Freight for sure.

I think you would be very pleased with either.

Value is essentially the same, though you can buy individual weights of FF Scala, if that makes sense for your needs.

As for style, FF Scala is more distinctive so may not be as useful for a broad range of jobs.

Keep in mind that Freight is spaced very tightly so will need some extra care for text.

While you're at it you should check out TheSans it's also a good workhorse sans with individual weights available and also an expert collection. It's a bit more expensive tho.

I've been very happy with Freight Sans + Text.

As Freight is selling so well, I'd be interested in what your customers love about it Stephen, and why you went for it Mili. For example, isn't there a lot of competition for an old style serif with short ascenders? For humanist sans? Are people in love with the design? Is the completeness a key feature? Eg are people buying the all the variations?

I needed a combination of sans and serif that would work well together in a single word. After trying to pair various combinations I started to look for a not too expensive family with both. I liked Freight text's italic k and r and the clean shapes of the sans. In the end it's all subjective, I just liked the font. I might not have bought all varieties had that been an option, but now I'm happy it wasn't. Still looking for an project that would give me an excuse to buy the Micro.
I didn't realise it was such a popular one when I bought it.

William - I think any family with serif and sans companions is appealing simply due to its versatility. As for Freight's popularity, these all factor in:

- The sans hits all the right notes for contemporary typography: large x-height, open forms, wide, nothing too quirky but more humanist than geometric.
- Darden's documentation and samples lend it a lot of credibility.
- The Micro weight is intriguing.

And here is Freight as featured in the QBN Typecase and Font 004:

Thanks, Stephen, Mili. I see that having a good sans with the serif is a real plus--and I think it's pretty difficult to pull off well, so hats off to Joshua Darden.

Stephen, what's interesting is that your rather complete list is pretty short. By the way I'm surprised you didn't include Scala & Scala sans in your 'pairs' list, as I think this was the first one so designed and very successful, no?

I think we omitted the most obvious family due to space considerations, but Scala is certainly our best selling suite.

Freight serif has size scalings.
Scala has Seria as related.

**

However, I'm not so sure about sans+serif families.
No harm in foundries offering both, but that doesn't mean they should be bought and used as a team.
I was just looking at a clipping from Hi-Fi magazine, 1964 (it came in an old vinyl album -- a nice bonus!):

Text: Times
Subheads (for album titles under review); Garamond Italic
Headlines: Bodoni Bold
Section heads: Futura Bold, U&lc, slightly letterspaced

Piquant.

Perhaps for advanced typographers the pairings might be a little obvious--that's not to say they are bad--but for the layperson I think it is a wonderful way to introduce them to typography and the possibilities of going beyond Times and Helvetica.

Right Tiff, I should have said "doesn't necessarily mean they should be bought and used as a team," which was the meaning I intended. Thanks for the clarification.

Anything to help. :^)

> Scala is certainly our best selling suite.

This may soon be topped by FF Meta/Meta Serif. You heard it here first.

I do not have a license for Freight text, but I have used the sans & micro both quite regularly on several jobs and am very happy with both. The dark weights of the sans version are terrific for signage, just beautiful, and the face is mechanically very well-constructed as well.

Meta serif? Stephen, you never tell me anything.

---

jlt : http://www.hewnandhammered.com : rnrmf!

One thing to note is that Scala's base EULA is for 5 CPUs, while Freight's is for 1 CPU.

I'm not sure how the other terms compare because I can't find the FS EULA on their site...one used to be able to view it during the purchase process BEFORE the actual "give us your credit card" screen, but just now I tried that and got to the credit card step without being presented with an EULA.

Warning: rant ahead:
Hmmmm....I wish foundries would make their EULAs easily discoverable. It seems odd that users are expected to sleuth around for the terms before purchasing, yet over and over again, we are told how important these agreements are to the foundries!

> I wish foundries would make their EULAs easily discoverable.

I'm with you John. All EULAs will be accessible in the upcoming relaunch of FontShop.com.

Wow thanks for the input guys, it has helped a great deal.

As for style, FF Scala is more distinctive so may not be as useful for a broad range of jobs.

I agree 100%. Though I love the 'W' in Scala sans I think it would limit me as far as usage. Also thanks for the Serif and Sans companion list, very helpful.

I'm starting to do more freelance design and I feel my designs are only as good as it's typography. So I feel I have to invest in good, durable typography at a good price.

One thing to note is that Scala’s base EULA is for 5 CPUs, while Freight’s is for 1 CPU.

According to the Darden's site Freight starts with a license for 5 CPUs.

"According to the Darden’s site Freight starts with a license for 5 CPUs."

I see that _today_, but I could've sworn that it was 1 CPU yesterday! I must be losing it!

John, foundries are listening! ;^)

Perhaps you were looking at the pricing for Corundum. I believe the prices start at one CPU. It happens to all of us :)

IM

This may soon be topped by FF Meta/Meta Serif. You heard it here first.

Thats bloody interesting coels mate!! When can we buy it??

Muzz

You don't even want to see it first, mezzur?

Not at all! think how bloody good Meta is, Erik must be doing a really good job on it, so it can't go wrong!! But do you have pictures??

Muzz

And how much is that Fontbook Mr Coles? I can't find a price on the ff site?

Muzzz

FontBook is not really an "FF" publication. It's published by FontShop International. FontFont is simply FontShop's foundry, a "house label" if you will. But I understand the confusion between the two brands.

Regardless, FontFont.com, FontShop.com and FontBook.com will all lead you to the FontBook page. As you're in Perth, you'll need to contact FS Australia for delivery.

I'm not very fond of Meta as I once worked for a very nasty designer in Liverpool who shall remain nameless who was absolutely obsessed with it and forced it into every project we did! I have nothing against the typeface itself but it reminds me of being fresh out of university and working at a job I hated to pay the bills. Maybe the new serif version will help me get over my negativity? I second the call for a peek!!! Don't tease us!!!

I'll bet Erik will give a preview on his blog soon enough.

So you haven't even seen it yet?? Don't be a tease mate!

Its a shame that your not realy into it Nigella, I reckon erik will do a beaut job.

Muzz

Yeah, Stephen is a TypeTease!

I have Freight Text. My personal preferance is that a font (sans or otherwise) have an obviously true italic, which Freight Sans does not. Scala does. So does Parisine Plus and TheSans. The serif and sans have to be able to WORK together, not just LOOK like they're related.

There's nothing that isn't "true" about Freight Sans Italic. The forms may not be drastically different, but they are optically corrected italic lettershapes not obliques and work quite well for emphasis without distracting.