Zapfino Extra
Zapfino extra: Hermann Zapf’s calligraphic masterpiece
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Master typeface designer Hermann Zapf published Zapfino® in 1998. Despite its relatively young age, the font has been enormously popular. Its noble, yet lively and friendly shapes quickly won the hearts of designers. The font was also revised and expanded multiple times. The typeface was first published in four individual styles. In 2005, it came out in the then young OpenType format as Zapfino Extra with numerous OpenType functions.
Additional small caps and the bold style Zapfino Extra Forte.
Comprehensive alternative characters with swash versions and diverse start and end shapes.
Old-style numbers, uppercase numbers and numbers in x-height.
Numerous ornaments, arrows and pictograms.
International language options including Greek and Cyrillic.
Computer technology was advanced enough by the turn of the millenium: Zapf, nearly 80 at the time, began working with David Siegel and later with Linotype to design Zapfino from his calligraphic handwriting.
At first, four font variations were designed. With ligatures and ornaments, they represented the basis for very realistic, calligraphic designs. The first major revision took place in 2003 with the help of Akira Kobayashi. Numerous shapes were optimized and a number of technical inadequacies were corrected. Small caps and a bolder style were also added. At the end of 2004, the individual styles were added to the new OpenType format and equipped with a context-sensitive automatic feature to support typesetting. After 50 years, Hermann Zapf’s dream has come true: With Zapfino Extra and the current technical potential, it is possible to create calligraphic compositions that come very close to hand-made designs.
Since no automated feature is perfect when it comes to multilingual optimization, you can use the glyph palette in Adobe InDesign, for example, to access the character selection manually and select the precise letter for your design. Various welcoming swash versions and numerous ligatures are available, as well.
Zapfino Arabic has recently made an Arabic version of the popular font available. Find out more on Zapfino Arabic, example applications, an animation as well as the interview with Dr. Nadine Chahine, the designer of Zapfino Arabic.
Advantages of Zapfino Extra in comparison with Zapfino
Every individual style in OpenType format with comprehensive, context-sensitive functionality.Additional small caps and the bold style Zapfino Extra Forte.
Comprehensive alternative characters with swash versions and diverse start and end shapes.
Old-style numbers, uppercase numbers and numbers in x-height.
Numerous ornaments, arrows and pictograms.
International language options including Greek and Cyrillic.
Zapfino Extra: a dream comes true
Hermann Zapf dreamed of a font like Zapfino since the mid-twentieth century. A font that simulates hand-crafted calligraphy through printing technology. Zapf was always curious of technical innovations and did a lot of research in using computers for digital typesetting. He was aware, however, that limited technological potential stood in the way of his dream.Computer technology was advanced enough by the turn of the millenium: Zapf, nearly 80 at the time, began working with David Siegel and later with Linotype to design Zapfino from his calligraphic handwriting.
At first, four font variations were designed. With ligatures and ornaments, they represented the basis for very realistic, calligraphic designs. The first major revision took place in 2003 with the help of Akira Kobayashi. Numerous shapes were optimized and a number of technical inadequacies were corrected. Small caps and a bolder style were also added. At the end of 2004, the individual styles were added to the new OpenType format and equipped with a context-sensitive automatic feature to support typesetting. After 50 years, Hermann Zapf’s dream has come true: With Zapfino Extra and the current technical potential, it is possible to create calligraphic compositions that come very close to hand-made designs.
Infinite design possibilities with extensive alternative characters
The quality of the context-sensitive automated feature represents great work by designers and engineers. It sets new standards that remain in place to this day. In order to select the right shape from the at least four available characters, not only are the direct neighbors taken into account, but also the entire line of letters. This includes the right start and end shapes. Almost no other font today offers this type of comprehensive automatic feature.Since no automated feature is perfect when it comes to multilingual optimization, you can use the glyph palette in Adobe InDesign, for example, to access the character selection manually and select the precise letter for your design. Various welcoming swash versions and numerous ligatures are available, as well.
Typographical features from old style figures, small caps to alternate characters and ornaments
In addition to the alternative characters, Zapfino Extra provides a variety of typographic features unconventional for a calligraphic font. Old-style and uppercase numerals and even digits in x-height leave no wish unfulfilled and prevent designers from having to compromise. In addition, designers can add a unique accent with small caps and numerous ornaments, unconventional arrows (a trademark of Hermann Zapf) and pictograms. A close look at the calligraphic mouse or duck reveals Zapf’s understated sense of humor.
Zapfino Forte for a strong appearance
With Zapfino Extra Forte, another, slightly stronger version of the font is available. Wherever the normal version appears a little too delicate, use Zapfino Forte for a solid presence.
Zapfino Extra speaks many languages: Greek, Cyrillic, Arabic, and more
Zapfino Extra is also well-equipped for international use. In addition to the Central and Eastern European languages, the W1G expansion covers the Pan-European area with Greek and Cyrillic characters.
Zapfino Arabic has recently made an Arabic version of the popular font available. Find out more on Zapfino Arabic, example applications, an animation as well as the interview with Dr. Nadine Chahine, the designer of Zapfino Arabic.
Zapfino Extra, the calligraphic script system for a wide variety of applications
Zapfino Extra is less a single font and more of a calligraphic font system with infinite potential for use. With the diverse, beautifully balanced and friendly letters, Hermann Zapf fulfilled his dream of a digitally set calligraphy. From product design to brand names and wall paintings to posters and film titles: Zapfino Extra has proven itself time and time again in countless applications.
