Hi Tim, the site looks great (had some registration issues but seemed to work through those). Can you speak to the business model? I see that unlike Wikipedia you run ads? Do you take referral income from the font distributors too? I don't have a problem with that personally, but as you're asking volunteers to provide content, it might be good to include more information in the about section on this.

Best of luck with the venture.

I should clarify that I am merely an enthusiastic participant-cum-editor here. This is fully Jason Santa Maria's doing, with contributions from the folks listed in Typedia's about text.

Thanks for your thoughts, Simon. Very good questions. Jason can speak to these better than I.

There is a pretty awesome TypeWiki right here on Typophile that could use some editing :)

http://typophile.com/typowiki

I could spend a dozen hours uploading all my foundry info, to promote my fonts.
On the one hand, it's advertising that I don't have to pay for.
On the other hand, it's free content that Typedia doesn't have to pay for.
So it's not much different than those "Latest Digital Fonts" books.

I'm thinking some cross-linking would build a great synergy between Typophile and Typedia - Typophile for the "everything type" discussions, Typedia for the presentation of factual information about specific typefaces. Just my lowly 2 cents worth...

I was kind of interested until I saw that the template for specimens is Flash-only. I draw letters, why would I have Flash?

> So it’s not much different than those “Latest Digital Fonts” books

Except that Typedia will be seen by many more thousands of viewers than those books, and a website is a much more direct link to your fonts.

> I see that unlike Wikipedia you run ads?

So does Typophile. I see no issue with a crowdsourced site supporting itself through advertising.

> Do you take referral income from the font distributors too?

Not currently.

> it might be good to include more information in the about section on this.

Agree.

> I’m thinking some cross-linking would build a great synergy between Typophile and Typedia

Totally with you, Ben. I've recommended that to Jason.

Hey James, I have Flash, but apparently it needs upgrading, coz I can't open the Typedia specimen file. Guess I haven't paid my taxes to Adobe recently!

>> it might be good to include more information in the about section on this.

>Agree.

Sounds good. I'd also take a look at the terms of use. These seem to be slanted towards how a contributor/site visitor might interact with the site content, not what the site owner is allowed to do with information provided by contributors.

Cheers, Si

Hi there (it's Jason Santa Maria, though I'm not sure why my name isn't showing up on the left there).

> I’m thinking some cross-linking would build a great synergy between Typophile and Typedia

I would love this.

> Hey James, I have Flash, but apparently it needs upgrading, coz I can’t open the Typedia specimen file. Guess I haven’t paid my taxes to Adobe recently!

Unfortunately, we needed to go with a minimum of Actionscript 3, which is Flash 9 and up.

> Sounds good. I’d also take a look at the terms of use. These seem to be slanted towards how a contributor/site visitor might interact with the site content, not what the site owner is allowed to do with information provided by contributors.

Good point. Basically the only thing I hope to use it for is to provide a resource.

How useful will this be as a comprehensive or balanced resource, if a critical mass of foundries decide not to upload their font info?

You state, "There is no corporate influence unless a particular distributor decides to flood the library with their own type," but isn't the site predicated on corporate involvement to provide content?

I have enough trouble supporting my distributors with new product and metadata, let alone servicing third parties.
For instance, MyFonts' graphic files ("posters") are "crowdsourced" from its suppliers--I would be more inclined to work on those, than for Typedia.

The content will be provided by some foundries, and some fans, but there will be large gaps.
IMO, naming it "-pedia" implies a scope that may not emerge.

I hope this isn't too much of a damper on an innovative idea, but I believe these are legitimate criticisms of your business model.

i've tried making a type sample, but the .swf movie i exported only reads "Add typeface" what did i do wrong?

Nick Shinn:

Well, you have to start somewhere :)

I hope that by putting the tools out there, it can only grow and get better. Sites like Typophile or Wikipedia got to where they are because of their members. I imagine their founders had the same intentions and hopes.

As for the content, you don't actually need to supply anything if you don't want to. We've tried to set up the site to make it easy for people to add and expand information, and crediting back to the source when possible. So, just merely publishing your information anywhere is enough. The hope is that as the site grows, some one along the chain (whether designer, distributor, or type enthusiast) will care enough to add the typeface to Typedia.

Paul D Hunt:

What version of Flash are you using? Unfortunately, we needed to go with a minimum of Actionscript 3, which is Flash 9 and up.

