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| Category | Serif |
|---|---|
| Classification | Transitional PANOSE: 2263545234 |
| Designer(s) | Matthew Carter |
| Foundry | Microsoft Corporation |
| Date created | 1993 |
| Date released | 1996 |
Georgia is a transitional serif typeface designed in 1993[1] by Matthew Carter and hinted by Tom Rickner for the Microsoft Corporation, as the serif companion to the first Microsoft sans serif screen font, Verdana. Microsoft released the initial version of the font on November 1, 1996 as part of the core fonts for the Web collection. Later, it was bundled with Internet Explorer 4.0 supplemental font pack.
Georgia is designed for clarity on a computer monitor even at small sizes, partially effective due to a large x-height.[2][3] The typeface is named after a tabloid headline titled "Alien heads found in Georgia."[4]
The Georgia typeface is similar to Times New Roman, but with many subtle differences: Georgia is larger than Times at the same point size, and has a greater x-height at the same actual size; Times New Roman is slightly narrower, with a more vertical axis; and Georgia's serifs are slightly wider and have blunter, flatter ends. Georgia incorporates influences from Clarendon-style typefaces, especially in b, r, j, and c (uppercase and lowercase).[citation needed] Figures (numerals) are an exception: Georgia uses text (old-style) figures whereas Times New Roman has lining figures.
Georgia was part of Microsoft's core fonts for the Web package and is preinstalled by default on Apple Macintosh and Windows-based computers. It has found popular use as an alternative serif typeface to Times New Roman.
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Variants
Georgia Ref is a variant of Georgia consisting of a single weight, but with extra characters. It is bundled with Microsoft Bookshelf 2000, Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 99, Encarta Virtual Globe 99.
MS Reference Serif is a derivative of Georgia Ref with a bold weight and italic. This variation is included with Microsoft Encarta.
In 2007, Carter completed a new variant of Georgia for the graphical user interface of the Bloomberg Terminal.
Droid Serif is a variant based on Georgia.
New versions of the Georgia and Verdana typeface families will be released in 2010.[5] The new versions will incorporate enhancements such as:
- New weights and widths beyond the original four fonts in each family
- Extensions to the character sets
- Extensions to the kerning
- OpenType typographic features for enhanced typography
Awards
The Cyrillic font won an award at Kyrillitsa in 1999.[6]
References
- ^ Georgia font
- ^ "Georgia & Verdana: Typefaces designed for the screen (finally)", by Daniel Will-Harris, accessed 24 November, 2005
- ^ Friedl, Friedrich, Nicolaus Ott and Bernard Stein. Typography: An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History. Black Dog & Leventhal: 1998. ISBN 1-57912-023-7.
- ^ Typeface Descriptions & Histories
- ^ Enhancements to Georgia & Verdana Typeface Families Announced
- ^ U&lc Online Issue: 25.4.1: The Winners
External links
- Georgia font information (Microsoft typography)
- Georgia Ref font information (Microsoft typography)
- a font by Matthew Carter
- Article by Daniel Will-Harris
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