Comments on: My Love/Hate Affair With Typekit http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/ Web design news and insights since 1995 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:54:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: EXM Media http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-54507 EXM Media Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:28:50 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-54507 Awesome stuff Typekit is a fantastic and brilliantly executed platform that delivers some of the best licensed fonts available. They’ve done a fantastic job of reaching out and crafting a solid site, system and support. Awesome stuff
Typekit is a fantastic and brilliantly executed platform that delivers some of the best licensed fonts available. They’ve done a fantastic job of reaching out and crafting a solid site, system and support.

]]> By: Cre8ive Commando http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-54005 Cre8ive Commando Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:57:54 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-54005 @Jeffrey - I too have been experiencing some downtime on the Font Squirrel website. Seems to be working now though. As for my preferred font embedding solution it would have to be @font-face. It's just so clean and simple. @Jeffrey – I too have been experiencing some downtime on the Font Squirrel website. Seems to be working now though.

As for my preferred font embedding solution it would have to be @font-face. It’s just so clean and simple.

]]> By: Brady J. Frey http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53978 Brady J. Frey Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:49:28 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53978 Like most folks here, I agree with you; in fact, I was keeping my mouth shut, since most folks were quite in love with TypeKit. I honestly have no qualms paying extra license fees, but I do have qualms with relying on third parties services on the speed and agility of my servers... not to mention the proprietary reluctance for anything flash, especially in the iPhone age. That kills TypeKit and sIFR for me and my department, and with 13 companies worldwide, we have a decent reach. I'll stick with Font Squirrel and @font-face for now until a solution as universal, simple and fundamental as background images for my css. Like most folks here, I agree with you; in fact, I was keeping my mouth shut, since most folks were quite in love with TypeKit.

I honestly have no qualms paying extra license fees, but I do have qualms with relying on third parties services on the speed and agility of my servers… not to mention the proprietary reluctance for anything flash, especially in the iPhone age. That kills TypeKit and sIFR for me and my department, and with 13 companies worldwide, we have a decent reach. I’ll stick with Font Squirrel and @font-face for now until a solution as universal, simple and fundamental as background images for my css.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53972 Aaron Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:22:24 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53972 I'm with you. I prefer @font-face to relying on JavaScript and pay licenses. I love the FontSquirrel generator, though I like to modify the CSS it produces to support multiple weights and styles using the same font name. I’m with you. I prefer @font-face to relying on JavaScript and pay licenses. I love the FontSquirrel generator, though I like to modify the CSS it produces to support multiple weights and styles using the same font name.

]]> By: Love Me Long Time – Jeffrey Zeldman Presents The Daily Report http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53898 Love Me Long Time – Jeffrey Zeldman Presents The Daily Report Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:31:38 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53898 [...] My Love/Hate Affair With Typekit [...] [...] My Love/Hate Affair With Typekit [...]

]]> By: bruce http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53860 bruce Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:09:02 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53860 Jeffrey Veen, glad that the Opera bugs are fixed! Regarding WOFF, we're generally sympathetic to its aims. Which means (of course) that I can't promise anything but we like it. Jeffrey Veen,

glad that the Opera bugs are fixed!

Regarding WOFF, we’re generally sympathetic to its aims. Which means (of course) that I can’t promise anything but we like it.

]]> By: Ben http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53859 Ben Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:57:48 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53859 My problem with typekit is the pricing structure, the jump for being able to use it on a poxy 5 sites to being able to use it on a far too many 40 is insane, there needs to be a middle ground. My problem with typekit is the pricing structure, the jump for being able to use it on a poxy 5 sites to being able to use it on a far too many 40 is insane, there needs to be a middle ground.

]]> By: Dave http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53856 Dave Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:33:41 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53856 Thanks for once again articulating my thoughts for me Jeffrey. There was a need, typekit filled it, it worked but it charged! Enter Font Squirrel for those of us working on lower budget stuff. Thanks for once again articulating my thoughts for me Jeffrey. There was a need, typekit filled it, it worked but it charged! Enter Font Squirrel for those of us working on lower budget stuff.

]]> By: Font Squirrel http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53848 Font Squirrel Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:05:34 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53848 @Jeffrey - Well, that isn't good. We've heard a few reports of crashes, but nothing specific we can use to diagnose. Does it just freeze? I'm a bit concerned that the processing power it takes to convert these thousands and thousands of fonts is taking a toll. Any specific info you can provide would be helpful. So far I have been unable to reproduce the problem. @Jeffrey – Well, that isn’t good. We’ve heard a few reports of crashes, but nothing specific we can use to diagnose. Does it just freeze? I’m a bit concerned that the processing power it takes to convert these thousands and thousands of fonts is taking a toll. Any specific info you can provide would be helpful. So far I have been unable to reproduce the problem.

