Dear Typophiles,
I'm quite new here and I need advice in selecting my font. Currently I'm writing an application for finance management, and the font will be used in generated raports, invoices and so on. I have a specific set of features I need for my font, but I can't find a font that fits. Is it impossible? Can you help me?
The features I need:
- sans-serif
- light and condensed versions (and light-condensed), preferably extra light too
- tabular and lining figures (for table text)
- old style and proportional figures (for body text)
- light, normal and tabular numerals must match in width (see recent article "Fonts for Financials" by H&FJ for a better explanation of what I'm trying to say here)
- a formal but modern feeling (as formal as possible for a sans-serif font)
- Central European accents (I'm polish)
The font will be used at quite small sizes (8, maybe 9pt) so it needs to be clear and readable. I have checked the H&FJ fonts listed in the article I mentioned above, but they are either serif and without condensed forms, or don't support matching width tabular figures (like Gotham), at least as far as I could check using their online type tester.
Most of the reports and papers I'll be generating will be legal documents that are presented to the government. That's why the font needs a formal feeling to it. Some reports also have a predefined layout by law (list of table columns that must be included) and that causes the requirement of small sizes (for example a table needs to be placed on a single page with 15 (!) columns, some of them with some amount of text, not just numbers - it is tight).
I also checked a number of popular sans-serifs like Swiss 721 or Verdana Neu (and many others) but most of them don't support the matching width across weight tabular figures. The most promising one is Proxima Nova as it has almost matching weights. Almost! Also, Whitney from H&FJ is fantastic (see the numbers there! gorgeous!), it just lacks a condensed version.
I feel I'm missing something obvious, some well known font that has the features I need and is used in financials all over the world. Is there a font like that?
I tried searching the forums but found nothing. My search-fu is weak.
Thanks in advance!
Piotr
