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Neuton Tidbits
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neuton.md

When did you create Neuton?

I started in 2009, with most of the work on it being between 2010-2011.

What was your motivation/inspiration for Neuton?

I had certain ideas about letterforms, for a font that I myself would find useful. I knew I wanted something somewhat traditional, but with a healthy combination of modernness, attitude, and friendliness.

I've been inspired by a lot of things. Mostly it's been influence of these, not direct comparison. Martin Majoor's excellent Scala was an inspiration. As was Renard and Quadraat by Fred Smeijers. Xavier Dupré's work, particularly Absara. Carol Twombly's Chaparral. Caledonia by W.A. Dwiggins. Baskerville. Kis.

The structure is similar to Times New Roman. It might be surprising. Neuton was my first typeface. When in doubt, I turned to Times New Roman. Neuton shuns most of its formality.

Why did you name it "Neuton"?

I lived in Newton county, Arkansas, when I made Neuton. "Newton" was already taken. So I chose "Neuton". I think this fits Neuton better. It's less traditional, a bit more relaxed. I like how it lets you think of Isaac Newton and has a sci-fi, futuristic feel.

What do you like best about Neuton?

It's like a good friend. I spent so much time working with it. :-) I like it's attitude, it's blend of simplification, curvature, and angles.

I remember vaguely when Myfonts announced Stuart Pro (which looks similar). It was not an inspiration or model for Neuton. Actually both Scala and Stuart are closer to Venetian/Humanist than Neuton, which is very transitional in structure. Although the serifs remind a little of earlier periods. Scala was an inspiration, as was: Smeijer's Quadraat, and Renard; Dupré's work, particularly Absara; Twombly's Chaparral; Kis; Dwiggins' Caledonia; Baskerville (and Mrs Eaves, of course); and more than anything else, Times New Roman. Of course It's not extremely visible, but the structure follows quite closely to Times. Initially I had not realized that Times was such a large inspiration, but it was my model when I got stuck on a glyph, and sort of a "benchmark" for invisible, serious, typography. Of course, Neuton shuns most of Times' formality. At first glance, my type-identifying brain sees Times, and I've been told the same by others.

Neuton is a clean, dark, somewhat Dutch-inspired serif font which reminds you a little of Times. It has a large height, short extenders, and a compact width for better screen use, and economy of space. It is named after Newton County, Arkansas, where the designer currently lives.

The family will comprise a regular, italic, and cursive, each in five weights and with smallcaps. Two italics – one will be called "italic", and the other "cursive" – are uncommon, but very useful. Ever tried emphasizing something already emphasized? Beyond that obvious example, there are other uses.

Sometimes a text needs a different flavor or feel. While one roman can work for a variety of texts, the companion italics don't always. In more classical or personal documents, a stiff, sober, modern a nd down-to-earth italic will never work. And in many essays, some of the fancier italics look ridiculous. Who said a roman needs only one companion?

A classy blend of simplification, curvature, and angles. Neuton, when completed, will comprise 60 fonts: 5 weights, with a Regular, Italic, Cursive, extended widths, and smallcaps for each. Neuton is a healthy modern alternative to Times.

Neuton is intended to be a workhorse textface with a range of variants that will alow it to work in the most complicated editorial enviroments, but also work under the rigorous conditions a web font must endure. It's a marathon runner at text sizes, but it has the detail to be smart and professional at large sizes.

Neuton Italic is elegant yet strong, intended to work in serious situations. The additional italic—Neuton Cursive—gives a more bookish and mannered flavor. In addition to this, the two italics can be used together to for double emphasis.

By the way, I have moved from CA and now live in Southern California

Neuton is available for commercial use.

General links for myself and Neuton

Typophile Posts related to Neuton

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