Flash CS4 on Win XP

we needed to go with a minimum of Actionscript 3, which is Flash 9 and up.

That severely restricts "some one along the chain" from contributing visuals.
I suggest you revise the spec to accomodate GIF, PNG, and JPEG.
I mean, look how much trouble people have uploading image files to Typophile, even with that very basic file format requirement.

We heavily researched numerous possibilities for the best way to render out type samples, and begrudgingly, went with Flash. I'm the last person who wants to use Flash for Typedia, but it's simply the best option for the sake of fidelity, even at the expense of some people not being able to contribute.

Other options (like images) suffer from a few big faults. 1) being locked into a specific size and character set. 2) different programs AND different operating systems introduce a myriad of different rendering options (most of which will introduce uncomfortable and inconsistent irregularities in character display). 3) the human factor. People will futz with size, color, and content of any templates we provide, which can harm any consistency Typedia might strive for. 4) content. We've already adjusted the content of the type samples from our holder swf since launch, and plan to change it again soon. Originally it was ABC... abc..., we changed it to AaBbCc..., and now we've been talking about displaying a word or pangram along with that to get a better sense of the way type looks. 5) flexibility. We use the same swf to generate the small samples seen in the site's sidebar, the medium samples seen on the listing pages, and the big detail samples that popup from the listing pages. It's considerably (though not entirely) future-proof, by comparison to images.

All of these things make image file alone a much weaker option.

I see this is a possible nice inroads to mixing type folks with type enthusiasts too. Type folks can help with listings and the people who buy fonts can help with samples. I know it's not ideal, but it's the best of what we have right now. I will jump at the chance to improve this in the future.

I hate Flash!!! Please use something else.

Mike, I have the same aversion, but please read Jason's explanation. Consistency of rendering and flexibility are reasons enough to go with Flash on a site like Typedia.

Conversations and expertise

I have admired Typophile since I found out about it a few years ago, and not only because it's full of knowledgeable folks who love type and are happy to share what they know.

Typophile maintains the best forum that I have seen anywhere. Nick mentioned the challenge that uploading images presents; whether issues like this fall on experience design or are just a matter of user familiarity, they'll happen in every system. I haven't run into this problem at Typophile, but I have on other sites. Regardless, Typophile's forum is top-notch, and I won't stop telling folks to visit, participate, and appreciate it. New readers: signup is free.

Not only does Typophile sport the finest forum I've found, but there's a wiki seamlessly integrated. Zara, thank you for the reminder about Typophile's Typo Wiki. It is an excellent resource, and I find myself there all the time without even realizing. Terms linked from forum posts lead me there.

The promise of tools that interoperate like this is nothing short of phenomenal; although wikis, in my experience, only occasionally deliver on their part of such a promise. Most of the time they're incomplete or inaccurate.

The Typo Wiki, by luck or by consistent care, is an exception; it usually provides me something of value, and often something I hadn't already known. Sometimes the superscript "w" links I follow lead to empty entries, but that's to be expected in every wiki. The information I do find in the Typo Wiki feels reliable, accurate, and thorough, and I have every reason to believe that it is those things because there is every indication of watchful guidance and wisdom from folks who know what they're talking about.

This is my experience of Typophile. Type experts, always eager to talk and offer thoughts or tips, as well as occasional, rich wiki references that support conversations in the forum. Typedia is a new way in to this experience.

Structure and ease of use

Typedia is a wiki inasmuch as it affords community editing, but the reason it works so well is that it breaks away from wiki convention. It is very structured and easily navigable in ways that are often neglected by not only other wikis but other reference materials in general; these qualities, and the strength of the interface design that reveals them, makes Typedia feel forgiving, easy, and fun.

Take for instance the Good Deeds feature. If there are entries missing pieces, this feature encourages visitors to fill in the gaps. Consider what predicates such a feature:

• Having structure enough for the concept of gaps
• Allowing for partial entries, and
• Crafting copy that turns small chores into gold stars

No other reference material anywhere enables this kind of behavior in small doses so concise and so effortless as found in Typedia.

Knowing that such a feature exists also makes contributing a lightweight task. If you want to help, all you need to know is the name of a typeface, type designer, or foundry. Leave the rest. Not only does this make for a fuller 'pedia, it makes for satisfied, engaged participants.

