Fun with fonts

Originally this page was written on Friday 15 August 2008, at 4:05:02 PM. At that time, however, the necessary CSS support for @font-face did not yet exist. Even as of the writing of this, 05 October 2010, only FireFox 3.5, Opera 10, and Safari 3.1 support the downloading of TrueType and OpenType fonts via @font-face. When written I could not actually test this page.

The world of using only six to eight "web safe fonts" is coming to an abrupt end. With support for embedded OpenType fonts using the @font-face rule in CSS, a brave new world begins. Page designs will display with the font you intended to use, no matter how unusual or unique the font. Pages will gain the unique look previously only assurable in the world of print. Sites can be truly unified by a font not commonly found elsewhere.

Sphinx of black quartz

Forsaking monastic tradition, twelve jovial friars gave up their vocation for a questionable existence on the flying trapeze. No kidding -- Lorenzo called off his trip to visit Mexico City just because they told him the conquistadores were extinct. Jelly-like above the high wire, six quaking pachyderms kept the climax of the extravaganza in a dazzling state of flux. Ebenezer unexpectedly bagged two tranquil aardvarks with his jiffy vacuum cleaner. Six javelins thrown by the quick savages whizzed forty paces beyond the mark. The explorer was frozen in his big kayak just after making queer discoveries. The July sun caused a fragment of black pine wax to ooze on the velvet quilt. The public was amazed to view the quickness and dexterity of the juggler. Six big juicy steaks sizzled in a pan as five workmen left the quarry. While making deep excavations we found some quaint bronze jewelry. Jaded zombies acted quaintly but kept driving their oxen forward. A mad boxer shot a quick, gloved jab to the jaw of his dizzy opponent. The job requires extra pluck and zeal from every young wage earner. A quart jar of oil mixed with zinc oxide makes a very bright paint. Whenever the black fox jumped the squirrel gazed suspiciously. We promptly judged antique ivory buckles for the next prize. How razorback-jumping frogs can level six piqued gymnasts! Crazy Fredericka bought many very exquisite opal jewels. Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.

Diavlo Black by Jos Buivenga in the headers (exljbris) and Pigiarniq from the government of Nunavut for text body. See also FontSquirrel and Tiro Typeworks for further information on Pigiarniq. With thanks to Jason Cranford Teague and his book Fluid Web Typography.

Note that these pages can only be printed in their correct font if the fonts are locally installed on your computer! @font-face works only for display purposes on screen. The download links are above.