Webfonts FAQ
Q: Are you allowing CSS @fontface embedding with your fonts?
We are not allowing the conversion of our existing fonts for CSS @fontface embedding. Font embedding with CSS has significantly different technical requirements for fonts than print and we are working on our most popular collections to prepare them to work to our high standards on screen. We are actively testing the first fonts and have some live solutions running. Our photolettering.com site uses Chalet for menus and body copy, a special version of PLINC West Behemoth for headlines and Swiss TwoTone display numerals.
Q: When will your fonts be available for CSS @fontface embedding?
We expect to release a subset of our collection in mid 2013.
Q: Can I use a third party tool to convert your fonts to webfont formats?
No. This is expressly prohibited in our End User License Agreement.
Q: Why not?
- It is specifically prohibited in our End User License Agreement.
- Third party tools often do not address the many technical concerns that will lead to inconsistent results across browsers and platforms.
- We don’t want our fonts to be used with CSS @fontface web embedding until we think they are ready.
- Third party tools are forced to auto-hint fonts. We spend far too much effort on our typefaces to allow subjective tools to make an automated aesthetic decision.
Q: Why is it taking you so long?
Fonts must go through an arduous process where each individual character must be optimized at every target pixel size by one or several humans. Some of our fonts have character sets in excess of 1000 glyphs. Do the math and you’d have a headache too.
Q: But this technology is available now.
Font embedding with CSS @fontface is still an emerging technology. Standards are still being established by the World Wide Web Consortium in the WOFF and CSS Fonts Module specifications.
Q: Will I be able to apply my existing license to a webfonts license?
No. Our fonts will be sold on a hosted subscription-based service. We will offer self-hosting to enterprise-level customers.
Q: Why a hosted option?
Font embedding with CSS @fontface is still an emerging technology. Hosting the fonts will allow us to universally update our font data as the technology changes, keeping the user experience consistent across browsers and platforms.
Q: Are you licensing for other web embedding technologies?
Since we are focusing our efforts on preparing our collection to be used with CSS @fontface embedding, we are no longer licensing other font embedding techniques for the web.
Q: Can I use static graphics with your fonts on the web?
Yes, we have never restricted this use. If the images are created on a human-operated workstation with properly licensed fonts and are static images, then no additional fee is required beyond our traditional licensing fees.