Comic Sans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Category | Script (typefaces) |
|---|---|
| Designer(s) | Vincent Connare |
| Foundry | Microsoft |
Comic Sans is a casual script typeface designed by Vincent Connare and released in 1994 by the Microsoft Corporation. It is classified as a casual, non-connecting script, and was designed to imitate comic book lettering, for use in informal documents. The typeface has been supplied with Microsoft Windows since the introduction of Windows 95, initially as a supplemental font in the Windows Plus Pack. Comic Sans is used in both print and webcomics as a substitute for hand-lettering, although many comic artists prefer to use custom-designed computer fonts instead.
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[edit] History
Microsoft designer Vincent Connare says that he began work on Comic Sans in October of 1994. Connare had already created a number of child-oriented fonts for various applications, so when he saw a beta version of Microsoft Bob that used Times New Roman in the word balloons of cartoon characters, he decided to create a new face based on the lettering style of comic books he had in his office, specifically The Dark Knight Returns (lettered by John Costanza) and Watchmen (lettered by Dave Gibbons).[1] He completed the face too late for inclusion in MS Bob, but the programmers of Microsoft 3D Movie Maker, which also used cartoon guides and speech bubbles, picked it up. The speech eventually became true voice, but Comic Sans stayed for the program’s pop-up windows and help sections. The typeface later shipped with the Windows 95 Plus! Pack. It then became a standard font for the OEM version of Windows 95. Finally, the font became one of the default fonts for Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft Internet Explorer. The font is also used in Microsoft Comic Chat, which was released in 1996 with Internet Explorer 3.0.
[edit] Ban Comic Sans movement
The Boston Phoenix reported on disgruntlement over the widespread use of the font, especially its incongruous use for writing on serious subjects, with the complaints focused around a campaign started by two Indianapolis graphic designers, Dave and Holly Combs, via their website "Ban Comic Sans".[2] The movement was conceived in fall of 1999 by the two designers, after an employer insisted that one of them use Comic Sans in a children's museum exhibit,[1] and in early 2009, the movement was "stronger now than ever".[1] The web site's main argument is that a typeface should match the tone of its text, and that the irreverence of Comic Sans is often at odds with a serious message, such as a "do not enter" sign.[3]
The Combs' site also reported the Ontario New Democratic Party included the clause 'Ban the font known as Comic Sans' in its recent omnibus ban bill, proposed at the 2005 session of Ontario Model Parliament in Canada. However, the message was signed under 'NDP Against Comic Sans', leading to doubts of the validity of the claim. Further investigation revealed it was from a youth model parliament.[4]
Connare has said that Comic Sans was not originally designed as a typeface for general use, but as a cartoon-style lettering suitable for the interface of children's software Microsoft Bob.[1]
[edit] Notable usages
The Comic Sans font has been used on several products, including the tags on Beanie Babies (since the late 1990s) and the 2004 Canada Day 25-cent collector coin.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d Steel, Emily (2009-04-17). "Typeface Inspired by Comic Books Has Become a Font of Ill Will". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, Inc.. Archived from the original on 2009-04-19. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB123992364819927171.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj&date=2009-04-19. Retrieved on 2009-04-19.
- ^ "Not Funny: Fighting the Good Fight Against a Very Bad Font". The Boston Phoenix. June 3, 2005. http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/04731913.asp.
- ^ Ban Comic Sans official page
- ^ Kinch, Tyler (2007-11-11). "NDP calls for ban on Comic Sans typeface". Kinch Blog. Tyler Kinch. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftylerkinch.com%2F11%2F2007%2Fndp-calls-for-ban-on-comic-sans-typeface%2F&date=2008-05-16. Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
- ^ "BC boy wins Coin Design Contest". 2004-06-22. Archived from the original on 2006-02-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20060210170008/http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/June2004/22/c7529.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-18. (press release)
[edit] References
- Connare, Vincent. “Comic Sans Background Information.” Comic Sans Café.
- Connare, Vincent. “Why Comic Sans?”
- Macmillan, Neil,. An A–Z of Type Designers. Yale University Press: 2006. ISBN 0-300-11151-7.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Comic Sans MS font information (Microsoft typography)
- Typowiki: Comic Sans
- Comic Sans Café (Microsoft typography)
- Ban Comic Sans
- Downloadable version of Comic Sans MS for Windows (Core fonts for the Web)
- Snog Blog: The Vincent Connare Interview
- Comic Sans | Font for the masses or weed of the graphic world?
- Short video of Vincent Connare at 2009 ROFLThing NYC telling the story of Comic Sans
- Ban Comic Sans an opinion piece about the movement by Dr Chris Scanlon from La Trobe University