Of course, the capacity of a tool built by a handful of careful, thoughtful folks and a horde of folks with more enthusiasm than availability/knowledge is questionable. That's why Typedia needs you.

Typedia for the basics, Typophile for the truth

Perhaps this heading is misleading; Typedia won't be "false," although misinformation is a constant concern, and Typophile offers plenty of basics if you know where to look. But Typedia's natural aptitude is for quick facts and nimble browsing, and Typophile's strongest faculty is its final word.

The presence of masterful thinkers and craftspeople at Typophile, despite the friendliest of exchanges I've witnessed, is a barrier for some folks because it is overwhelming. Typedia removes this barrier at the cost of being, in the short term, empty and only somewhat relevant. But these things will change in time thanks to the coexistence of these two resources.

Typophile needs a note taker, and Typedia needs things to write down. These resources will prosper and be intertwined. Let's encourage folks to use both (cross-linking of various kinds is a great idea and has much potential), and play our participation to the strengths of each.

I generally agree with all you've said, Tim. But one could distinguish them merely by their focus:

Typedia is a structured database of typefaces.

Typophile is a resource and forum for everything typographic.

There's no reason these two sites can't happily coexist.

> (it’s Jason Santa Maria, though I’m not sure why my name isn’t showing up on the left there)

You'll need to change your username for that to happen.

Coles> Myfonts seem to do really well without Flash.

Big difference: MyFonts has access to every single font they display. You will not see samples of fonts that they do not carry on MyFonts.

>You will not see samples of fonts that they do not carry on MyFonts.

Actually they do include samples for fonts that they don't license. Before our fonts were available at retail we provided them so they could add them to the system for viewing purposes. Same goes for many MI fonts that they no longer license. If MyFonts were to add a wiki-feature, that might trump what Typedia is providing... or maybe not.

Right--forgot about that. Scratch the second part of my comment.

> MyFonts were to add a wiki-feature, that might trump what Typedia is providing... or maybe not.

MyFonts is a font retailer. As long as they sell type there will be font makers who will choose not to supply them with fonts.

An independent resource that has no stake in selling type is good for everyone.

Jason, your rationale for Flash makes sense.
But it would be more user-friendly if the poster could just upload a font, and the specimen file would be generated automatically on your server.
That way, all the poster needs is the font, not Flash as well.

Not a bad idea. I think that's something that could be built. I guess there were license concerns if the uploader was not the IP owner.

Indeed, most EULAs do prohibit against this sort of copying.
But it wouldn't be a problem for foundries, who, I believe, have the most incentive to generate Typedia content.

> You’ll need to change your username for that to happen.

As far as I can tell, there is only a way to edit your "Real Name" from the edit profile page, which I have set to "Jason Santa Maria" already.

> But it would be more user-friendly if the poster could just upload a font, and the specimen file would be generated automatically on your server. That way, all the poster needs is the font, not Flash as well.

The hope is that at some point in the future we'll be able to reach out to foundries and maybe find something that can work for everyone. Perhaps there is even a way that we could tap into a rendering engine from a site externally and pull it into Typedia (I'm only speaking technically, obviously this would coincide with a foundry/distributor offering such a service to us).

As Stephen said, we wanted to stay away from asking people to upload font files anywhere. It's a very slippery slope, which is why Cufon was also vetoed as a possible means to display samples.

One thing I'm looking to explore for now is a possible way that we can generate a swf in a browser and bypass the need for someone to own Flash. Meaning, if the typeface is active in your system, you load up a page that allows you to select a typeface from the ones active on your machine, and generate a swf. This would make things very easy, no template to download, no files to upload. Just a few clicks and done.

jason - send a DM to a moderator and they will change your name.

Done.

One thing I’m looking to explore for now is a possible way that we can generate a swf in a browser and bypass the need for someone to own Flash. Meaning, if the typeface is active in your system, you load up a page that allows you to select a typeface from the ones active on your machine, and generate a swf. This would make things very easy, no template to download, no files to upload. Just a few clicks and done.

Please, do! :-)

>An independent resource that has no stake in selling type is good for everyone.

That kind of comes back to my original question about the business model. Currently there's "no stake" but these things have been known to change.

...An independent resource that has no stake in selling type ...

Then where will the money come from to run it?

> Then where will the money come from to run it?

