Rockwell kerning

[John Spragens]

I just started working on various projects for a group that uses Rockwell as its main font.

The Rockwell on my system is an old Monotype TTF. I find I have to tweak the kerning a lot, especially on banners and posters.

I see MyFonts sells an Adobe OT set, with lots more weights than I have now.

Does anybody know whether the Adobe version does a better job of kerning?

[donmcc]

I've never had problems with Adobe Rockwell, but kerning is really a matter of taste. I am not one to kern super tight (which usually isn't done with a slab).

[John Spragens]

In the large sizes, I've needed to tighten some pairs and loosen others ... and many were fine without fiddling. Not going for a tight-kerned effect (doesn't seem like the right kind of face for that), just trying to get spacing that looks even.

Good to know that you're not seeing that kind of problem with the Adobe version.

[ktinkel]

I went looking at Rockwells on-line and was astonished to see many re-dos over the years, some from Monotype (where the face originated) and others from Adobe (many of which may have been repackagings of the Monotype work). Even Linotype sells Rockwell now.

Is it possible you are having the normal difficulties we often see in digital fonts being set at very large sizes? Even display fonts have a model size basis, and if you are working far out of that range it is likely they will need a fair amount of tweaking.

Or maybe the originals were not well kerned, and some of the later (probably opentype) versions will be better. You could write to one of the companies involved — Monotype, Ascender, Adobe, Linotype — and see if you can find someone who knows. It would be interesting to know in any event.

And I’ll see if I can hunt up any information.

[John Spragens]

Is it possible you are having the normal difficulties we often see in digital fonts being set at very large sizes?

It seems very possible ... which is why I thought I'd ask before rushing out to buy the Adobe package.

Some other things tempt me about the Adobe package, mainly the extra weights and the fact that it's OpenType. On top of which ... the TTF that I'm using now was designed as a PC font and I'm working on a Mac these days.