Free Alternatives to Arial?

Chris Washer7 April 2005 · 03:44

I am to be doing my first real (like, paid even) design job. My client is wanting business cards, a letterhead and some other pre-press work done. I believe the business is multimedia.

For his business card, he is wanting me to use Arial, because it is clean and simple etc. I think the reason for this is he either doesn't realise there are other typefaces available to purchase, (which could lend the design a distinctive quality and hint of character) or does not want to invest.

I am scheduled to work initially for 4 hours, by the way. (this could be a squeeze >_< )

So, I am looking to some free alternatives to Arial in the mean-time. I would even rather use Helvetica. (it's just more well crafted). I also don't think he would want to go to the extra trouble of purchasing a font considering the duration of my employment.

Alternatives anyone? Thanks

- Chris

dan7 April 2005 · 04:30

Chris, did you do a Google Search? Also take a trip to DaFont and hunt through their Sans list.

Dav (formlos)7 April 2005 · 04:30

A free alternate to 'Arial'.? I always thought 'Arial' was the free 'alternate' to 'Helvetica'.?

Chris Washer7 April 2005 · 04:40

Hah, I actually have a little trouble discerning free from comes-with-the-computer sometimes. I thought Gill Sans was a font you had to buy, but I have it somehow. Who knows? Probably part of a freeware office-type program. hmm.

You're right Daniel. I did do a google search, but I got discouraged by the number of results. Perhaps I should have just asked for a few comprehensive free font sites. I am quite weary of wading through million hit searches for pages with thousands of possible searchs designed to just get a hit.

Sorry, I ramble.

Many thanks Daniel. I lost the bit of paper my typography tutor gave me with all the free type sites.

- Chris

Dav (formlos)7 April 2005 · 04:41

Noo, Sorry.. Seriously, What about 'Mank Sans', or 'Sansumi', by Manfred Klein.?

Chris Washer7 April 2005 · 04:53

Ohh, Mank Sans is quite good. I like Communist from Dafont, looks quite... like a bought one. They have a few bitstream fonts floating around there. I also found bitsream Vera lying around the net... has this been surrendered to the masses? I suppose some foundries do free fonts.

- Chris

Dav (formlos)7 April 2005 · 04:58

'Vera' has been released for use under 'an open source license agreement announced with the GNOME Foundation, giving advanced font capabilities to all free and open source software developers and users'..

> www.bitstream.com/font_rendering/products/dev_fonts/vera.html
> www.gnome.org/fonts/

Chris Washer7 April 2005 · 05:33

Curse you, Mr. Weaver.
I was going to go to bed, but I must now wade through the retro section of Dafont. ;-p

- Chris

dan7 April 2005 · 13:16

http://www.bluevertigo.com.ar/bluevertigo.htm

The listing of free font sites should have you going for the coffee all night Chris.

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