Every font problem can’t be solved with an off-the-shelf solution. While it would be nice to have a ready-made font for every situation, this is often not the case. Axis has developed software to generate customized fonts.
What are custom fonts? It can be described as either modifications to an existing font or a completely new font designed for a particular use.
Who needs custom fonts? Typically, our customers fall into these categories:
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Software companies with custom font needs for their products
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Creative Professionals that need to convert fonts to a new platform
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Publications undergoing a redesign
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Enterprises seeking unique branding or corporate identity typefaces
Axis is well-known for its creative and technical expertise, and for our ability to manage projects to deliver on-time and within budget. We describe our custom font services as “the art and technology of type”.
THE ART OF TYPE
The art of type is centered in our type design resources. Syed Manzar leads our type design efforts. Syed Manzar is a prolific Perso-Arabic type designer who has a rare typographic acumen that is reflected in his vast portfolio. Manzar’s work includes corporate identity typefaces for InPage retail fonts reflecting both modern fashion trends and historic revivals, and non-Latin type design (from Urdu, Arabic and Persian to Kashmiri, Hazargi, Sindhi, Saraiki and Pushto). Arif Anjum complement Manzar’s creative talents with their type Calligraphic expertise and typographic sensibility.
THE TECHNOLOGY OF TYPE
The technology of type reflects our knowledge of font formats, languages and scripts, platforms and environments, and the tools and techniques we deploy to build font software. We’ve built up a solid reputation for solving complex font problems ranging from tuning fonts for on-screen display to adding a wide range of non-Latin scripts for Unicode support. Our team helped create the Urdu TrueType fonts that revolutionized on-screen viewing on desktop computers. We were involved in the development of the fonts that are used in millions of mobile phones, PDAs and printers.
Every project for custom fonts and bespoke fonts is different. Because font software can be very complicated, our goal is to help our customers identify their requirements without burdening them with all the nuances and minutia of detail or terminology that can seem overwhelming. Just because we love tweaking ink traps, sharpening stems or talking among ourselves in TLA’s (Three Letter Acronyms) doesn’t mean you need to learn a new language. Our customers love our ability to make complicated things simple. Give us a try next time you have a font problem.
Font Licensing Issues
Fonts are software and require proper licensing which can be quite complex. There are a range of licensing terms from type designers and font software vendors that need to be understood. Even the decision to utilize a system font can bring licensing challenges if the corporation has a variety of computing platforms.
For a company with 200 workstations or more, the cost of developing a custom font is less expensive than licensing a retail font. Thus many large corporations choose to have custom typefaces designed, as this can be a cost effective way to control their typographic identity.
Type Design Issues
Most common typefaces originated in the days of phototypesetting and are intended for print publishing. Brands are now seen on devices ranging from mobile phones, personal computers, TVs, signage and digital output - thus typefaces need to be designed or adapted to work in these extreme conditions. Axis SoftMedia can create a custom font from scratch or obtain the rights to modify existing typefaces to meet your design and usage requirements.
Technical Issues
Common technical issues include incompatibility across Windows systems, unreadable screen display at small point sizes, and missing characters for languages used in the Urdu community or other parts of the world.
As technology changes so does font software. New font formats such as OpenType bring new capabilities and also challenges with respect to application software support and end user training. We can create fonts optimized for on-screen legibility and multilingual character sets for any platform.
How Axis SoftMedia Can Help
The Axis SoftMedia team is well-versed in all of these issues and can assist companies with the selection, development, implementation and management of a comprehensive program for corporate branding fonts. We’ve worked both with internal brand management teams and with design agencies to leverage our unique expertise.
FONT LICENSING
Axis SoftMedia is pleased to offer a variety of font licenses to meet the needs of our diverse base of customers.
Fonts sold on Axis SoftMedia's websites are licensed for use on personal computers.
The End User License Agreement (EULA) defines the number of personal computers that are permitted to use a font. This is typically 5 (five) workstations. The EULA defines how you can use the fonts, and restrictions of use.
Axis SoftMedia offers a variety of extended use licenses to meet the needs of its customers who want to use the fonts beyond the terms granted in the EULA:
Multi-Workstation Font License
When you purchase a font at the our shop page you can purchase a multi-workstation license for up to 200 computers. If you need more than that, just let us know the specific quantity of personal computers you desire a license for and we can provide you with a custom quote.
Application Server Font License
This allows the fonts to be installed onto servers for use with an application that is accessed by an unlimited number of users. Two options are offered:
- Internal Use (i.e. an Intranet within an entity)
- External Use (i.e. for Internet-based applications)
Our application server license is structured to make it affordable to add high quality fonts, and scales as you add more servers to support your application.
Contact Axis SoftMedia to inquire about an Application Server License.
