ITC Grouch!

That ’n’ looks customized (and awful) tho.

Super-tight kerning. Is it in or out right now?

Is this a 70’s thing or an 80’s thing?

Super-tight was a ’70s thing. Still relatively tight in the ’80s, but on its way out. Designers setting things super-tight now are making a reference to the ’70s. I don’t think anyone thinks it’s a better way to set type the way they did back then (and they did!).

My copy of Rolf Rehe’s book on readability had overlapping text on the cover.

ChrisL

On a personal note, when I became seriously interested in type during high school in the early ’70s, it was this super-tight style that got my attention, and I enthusiastically imitated it on things like the school paper and yearbook. By the time I was employed as a designer in 1976, my tastes in spacing had become a bit more sophisticated. Part of me still likes the look, while the rest of me wonders what they were smoking.

I don’t think it had anything to do with the smoke, but rather the tightness of the jeans and lack of oxygen. :^>

Well for this logo I think the impression that the type is busting (so to speak) out of its seams is particularly appropos.

Why single out the ’n’? – It’s all a bit lumpy.

Nick Cooke

Tiff and Patty both have harnassed the issue :-)

ChrisL

Hey! Thanks a lot everybody. That was super quick!