On The Road with Vicky Lamburn

Ok here’s a screenshot everybody of my Ubuntu 7.10 desktop set to only use sub pixel smooth with no hinting in Firefox with the New York Times’ website open:

(Click on the thumbnail to enlarge)

Yes, Linux font rendering does look good, n’est pas?

I’m a big fan of Adobe’s products; I have been using at least one of them for over twelve years (Photoshop 3.0) and also I soon picked up Illustrator and latterly InDesign. I like them a lot and have grown fond of them over the years even when they have been downright infuriating. However any switch to Linux necessitates leaving the Adobe ‘Creative Suite’ as they now call it behind unless you fiddle with WINE. (Which is not difficult, particularly with Crossover’s package.)

However that is not the cleanest of routes and you are better off looking for free software alternatives. Now; do you think you can get print press quality desktop publishing, high quality vector drawing and photo/graphic editing software for Linux?

Here’s some of my experiences summarised for the creative types who are interested in Linux. Read the rest of this entry »

A few months ago at work I stumbled upon a film about Helvetica. (And don’t you dare say, “Oh the font that looks like Arial?”)

I remember perhaps mocking it slightly that someone would find enough about a typeface to make a film about it and that, perhaps a walk in the countryside was in order…

…well I’ve just watched the film. It was condensed down on tonight’s Imagine  which is a bit more classy than “I’m a Celebrity Please Sniff My Pants” and “Skating on Badgers” (ahem) (not to say that I am classy, ok?) and it was very interesting.

I’m one of those folks who likes Helvetica and I’m not very common in this respect. I know a lot of people loathe it but that’s the bastardised Arial variant they often see that really skimps on some of the aesthetic (the way a lower case a looks, and the K and R are just wrong) and I’ve realised. I really do like this typeface. Maybe I really don’t have a life?

Nah, I’m not freakin’ talking about it all the time but design wise it’s a fantastic font and I use it religiously in designs, particularly print based designs. But it was good. If you’re interested in typography, visual communication, counter culture to modernism and the re-backlash as it were; it’s actually a very good film.

Everybody also owned a Mac in it.

So let’s get this right, I’m a Linux nut, who cares about aesthetics and likes Helvetica and yet is still claiming to have a life? Am I telling porky pies? (Lies)