(Image by Pindec)

It would seem that the days of professional typography on the web are still a long way off. As I type this, I have a cart loaded with $300 worth of typographic loveliness, yet just as I was about to click 'buy' I've had to stop.

My intention is to use said typeface as part of a gallery rebranding exercise, the font will be a key component in this new identity, however digital use is restricted.

A read of the terms & conditions reveals the vendor does not allow online font use — specifically recent embedding technologies such as @font-face. For those unaware, @font-face is CSS3 technology to allow any text on a website to be rendered in a custom font. This font resides on the server and is loaded as the page is rendered. This (finally)  the need to use images to render custom type and allows for search engine friendly, accessible websites which are on brand and inline with an identity.

This is ridiculous. In this digital day and age restrictions like this are hindering any digital progress. Online is often seen as the primary form of a brand's communication — so why am I still restricted to using Arial, Helvetica, Times & Trebuchet?

So as my finger moves away from the mouse and my cart is emptied I wonder what other options I have? Do I re-consider and purchase whilst accepting a digital prescence rendered in Arial or go looking elsewhere for an alternative knowing I'm likely to be disappointed? There are plenty of fonts with more open licenses, but generally the quality and range is far inferior.

Clearly the reason foundries are making such a decision is because anyone can browse a site's source code and work out where the font resides on the server and download it. Fair enough — but I do feel this is a regressive attitude. We can just as easily download copyrighted images, music and movies using similar procedures but we have an internet rich in media.

Ultimately this results in my indecision to buy the font. Should I choose not to the type foundry and designer lose my money and any exposure this brand would have brought them.

What do you think?

Welcome to 2010 everyone, hope you had a nice break and are ready for a new set of 10 years. We wish you all the best. To kick it off here's a lovely link to some great museum posters from the mighty typographic graphical land known as Switzerland. Enjoy.

Courtest of the always on point Rabbit Boy who hasn't updated his site in agessss.

In conjunction with St Bride Library and Type, Wallpaper asked designers – from students to superstars – to find the tart hiding in every type and create their own graphic numbers. Along with a selection in the magazine, all 450 cards can be viewed here. Great stuff!

I love fonts, especially rounded ones. Doubley especially when they're free. Quicksand is all of the above, and very neat indeed.

EDIT: The font must be real popular as the link isn't working — keep 'em peeled for when it's back up and online.

This is a great inspiring post to kick start the new year with. Specialising in paper art techniques, Yulia creates intricate 3D paper type illustrations.

Link via LJ

There are some interesting handmade fonts on this site… if you're feeling too lazy to make your own. ;)

I feel nerdy posting this but it made me chuckle.