I've always liked Penumbra, although it's probably the font that's suffered most from Adobe's dumping of MM, since its whole point was to smoothly vary the serif design. Good thing you have the pre-castrated version.

For a matching text font, it would help to know how much serifness you'll be using Penumbra with.

--

BTW, as much as I don't enjoy recommending Berthold fonts these days, you should look at their new (actually pretty old) Nero as an alternative to Penumbra:
http://www.bertholdtypes.com/home.html
I know you like/love Mantinia - Nero has some cool ligs too.

hhp

I should have mentioned that this is a rather pro-bono type thing, so I'm stuck with the type I have access to (for free that is). I do have the font folios 8&9 (8 being where I had the MM faces).

Ideas still?

I was considering about a 600 setting for serif.
Which is a little more than half way. I guess a little more the direction of serif, than wedge.

hildebrant.

OK I might be changing my mind -- MVB Celestia Antiqua Std?? Maybe? Never have used this yet. I liked the idea of the distressed/oldstyle that Nero had, and It made me think that I already had this.

Ideas?

I'm envisioning something a bit wide and squat, and somewhat rigid, without much detailing, and maybe a certain Grot feel. Or maybe just some of those things...

What about a wide cut of Kepler?
Or a Clarendon. Or Egyptian 505.
Do you have Warnock?

Or if you want something really close to Penumbra, check out good ol' Albertus.

Wait, I got it! Kinesis. Although it's not squat.

--

I'm having second thoughts about the "weathered" look: it seems anti-fitness.

hhp

really?

Man I'm sitting here getting all excited about this weathered look.

Let me show you one of the promo shots of him for the front.

then tell me what you think.

http://www.kylehildebrant.com/images/front_cover_photo.jpg

OK, now what? ;)

hildebrant.

Something with veins. ;-)

Actually, if there's a "patriotic" spin to this I'd look harder at Clarendons, or maybe trusty Franklin Gothic (assuming there isn't too much text).

hhp

I do have Kenisis (the MM expert set), as well as Warnock PRO OT, and of course clarendon, but no egyptian.

Ohh and yes I have franklin (maybe not Carters new fancy version ;))

Kyle,

I assume you have Studz from the folio? :-)

Seriously, perhaps Calcite Pro Black if you've got it. It looks like it has the right balance of heft without being ITC Machine :-)

You might also consider a slab serif for your text. Lubalin Graph? Serifa? Or even possibly headlines.

Randy

I think I have decided on Warnock. I enjoy the "sleekness" of it, while still having a touch of masuline flare.

Hrant wrote:

"...I don't enjoy recommending Berthold fonts these days..."

Just curious, Hrant, why not?

t.

I don't like the way they've been treating fellow font people.
And if I elaborate, I'm likely to reinforce my point...

hhp

well enough understood