Luckily, we have very low overhead. It's entirely a volunteer project right now. Hosting is donated, a we use free service where possible. Any potential money will go towards improving the system or finding ways to give back to the members.

It’s entirely a volunteer project right now.

That's how many projects start out.
But long-term viability is dependent on getting income to pay for people and services, once the period of goodwill is over, and volunteers burn out.
So "right now" is the operative phrase.
You may not have any longer term plans just yet, but you know very well that Typedia cannot survive in the long term without "a stake in selling type" -- i.e. ads or sponsorship from foundries.
Typophile collects moneu for its Featured Face.
And Typographica sells nameplate ads.
So please, don't be so coy and cut the BS about "independent resource with no stake in selling type"!
What is wrong with a financial model that runs on type foundry money?
What other feasible way is there to finance a type site?
How about starting a foundation?

Nick, Simon, I hear you about the potential of future opportunities to change how Typedia might be funded.

But the independence Stephen mentions is more about the integrity of Typedia's catalog than the actual money it collects. The point is, Typedia's catalogue isn't driven by any one distributor, foundry, designer, or individual. You can expect to see, presented impartially, information about and samples of any typeface, designer, or foundry, so long as someone has added these to the catalog.

> So please, don’t be so coy and cut the BS about “independent resource with no stake in selling type”!

Well, it's true :)

Typedia has no desire to sell type or be a font distributor. There are many community sites that run and maintain themselves with little or no funding. Typedia doesn't need to be a gigantic social community or anything, and I'd actually prefer if it stayed fairly small and dedicated.

I guess we're way getting ahead of ourselves, but there are cases out there of valued independent community sites that disappear when the proprietor loses interest, trust-fund runs out or worse. What would we all do if a site like Typophile were to fold and all the inspiring, educational posts were to be gone forever ;-)

...presented impartially...

How are search results prioritized? Ranking is partial.

Giving "classic examples" of a genre is not impartial.

I must disagree that the catalogue is impartial.
For instance, Mercury Display is listed as in the "Similar to" of Century Schoolbook?!
The blurb about Mercury is copious "first person" advertising copy by H&FJ, describing how it is derived from Fleischmann's work.
Props to H&FJ for having such keen fans!

I suspect this site will be partial to popular faces, and to foundries that commit to uploading their faces, describing them in glowing terms, and leveraging "similar to" links and search ranking.

I was amused to see that Archer ("Sweet but not saccharine, earnest but not grave, Archer is designed to hit just the right notes of forthrightness, credibility...") is listed as a Scotch Modern ("medium to high stroke contrast").
What is to stop this kind of commercialism on a site that purports to have "no stake in selling type"?
BTW, whether it originates from foundry (which I doubt in this case) or fans, the effect is still highly promotional.

Wiki has changed:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/170826/wikipedia_changes_editing_policy.html

So, I think you need to consider committing resources to "flagged revisions".

I have to agree with Nick about impartiality. If Typedia wants to be an impartial source, people who paste in their marketing copy need to have their user accounts and IP blocks permanently banned in the same way that the IP blocks associated with the US congressional offices have been banned from Wikipedia.

> I suspect this site will be partial to popular faces, and to foundries that commit to uploading their faces, describing them in glowing terms, and leveraging “similar to” links and search ranking.

But not unlike Wikipedia, it's kept in check by it's community. If someone starts swaying things in a marketing direction, there will be backlash.

> I was amused to see that Archer (“Sweet but not saccharine, earnest but not grave, Archer is designed to hit just the right notes of forthrightness, credibility...”) is listed as a Scotch Modern (“medium to high stroke contrast”)

That's kind of the point, if you see something inaccurate, you have the power to correct it.

> BTW, whether it originates from foundry (which I doubt in this case) or fans, the effect is still highly promotional.

This is the same information that you can collect by searching for a typeface in Google. We made it easy to post information about how a foundry describes one of their typefaces (and credit a source, namely the foundry site), but there is just as much of an opportunity for anyone to change that to something more impartial.

> I have to agree with Nick about impartiality. If Typedia wants to be an impartial source, people who paste in their marketing copy need to have their user accounts and IP blocks permanently banned in the same way that the IP blocks associated with the US congressional offices have been banned from Wikipedia.

I'm more than happy to talk to people that seem to be abusing the site, and if need be, remove their account.

