Variable Fonts

Variable fonts are a breakthrough in font technologies. Now, a type designer can combine many font files into one and change the font variation settings in real time with the help of a variability-controlling tool. Variability can be implemented in any aspect, starting with traditional variability of the width, weight, or slant up to variability that directly influences the visuals of the font. Another advantage of variability, especially if you are working with web typography, is the small font file size compared to the size of a traditional font family.

The variability range of a font is almost endless and is only limited by your imagination. It is important to note that, at present, not all operating systems, software, and browsers support variable technologies, and we strongly advise you to check before purchasing if your software supports OpenType variable fonts. If you have any questions on variable fonts, send them to us at commercial@typetype.org/fr.

Variable Fonts by TypeType foundry

The TypeType library now includes 17 fonts supporting variable font format for any tasks and all tastes. Variable fonts from the TypeType library can be classified into three large groups: ultimate workhorses with three variability axes, fonts with two variability axes, simple variable fonts with one variability axis, and variable fonts impacting font design.

The first group consists of TT Commons™ Pro, TT Lakes Neue, TT Octosquares, and TT Supermolot Neue. These fonts have three axes of variability (weight, width, and slant) that grant users access to a vast array of choices and the possibility to use the type-controlling tool to create an absolutely unique combination.

The second group features fonts with two variability axes: TT Hoves Pro, TT Fors, and TT Autonomous. Unlike the first group of fonts, these do not allow working with the width axis as they have default width, but they provide unlimited freedom (within the extremes range) in choosing the weight of the font, its slant, or the combination of both.

The third group contains fonts with only one variability axis, and each of the other axes has a separate font file. These fonts are TT Globs, TT Autonomous Mono, TT Ramillas, TT Runs, TT Interphases Pro, TT Interphases Mono, TT Trailers, TT Norms® Pro, and TT Firs Neue. When working with the fonts from this group, you have some freedom to choose certain formats or parameters freely (either weight or width), which allows for adjusting the font to your task.

The most unusual one is the fourth group of TypeType fonts, which has TT Alientz, TT Frantz, and TT Geekette. The main difference between this and the other groups is that variability in these fonts directly impacts the font style and its visual design. For example, in TT Frantz, you can use the type-controlling tool to change the mean line of the font from a very tall art nouveau style to a very short, somewhat avant-garde look. TT Alientz's variability allows for a stylistic transformation from a bright display sans serif to a very prickly and spirited serif. TT Geekette, in turn, can transform from a monospace slab into a malleable slab with reverse contrast.