Free Fonts That Don't Suck: Part 4
It's been a while since I've updated my never-ending quest to seek out free fonts that won't make Giambattista Bodoni spin in his grave. This time I'll lead off with Die Gestalten, which I've mentioned in earlier installments. This Berlin-based design agency sells a range of products to the design community, including fonts. Not only that, but it provides a selection of free ones that changes regularly. Currently on offer is Doener Kebap Medium, Hard Case Striped, Rapido and the curious DrEye, shown above. Not for everyday use, admittedly, but employed sparingly in the right context I'd say it could make quite an impact. All four are available only in Mac PostScript format, so Windows users will need to convert them.
FontShop is another provider of commercial fonts that makes available a rotating selection of freebies, in this case for both Mac and PC users. Available now for your downloading pleasure is Blackcurrent Cameo, Baskerville Old Face, FF Dingbats and FF Sanuk Fat, shown below, which could come in handy for titling.
Veteran font designer House Industries also serves up a free sampling, which currently includes House Slant, Spaceage Round and United Stencil, shown below.
Pixel fonts have lost a bit of their cool factor over the years but they can still be very handy for interface design or when used within Flash. So all hail Michael Schmidt, who makes a big pile of them available for download. One of the more recent additions is the tidy Marke Eigenbau.
Finally, you can't not have fun on Jack Usine's (?) Smeltery site. Yes, there are some dodgy ones here but also a few that can be put to good use in the right hands, such as REdevance, thoughtfully made available in Mac and PC versions.
Missed the previous odes to free fontism? Parts 1, 2 and 3 remain available for your perusal.
Chris Dickman
Editor, Graphics.com
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