]]> By: Jeffrey Zeldman http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53845 Jeffrey Zeldman Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:36:37 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53845 Richard: Over the past two days, the Font Squirrel @Font-Face Generator has been freezing and crashing for me without ever generating files. This happens in Firefox, Chrome, and Safari in Mac OS X 10.6.2 on two different iMacs. A temporary problem? Something funky in my system (i.e. the typical non-reproducible Zeldman-only bug experience), or are other folks experiencing this sometimes, too? Richard:

Over the past two days, the Font Squirrel @Font-Face Generator has been freezing and crashing for me without ever generating files. This happens in Firefox, Chrome, and Safari in Mac OS X 10.6.2 on two different iMacs. A temporary problem? Something funky in my system (i.e. the typical non-reproducible Zeldman-only bug experience), or are other folks experiencing this sometimes, too?

]]> By: Richard Fink http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53839 Richard Fink Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:30:42 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53839 @grant <em>but until the issues with licensing and cross-browser support for different font types (EOT etc) are solved, I think Typekit is a good stopgap.</em> The issues are not as great as you might imagine. Take a look at one of Font Squirrel's packages and try their @font-face generator. It's mostly a question of file conversion - which is an automatic process. @grant
but until the issues with licensing and cross-browser support for different font types (EOT etc) are solved, I think Typekit is a good stopgap.
The issues are not as great as you might imagine. Take a look at one of Font Squirrel’s packages and try their @font-face generator.
It’s mostly a question of file conversion – which is an automatic process.

]]> By: Christopher Slye http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53802 Christopher Slye Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:52:14 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53802 <blockquote>Currently Firefox supports WOFF and TrueType, Safari and Chrome support TrueType, MobileSafari supports SVG, IE supports EOT, and on, and on.</blockquote> This is misleading. Firefox, Safari, et al. support not just "TrueType" but also "OpenType" -- meaning OpenType fonts with either TrueType (.ttf) <em>or</em> PostScript/CFF (.otf) outlines.

Currently Firefox supports WOFF and TrueType, Safari and Chrome support TrueType, MobileSafari supports SVG, IE supports EOT, and on, and on.

This is misleading. Firefox, Safari, et al. support not just “TrueType” but also “OpenType” — meaning OpenType fonts with either TrueType (.ttf) or PostScript/CFF (.otf) outlines.

]]> By: Jeffrey Veen http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53801 Jeffrey Veen Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:51:09 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53801 Bruce, you are right and I stand corrected. The latest version of Opera for Windows does, indeed, fix the bugs we had uncovered earlier. There are still a couple roadblocks for Typekit support, but we're looking into alternatives and should have a solution soon. Any chance you guys will support WOFF? We'd love to start sending those files to Opera in addition to Firefox 3.6. Richard, great point! We update and upgrade our fonts continuously, and since we serve them centrally, our customers always have the latest versions. The selections from FontFont, for example, have been updated four times in the last few months with improved screen hinting. Bruce, you are right and I stand corrected. The latest version of Opera for Windows does, indeed, fix the bugs we had uncovered earlier. There are still a couple roadblocks for Typekit support, but we’re looking into alternatives and should have a solution soon. Any chance you guys will support WOFF? We’d love to start sending those files to Opera in addition to Firefox 3.6.

Richard, great point! We update and upgrade our fonts continuously, and since we serve them centrally, our customers always have the latest versions. The selections from FontFont, for example, have been updated four times in the last few months with improved screen hinting.

]]> By: Trace Meek http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53792 Trace Meek Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:29:34 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53792 I'm happy to see that one of my favorite type designers seems to be allowing people to make their own @font-face embeddable versions of his wonderful <a href="http://www.typodermic.com/larabie-fonts.html" title="Ray Larabie's fonts on Typodermic" rel="nofollow">Larabie Fonts Collection</a>.  His proposed workaround oozes good karma: "Change the font's filename to something difficult [...] to guess." I’m happy to see that one of my favorite type designers seems to be allowing people to make their own @font-face embeddable versions of his wonderful Larabie Fonts Collection.  His proposed workaround oozes good karma: “Change the font’s filename to something difficult [...] to guess.”

]]> By: Joshua Sortino http://www.zeldman.com/2010/03/22/my-lovehate-affair-with-typekit/#comment-53788 Joshua Sortino Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:24:25 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/?p=4162#comment-53788 Regarding your last point, I feel the same way. If a standard is implemented (@font-face), then why would we use a framework that accomplishes the same outcome? I understand the browser issues ... but these are only temporary. Regarding your last point, I feel the same way. If a standard is implemented (@font-face), then why would we use a framework that accomplishes the same outcome? I understand the browser issues … but these are only temporary.

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