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January 23, 2015
Answered

Why are Adobe fonts shipped with tabular lining figures as default?

  • January 23, 2015
  • 1 reply
  • 492 views

I'm just curious to know why this is still the case? Even in typeface clearly for text like Minion, or sans like Myriad, or new ones like Source Sans and Serif?

Thanks in advance.

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Correct answer Dov Isaacs

I'll tell you with one word ...

              Tradition!

But on a more serious note, even with serif text faces designed for text, most designers expect (1) that digits by default have the same widths and line up, (2) that if one changes from one font to another, the default behavior of digit lineup won't change, and (3) tastes - not everyone likes the look of proportional width digits or even old style digits when available.

          - Dov

1 reply

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Legend
January 23, 2015

I'll tell you with one word ...

              Tradition!

But on a more serious note, even with serif text faces designed for text, most designers expect (1) that digits by default have the same widths and line up, (2) that if one changes from one font to another, the default behavior of digit lineup won't change, and (3) tastes - not everyone likes the look of proportional width digits or even old style digits when available.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
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