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Q. Is there a way to compensate for what happens to type when it's printed on different papers, especially on newsprint?

A. Depending on the printing technologies and paper you choose, ink will spread more or less. That can dramatically affect the look of a printed piece's type, especially text settings. Even the climate and degree of humidity can have an effect on ink spread!

The type foundry Hoefler & Frere-Jones (H&FJ) has addressed this issue with the ingenious graded font families Chronicle Text and Mercury Text. Both families are available in four grades, which are versions of the same typeface that are progressively more robust to accommodate different applications and different degrees of ink squeeze on press.

All of the grades in these two families use the same set of character widths, so you can switch grades without affecting the flow of the copy. “This ability to swap out fonts not only gives designers real flexibility in responding to press tests, but it allows sister publications that use different grades to share the same content,” says Jonathan Hoefler.

The four grades of Chronicle Text in use:

Image courtesy Hoefler & Frere-Jones

The four grades of Chronicle Text become progressively more robust while maintaining the same character widths:

Image courtesy Hoefler & Frere-Jones

For guidelines on selecting the right grade for your job, see "Which Grade Do I Need?"

Love type? Want to know more? Ilene Strizver conducts her acclaimed Gourmet Typography workshops internationally. For more information on attending one or bringing it to your company, organization, or school, go to her site, call The Type Studio at 203-227-5929, or email Ilene at info@thetypestudio.com. Sign up for her e-newsletter at www.thetypestudio.com.