Too Rich For My Ink: Rosso by W Type Foundry
Drawn-out introduction
This is as good a time as any to get into the site’s “mission statement”.
My intention for The Daily Typographic has always been to act as an aggregator of the best new typeface releases. The format is simple: find a nice typeface, use it in a quick example design, and also post a short review of the font.
Simple, right?
Well, no. At least, not as simple as you probably think it is. First of all, this means that I have to go through hundreds of releases on various sites and, as much as I enjoy the discovery process, that takes time.
It also takes money. Don’t worry, I’m not about to announce a Patreon or turn on a paywall (though if you want to support The Daily Typographic, please consider buying a copy of Clothes for Language or Quick and Easy Vector Graphics). But here’s the thing: although a few foundries have reached out and offered me free limited licenses of their fonts for review purposes, most of the time I have to buy a license in order to download and use the font in an example design. It’s also a much better review when I’ve had a chance to use the typeface myself.
If I’m not asking for your money, what’s the point of this extended introduction?
The point
Since purchasing every (commercial) typeface I review can get pretty expensive pretty fast, I’ve decided to start the Too Rich For My Ink series, in which I’ll be presenting awesome typefaces that I haven’t had a chance to purchase and use (yet), but still look amazing.
And I say ‘yet’, because I probably won’t be able to resist buying a license for Rosso for very long. This is simply one of the most stunning typefaces I’ve laid eyes on in a long time, and I don’t say that lightly.
That’s because the guys & gals over at W Type Foundry have found a way to create an unlikely hybrid: a typeface with clean, geometric letterforms that still manages to look highly distinctive. It would be no overstatement to say that this is the first time I’ve seen a font that would be perfectly suited to both body text application and large-type, display-sized designs.
This is simply one of the most stunning typefaces I’ve laid eyes on in a long time, and I don’t say that lightly.
There’s no denying the influence of art deco in this font, but the way it also manages to remain highly-legible as a body text font is such a revelation.
There’s also an alternative version of the typeface, with a larger x-height and more open counters than the ones in the standard. This also looks stunning, although it starts getting more into display territory.
You can purchase Rosso HERE at 145,66 euros for the entire family or at 28,16 euros per style. This is not an affiliate link.
Update
I went ahead and got a single weight and style of Rosso, and justified the decision by using it to make a draft design for the cover of my next novel. Here it is, and I must say I’m very happy with it:
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