GeekSugar

Simple Fonts Make It Harder to Remember What You've Read

Kristen Hawley — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:00:44 PST

In a blow to Helvetica fanatics everywhere (this girl included), a new Princeton study finds that the easier the font, the less you'll remember after reading. Turns out challenging, "disfluent" fonts actually help readers retain information, not hinder it as many people believe.

This could spell bad news for avid ereader users hoping to quickly retain much of what they've read, since most feature simple and unchangeable fonts. It makes sense - the more complex the font, the longer your eye lingers on the word, and the longer your brain has to process and retain the information, sort of like a complicated mental workout. Even if ereaders did start offering the option of different fonts, I don't know that I'd purposely choose a complicated one in hopes of retaining more information.

Source: Flickr User carbonnycs

Facebook Font Change: Love It or Leave It?

Kristen Hawley — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:45:39 PDT

A few days ago, Facebook quietly changed the font size on its home screen and status updates, making it considerably smaller than it was. Many users have complained it's too small to see without squinting or having to adjust their browser's font size.

Facebook acknowledged the feedback, ironically via Twitter, but hasn't mentioned or addressed the changes anywhere on its site or during today's press conference. To be honest, I barely noticed the font change; it's large enough for me to see and I don't have a problem with it.

What about you? Do you have a strong opinion on the new font size and style?

Adobe and Typekit Partnership Brings New Fonts to the Web

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:22 PDT

Good news for font geeks and web design fans everywhere; thanks to a new partnership between Typekit and Adobe, 18 new fonts are making the leap online. Starting yesterday, Typekit users are able to integrate these new fonts (including favorites like Adobe Garamond and Myriad) into their designs. The fonts are available at every account level, with Adobe Garamond available free to users within the free trial period. Find out more about the new fonts after the jump.

10 Sites For Font Fun and Free Downloads

GeekSugar — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 08:30:07 PDT

The language of fonts can take a while to master. Even designers with specially trained eyes find themselves saying "What da font?" every now and again . . . and again. Whether you're just looking for free font downloads for an invite or project or want to give your font life a fancy makeover, take a gander at this collection of websites that indulge your font fascination and offer free downloads. You'll be talking Helvetica before you know it.

Website of the Day: Miffies

GeekSugar — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:00:35 PDT

This one goes out to all the design nerds and Colour Lovers. Check out Miffies. It's a Japanese site, so you may not be able to read the "about" section, but what it offers needs no explanation. The site has compiled 50 fonts inspired by 8-bit video games, and they are available for free download. I feel a video game championship night coming on.

Do you have an interesting website you want to share? Join the Website of the Day group and share it for a chance to be featured on GeekSugar.

Create Your Own Font With Your Facial Expressions

GeekSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:47:17 PST

These days, writing with a pen and ink may be something of a novelty, especially to folks like you and me who are on computers for eight hours a day. Writing out those Valentine's Day cards really proved to be more difficult than ever! If you're a slave to the keyboard and send more emails than snail mail, you can soon create your own font which will be as distinctive as your handwriting, just by taking a photo of your face.

In beta status right now, Typeface is a software that allows you to create a custom font based on facial expressions. Since no two faces are the same, you'll never find an identical font! Just by moving your mouth, eyes, and position, your font will change and mold until you decide that it's totally "you." Papyrus, be damned.

Website of the Day: Font Capture

GeekSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:20:56 PDT

I love experimenting with different fonts on my computer, especially if I'm creating a special invitation. Unfortunately, there's only so many times I can pass off Comic Sans as handwriting. (Guilty!) While I think it's the closest preloaded font to my handwriting, it's already too recognizable to pass off as my own.

Luckily, I just found a new option. Font Capture. It's so easy to use: download a PDF of the font template, fill in each block with the appropriate letter, scan the sheet, and upload it as a .jpg or .png file. Then, submit the file and Font Capture will deliver your own custom font. The best part is, it's completely free! Plus, fonts work on both Mac and PC, and the site also contains installation instructions.

Have an interesting website you want to share? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group,

Ikea Customers Outraged About Font Change

GeekSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:00:00 PDT

My favorite Swedish furniture retail chain Ikea (did you pick up your back to school items?) has just changed its well known futura font to verdana. But why the sudden typeface change? An Ikea spokeswoman said that the change allows Ikea to use the same font in all countries and with many alphabets therefore making it "more efficient and cost-effective." With customers noticing the change in the new 2010 catalog, thousands took to Twitter to air their frustrations with many saying that they feel betrayed because Ikea is emulating other big box corporations which have ugly, basic fonts.

To keep reading, and to see the font differences closer up, just

read more. What's interesting to note is that Verdana was never intended to be used in print, as Microsoft created it as an easily readable font for the web. What do you think? Do you think Ikea's integrity as a design company is being questioned with this new font change? Do you like the change? Personally, Ikea in Verdana is going to take some getting used to - Futura just suits Ikea and its style. Oh, and if you want to check out the 2010 catalog, you can access it in its entirety online here.

Geek Tip: Get Free, Pretty Fonts From Font Squirrel

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:04:15 PDT

What do I love more than fonts? Free fonts.

I have a few favorite destinations when I need to download something gratis for a project, and now I have another new one: Font Squirrel.

The best thing about Font Squirrel, besides its free-ness? The offered fonts are stunning. Really, there are tons of beautiful typefaces that are perfect for design-driven work. Plus, it's also fun to peruse and make up new projects just to use a pretty font.

Font Geeks Unite: TypeNuts' Designy iPhone Wallpapers

GeekSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:05:14 PDT

Free iPhone wallpapers are rarely outrageously beautiful, so when I find a collection of them that are, I go nuts with them.

Whereas before my best resource was Poolga, I now have a second option.

TypeNuts also has a reserve of gorgeous, rich, high-res images, and like Poolga, they're totally free.

But that's not even my favorite part: the wallpapers on TypeNuts all share a theme of using type and font-based designs.

I'm an addict, and this only my latest fix.