Randy Troppmann

I have been a user of usenet since the early 90′s and recently I googled my name under “groups.” I was surpised to see posts that I made way back when. At the time I had no idea that my posts would be so available in the future and a legacy to my on-line communications or miscommunications. I would like to share one very funny post/thread from 1994 that can be found on google (click me):

Randy asks:

“Does anyone know of a multimaster version of Optima. I’m try to set some type for a sign for a building. The architect has specified Optima bold that is compressed 50% horizontally. He is also calling for small caps in some cases. I like using expert sets and hate squishing type, so if I could buy the proper fonts I would be in better shape.”

Charles A. Bigelow responds:

“If Hermann Zapf had wanted Optima condensed 50%, he would have drawn it condensed 50%. It seems to me that there is only one decent solution to your problem. Set the sign in normal Optima, and ask the architect to expand the horizontal aspect of the building 200%. Then the Optima will have the desired proportion to the building. It should be easy if the architect is designing with a CAD system – just re-set the parameter for the X-axis.

If, however, the building has already been constucted, and the architect negelected to think about the signage until too late – oops – then it will be a little more expensive to expand everything, so tell the architect to get in touch with Hermann Zapf and commission a design of special condensed lettering
for the sign. Look under the Z’s in the Darmstadt phone book. If the sign doesn’t have a complete alphabet in it, the architect could maybe get a discount. It’ll probably cost him less than he has spent on lunches and liquor for his client.”

Ouch.

In the end, in collaboration with Wei Yew, a custom type design was created for the sign.