akzidenz grotesk vs helvetica?
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- doggydoggdog
How would you explain the difference in plain English to a non-designer?
- idiots0
Akzidenz-Grotesk is sometimes at first glance mistaken for the Helvetica or Univers typefaces. The similarities of Helvetica and Akzidenz-Grotesk are apparent, but the subtle differences include the uppercase and lowercase C and the uppercase G, J, R and Q. Aside from the subtle differences in these individual letters, Miedinger's primary change to Akzidenz-Grotesk is Helvetica's higher x-height, the distance from the baseline to the height of the lowercase letter x. The general effect is that Helvetica appears more oblong while Akzidenz-Grotesk maintains circular counters and bowls. Both Helvetica and Univers are more regular and have a greater consistency of stroke weight.
- Excellent. I would add that the greater regularity of Helv. gives it a quicker rhythm.mikotondria3
- Zzzzzzaes
- if you can't focus for a paragraph you have other problemsidiots
- CanHasQBN0
to a non-designer? why bother? you'd bore them to death.
- idiots0
Akzidenz-Grotesk is the better choice imo. It is the original and it isn't as saturated though to the layman it could just as well be Arial.
re:greater regularity / quicker rhythm - it should be noted that the more evenly precise, geometric, and balanced a typeface is, while it may appear "nicer" or easier to read, it actually hinders information retention as you are skimming it so fast.
- Agreed. It's for showing you the word you were expecting, utilitarian, machine-like. Unpoetic.mikotondria3
- vaxorcist0
I just like Akzidenz-Grotesk the most by far.... it seems smoother.... and of course, it's great to see a client's face when you tell them you're using a font called "Akzidenz-Grotesk"
... But.... having to explain to them that they have to pay for it separately from the "helvetica clone called arial" that "they already have" is a challenge..... but worthwhile, as there's not much comparison in my mind....
- uan0
use Univers instead.
- panacea0
It's also mistaken as Arial by the public at large.
- gramme0
AG is no good for text. Some variation for the sake of legibility is good. But capitals and lowercase letters with noticeably different color is bad. That said, I hear AG Next sets well, and in general is more user-friendly than the original.
- I'm not as fond of AG Next as I am the original; Next looks a bit too polished.Continuity
- i_monk0
AG is the father of Helvetica. That's all a non-designer needs to know.
- Continuity0
I think AG has the benefit of being a bit more flexible than Helvetica, in that AG can invoke more and different emotions than Helvetica (especially Neue). Helvetica is kind of a one- or two-trick pony with its relative sterility and polished perfection. With AG, you can use it in clean and modern design, or use it in something more retro-looking to invoke a far different feeling.
My $0.02 CAD, though.