Honestly, like any community site, of course there is the opportunity for negative interactions, but there is just as much incentive for positive ones. It all depends on how you approach the site. Typedia can be whatever you make of it. But if we only point out flaws in an open system, you'll certainly only see the negatives. :)

...if you see something inaccurate, you have the power to correct it.

Come on, it's not my job to curb the enthusiasm of other foundries' fans!

We made it easy to post information about how a foundry describes one of their typefaces...

That explains the commercialese descriptors.
You're going to get the foundry default, not Jan, Yves or John D. Berry.
Who is going to write all the impartial edits?

But if we only point out flaws in an open system, you’ll certainly only see the negatives. :)

OK, from hereon in I'm gung ho, and will hire someone with the latest Flash to upload my fonts!

For my part, I've so far only posted one of my families (Coquette), and that was during the private beta period. The others have been posted by others. I took the liberty of adding samples to those since they were incomplete or missing.

A foundry doesn't necessarily have to post their library, unless perhaps they feel that it's being overlooked by Typedia's users. Ideally most of the entries would be contributed by users of typefaces.

I'm interested in adding older pre-digital typefaces that haven't been digitized (or may never be). The one problem I see with the way samples are done is that there is no way to add faces that are not available in digital outline format.

Another thing I'd like to see people add is information (and samples if possible) about custom or proprietary faces. This is something one would not likely find on a site selling fonts.

> I’m interested in adding older pre-digital typefaces that haven’t been digitized (or may never be). The one problem I see with the way samples are done is that there is no way to add faces that are not available in digital outline forma

It's actually easy for us to enable normal image uploads for these cases, we just need to figure out how the interaction happens first, and to still direct people to upload swfs for typefaces that are digital. It's definitely on the list of forthcoming improvements.

My take: don't really give a hoot about what business model is being used or any of that.
What I like is that because of who is initially involved in the project, and the "*pedia" style contributory nature of the thing - names and faces from the world of web that wouldn't normally post here but think about and use and love type a great deal are being drawn to it and from there, they might very well be drawn here as well.
All of it being driven by @font-face and the idea of a web typography that isn't strangled down to a half dozen typefaces.
A renaissance of sorts in the making? I hope so.
Fonts 2.0

Nick, I respect your concerns, but half the time you spent critiquing could have been spent adding your typefaces to Typedia and describing them as you please.

Mark's query was one that had been rattling round in my mind – good to see you've considered it Jason; this means there's still scope for someone to add entries on great unavailable/undigitized fonts such as Antikva Margaret...
_______________________________________________
Ever since I chose to block pop-ups, my toaster's stopped working.

> But long-term viability is dependent on getting income to pay for people and services, once the period of goodwill is over, and volunteers burn out.

Isn't Tyophile still run by volunteers after all this time?

But I agree that eventually revenues will be needed. Free hosting only happens for sites with low traffic. Get successful, and you will need to pay for server time. The Typedia folks should really look at the way Typophile has created revenue streams to pay for hosting, without compromising integrity.

How do the “In the Wild” images work? Are they added by users or found by a script? Because I’m seeing a lot of images that don’t feature the types.

How do the “In the Wild” images work?

They don't. The article on Enschedé's Collis, for instance, is illustrated by a picture of a bus in Manchester, and one of unrelated type on fire. Nothing else.

As it is now, this feature should be removed. This is worse than advertisements (that you can block).

> How do the “In the Wild” images work? Are they added by users or found by a script? Because I’m seeing a lot of images that don’t feature the types.

We're working on improving it.

James, Sindre: Jason and others are working to improve the relevance of "in the wild" images, blending several methods of searching Flickr. Being careful not to pull in copyrighted photos (or photos that don’t allow creative commons use) has restricted the number of results somewhat, but you can be sure that the accuracy of this feature will improve in time.

.

ChrisL

Very, very cool site. I approve this message. :)

...half the time you spent critiquing could have been spent adding your typefaces to Typedia and describing them as you please.

Silly me, I'd rather talk trash than feather my nest.

Another thing you could do to increase the usefulness of Typedia is display characters that go beyond the basic stuff needed for American English. Diacriticals, eth, thorn, ash, oethel, eng, the pound, and the euro are all important characters that researchers might need to look at and not be able to find a specimen of.

I don't think Typedia will ever show full character sets, only enough to get the general sense of a typeface. The foundries and resellers will hopefully do that job well.