June.

It was such an amazing, short visit and I still can’t believe I got to dig through that treasure trove.

If you’re interested in such things, make sure you’re signed up for the newsletter: https://buttondown.email/linotypebook

A black and white photo of a man sitting at a computer terminal, wearing the typical newspaper editor’s visor.
A black and white photo of Linotypes covered with plastic sheeting. The caption reads, “In the composing room, “hot type” linotypes are plastic-wrapped for oblivion to make space for high-speed electronic gadgetry.”
A tiny article with the headline, “Computer Removed” the text underneath reads, “The New York Times” has had an IBM 1620 computer that was installed in July 1964 removed. At the newspaper it was stated that there were no plans to replace the equipment until and if permission to do so was negotiated with the printers’ union.”

onpaperwings, 10 months ago to random

Yet again, I am here, dear friends, asking what phrase I can use to replace “fleshing out” because it feels too medical and creepy and gross.

onpaperwings, 1 year ago to random

If you’re interested, I’m posting today from the Columbia University Rare Book library over on the LBP Instagram account: https://instagram.com/linotypebook

onpaperwings, 1 year ago to random

Psst: Official announcement coming in the morning my time, but any late-night Western or early-morning Eastern Hemispherians that want to get in early…

https://linotypebook.com/

onpaperwings, 7 months ago (edited 7 months ago) to random

A quick poll about my personal website: My favorite (and totally silly) feature is the “Change That Font!” toggle at the bottom where the visitor can change the font to four of my favorite fonts.

I want to add or change to some new favorites.

Should I just add the new fonts and have more choices or should I keep it limited?

https://realdougwilson.com/

onpaperwings, 7 months ago to random

Type nerds: I’ve got a type ID challenge for you.

Metal type, used for foil stamping, no special pin marks that I could find.

R and M feel “British” but I don’t think it is Monotype cast as sorts?

@fhardwig @stewf @nicksherman @kupfers et al

A capital letter W metal type sort under a magnifying glass.

onpaperwings, 11 months ago to random

Good grief, parenting is such a strange rollercoaster.

This morning, I spent 15 minutes fighting (and losing) with a six year old to get dressed and eat the food placed directly in front of him.

I got so frustrated I had to walk out of the room so I wouldn’t just scream.

Then 15 minutes later on the way to summer camp, we started talking about death and if I’ll still be alive if he chooses to have kids and he so sweetly said he wanted me to be alive when he was 40 years old.

onpaperwings, 1 month ago to random

I’ve always felt that The Miehle printing press always had such a bad-ass logo and I love it so much.

It was a Chicago company, right @Okay?

Reminded of it from this blog post: https://www.spam-project.com/2023/06/30/walcha-miehle-memories/

A photograph of a printing press with a metal nameplate that says “The Miehle”
A vintage Miehle printing press advertisement with the logo in black
A vintage Miehle printing press advertisement with the logo in black

onpaperwings, 11 days ago to random

Do you love type and mechanical watches? I know several of you on here do just like me!

Give a listen to my second podcast interview for Monotype with Lee Yuen-Rapati, designer of typography specifically for watches: https://www.monotype.com/resources/expertise/creative-characters-s4-e9-lee-yuen-rapati

(he works for Fears Watch Company and designed the numerals for my beautiful Archival 1930 watch seen below)

Fears Archival 1930 watch on my wrist from Fears Watch Company
Fears Archival 1930 watch on my wrist from Fears Watch Company — there is a fire in a fireplace in the background
Fears Archival 1930 watch on my wrist from Fears Watch Company