I've looked for some bits of text from the instruction booklet, showing language that is just as antiquated as the microscope. Most of the sentences are too long, but here are a couple of candidates.
The flat-wick oil lamp and Welsbach gas burner are pretty antiquated too, but I love how loopy the one about the study of diatoms sounds, and it fits better too.
Julia – With the addition of this somewhat arcane historical text, this is all coming together. Choose the text that you feel is more interesting, and then add some leading to it. You have the room, and the serif font you have chosen seems to need that extra line spacing.
ReplyDeleteThe patent was issued in 1915, so I’m not sure if that is the era you are trying to replicate here… but even if this was anytime before the late 50s, don’t you think you should be using a serif headline? It might add more of that historical feel and match the era that the scope was invented.
OK to the drop shadow not following wall, but I do think the shadow is a bit too dark for the composition.
Over and out!
The headline typeface is the same as the rest of the sans-serif text, Helvetica Neue medium. I tried to match the typeface as closely as I could to the text engraved on the microscope body using Identifont by appearance, and came up with Akzidenz-Grotesk Extended. This was a late 19th century typeface. Then the closest I could get to that without spending a few hundred dollars was its 1950's descendant. I really don't like any "Ye Olde Microscope Shoppe" kind of sensibility touching it anywhere other than the text snippet from the owner's manual. Any other suggestions for a mimic Akzidenz-Grotesk Extended?
ReplyDeleteI've lightened up the back shadow a bit. I'm not sure how far to go. The contrast in print is a bit less than on screen.
Thanks, Coni.