FF Scala

Infobox font
name = FF Scala


style = Serif
classifications = Humanist
date = 1990
creator = Martin Majoor
foundry = FontShop International|

FF Scala is an old style, neohumanist, serif typeface designed by Dutch typeface designer Martin Majoor in 1990 for the Vredenburg Music Center in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Like many contemporary Dutch serif faces, FF Scala is not an academic revival of a single historic typeface but shows influences of several historic models. Similarities can be seen with William Addison Dwiggins' 1935 design Electra in its clarity of form, and rhythmic, highly calligraphic italics. Eric Gill's 1931 typeface Joanna (released by Monotype in 1937), with its old style armature but nearly square serifs is also similar in its nearly mono-weighted stroke width.

FF Scala is a complete typeface family. True small capitals, a wide range of ligatures, lining, and non-lining (old style figures) are available. A companion sans-serif version, FF Scala Sans was released in 1992. In 1997 a decorative variety of capitals titled FF Scala Jewels was released. These show influence of Dutch Baroque decorative capitals. The FF Scala face and its related faces are widely used in publishing. FF Scala is the house typeface for the prominent Dutch newspaper "Algemeen Dagblad."

FF Scala is also used by the cover album of Westlife after their album Coast to Coast.

References

*Bringhurst, Robert. "The Elements of Typographic Style." Hartley & Marks: 1992. ISBN 0-88179-033-8.
*Friedl, Frederich, Nicholas Ott and Bernard Stein. "Typography: An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Through History." Black Dog & Leventhal: 1998. ISBN 1-57912-023-7.
*Lupton, Ellen. "Graphic Design and Typography in the Netherlands: A View of Recent Work." Princeton Architectural Press: 1992. ISBN 1-878271-62-8.
*Middendorp, Jan. "Dutch Type." 010 Publishers: 2004. ISBN 90-6540-460-1.
*FontFont Catalogue. Font Shop International: 2002.

External links

* [http://www.fontshop.com/fontfeed/archives/dolly_for_finley.cfm Uses of FF Scala and FF Scala Sans]
* [http://www.typotheque.com/articles/my_type_design_philosophy.html Martin Majoor on his design philosophy]