Tim Rolands' Envoy: Opinions?

Palatine
13.Jul.2006 5.23pm
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What’s everyone’s opinion on this one? Seems pretty solid. It has a nice set of ligatures. Have any of you used this?

http://www.timrolands.com/Default.aspx?tabid=30



typequake
13.Jul.2006 5.44pm
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I haven’t seen it in use, but it is quite a deal: a legit family for $50.


Stephen Coles
13.Jul.2006 6.01pm
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Haven’t used it myself, but it seems Minion would be a better choice, unless you’re looking for something less common and with an older finish.


Palatine
13.Jul.2006 6.13pm
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It’s always refreshing to use something other than Minion. But how close is Envoy to Minion?


Stephen Coles
13.Jul.2006 7.04pm
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How close? Fairly:




Envoy, Minion Caption

Envoy is less polished, retaining the irregularities common in pre-digital type, but the skeleton is nearly the same. So it’s all about finish here. Which is better suited for your content?


Palatine
13.Jul.2006 7.36pm
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Fairly close indeed. Thanks for that useful comparison, Stephen.

The content has to do with Classical (Roman) history, the early imperial period under Augustus. A fairly long tract of text. Mind you, this might be just the excuse I was looking for to buy MVB Verdigris. ;-)


Stephen Coles
13.Jul.2006 7.46pm
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I was going to mention Verdigris too! I censored myself because I thought it might be too wide for you. But it’s lovely and I can certainly vouch for it, having used it many times. The others have the advantage of size-specific cuts, and Minion has many more extras, but if those aren’t requirements, Verdigris would be my choice.


Palatine
13.Jul.2006 8.08pm
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Then it’s settled ;)


crossgrove
14.Jul.2006 8.27am
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The Italic is even closer to Minion’s.


Miss Tiffany
14.Jul.2006 8.35am
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[moderator self-edit]


typequake
14.Jul.2006 8.40am
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If I remember correctly, the Roman of Verdigris was offered for a free trial a few months ago.


Stephen Coles
14.Jul.2006 9.11am
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Yep. At FontShop. But one month only.


typequake
14.Jul.2006 10.34am
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Palatine, I would have guessed you already bought Verdigris and used it extensively, after you so warmly recommended it two days ago (/node/21252). I’ve never used it myself, so let me know how it turned out for you!


Palatine
15.Jul.2006 6.16pm
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Typequake:

I do own Verdigris. When I first recommended it warmly, I did not own it. But I compared its letterforms to other fonts designed for extensive text. Its versatility and aesthetic virtues were obvious. After having actually used it for two lengthy pieces of work, dealing mainly with Roman classical literature, my impressions of the font have been confirmed.

My attention was diverted by Envoy, however. I found its old-style characterestics rather charming, but the comparison to the overly-clean and consequently, insincere Minion, turned me away from it. So Verdigris came to mind, etc.


rs_donsata
17.Jul.2006 12.25pm
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It’s not very well spaced.

Héctor


Stephen Coles
17.Jul.2006 3.12pm
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Héctor - I might blame Roland’s ill-advised specimen for that, not the font itself. Don’t know why he’d choose to letterspace and wordspace to justify the type in a specimen.


rs_donsata
21.Jul.2006 1.31pm
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You’re right

Héctor