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spotte10353908
spotte10353908
Inspiring
September 8, 2023
Question

Looking for suggestions for fonts similar to Helvetica Neue Condensed

  • September 8, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 33611 views

Yes, I saw the warnings about Type 1 fonts... I have been using PostScript fonts since 1988, that I paid for, but are now useless, when once they were the gold standard. Accepted fact: Adobe is now using OpenType fonts. 

 

Question #1: All of my T1 fonts have vanished from my CC dashboard. Can I assume that Adobe has automatically removed all Type 1 fonts from my dashboard (one less worry)? 

 

Question #2: Before obtaining a license, does any InDesign designer here have a similar font replacement suggestion for the Helvetica Neue Condensed family that is available with the Creative Cloud subscription? I see that Palatino is Latin URW and Univers is Trade Gothic. 

 

Thanks.

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

A
andy_maccoll
Participating Frequently
July 9, 2024

Here's what you're after:

The first weights of Neue Haas Grotesk were designed in 1957-1958 by Max Miedinger for the Haas’sche Schriftgiesserei in Switzerland, with art direction by the company’s principal, Eduard Hoffmann. Neue Haas Grotesk was to be the answer to the British and German grotesques that had become hugely popular thanks to the success of functionalist Swiss typography. The typeface was soon revised and released as Helvetica by Linotype AG.

https://fonts.adobe.com/fonts/neue-haas-grotesk#fonts-section

B
Community Expert
Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 9, 2024

New Haas Grotesk is a pretty cool type family, but it doesn't have any condensed styles. The original poster was after fonts similar to Helvetica Neue 57 Condensed (or 67, 77, etc).

A
andy_maccoll
Participating Frequently
July 9, 2024

Ah yeah my bad I skimmed over the condensed request.

 

If you like, you could check out Franklin Gothic URW Condensed. It's super nice especially the Book + Demi Weights. It's not Helvetica but it's niche and sophisticated.

 

https://fonts.adobe.com/fonts/franklin-gothic-urw

B
Community Expert
Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 10, 2023

URW's Nimbus Sans is a copycat of Helvetica Neue. Swiss 721 BT from Bitstream is another copycat of Helvetica. I've been using Helvetica Now and Helvetica Now Variable as an upgrade to the Neue fonts. But the variable version of Helvetica Now only goes from normal to compressed on its width axis. I imagine Monotype will release another variable version of Helvetica Now to cover the normal to wide width axis.

 

Although font licenses may not allow it, it is possible to convert Postscript Type 1 fonts to OpenType format with apps like TransType 4 by FontLab. That application will let you convert entire folders of T1 fonts.

 

BTW, the URW Latin (or actually URW Latino) typeface is more a copycat of Melior. Univers is a completely different type family from Trade Gothic.

    spotte10353908
    spotte10353908Author
    Inspiring
    September 11, 2023

    I had never heard of TransType4 — thank you for that!

     

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