Typophile

The differences between Meta, MetaPlus, Meta LL, and Meta LF?

Erik

What are they?

I asked a few friends and co-workers but no one really knew for sure. A few responses I received were:

1] They are made by different type foundries but essentially the same. (As I recall they were designed by Erik Spiekermann?)

2] Some are better used as body text and others for signage?

3] Some are used as Light and Bold sets?

Can someone out there help distinquish between them? Thank you.

This article by Yves on FontShop's FontFeed should give you a headstart.

LF stands for lining figures, or tabular figures, i.e. when you arrange them underneath each other in a table, they will line up. Don't know what LL means; Light Lining (figures)??

Thanks for linking to that article, Vincent. That should clarify the MetaPlus vs. Meta.

A correction: Lining and Tabular figures are not the same thing. Lining Figures actually means the numbers line up horizontally. You could call them "all caps" or "titling" figures. Lining figs can be proportionally spaced. TF stands for Tabular Figures which means they all have same width for tabluar setting.

I have never heard of Meta LL.

*sigh* I'm sure I'll get the figures right some day... Thanks for the correction, Stephen.

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