So Neutraface Condensed is out and we’re a few days late with the announcement. I’d lie if I said I was hyper excited about this release. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen so much Neutraface on the web and in print in the last few weeks I’m bored of it. It’s something that I was afraid of when I called it a “novelty” face — too much novelty can get dull in a hurry. Still, it’s a reliable, useful family and it deserves success. I use it all the time so I am as much to blame for being bored as is the font.
There aren’t any big surprises in the slim version — just the same solid drawing one can expect from Mr. Schwartz. The characteristic sharp apexes (examples: ‘A’, ‘M’, ‘N’) and low crossbars remain, the apertures are more open. He avoided simply replicating the condensed versions of Gotham, Relay, and Nobel. The lesser width makes the low x-height more apparent so I wonder if this version is as useful for text as is the regular width, but if there’s ever a need for a tall deco display face I’ll know where to turn. (Simonson’s Mostra is beautiful for that purpose too, but its flavor is stronger and it lacks a lowercase.)