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Cartier (typeface)
Encyclopedia
Cartier is a family of serif old style typefaces designed by Carl Dair
in 1967, who was commissioned by the Governor General of Canada
-in-Council
to create a new and distinctively Canadian typeface
. The first proof of Cartier (in Roman and Italic faces) was published as "the first Canadian
type for text composition" to mark the centenary of Canadian Confederation
.
In a 1977 revival of Cartier was produced under the name Raleigh by Robert Norton.
This typeface was later redesigned by Canadian typographer Rod McDonald in a digital format
. McDonald's Cartier family removed inconsistencies in the baseline weight, and streamlined the stroke angles to enforce a strong horizontal flow. His work was a form of homage to the validity of Dair's original design, which later was unfortunately plagued with weight, stroke, and grid issues because Dair insisted that Mergenthaler Linotype's drawing office not refine the face but instead relied only on his personal sketches.
Carl Dair
Carl Dair is one of Canada’s preeminent designers and he left a lasting legacy as a teacher, type designer, design practitioner, and author. Even though he was primarily a self-taught designer, Dair would emerge to win international recognition and codify visual design principles still relevant...
in 1967, who was commissioned by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
-in-Council
Queen-in-Council
The Queen-in-Council is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council or executive council The Queen-in-Council (during...
to create a new and distinctively Canadian typeface
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
. The first proof of Cartier (in Roman and Italic faces) was published as "the first Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
type for text composition" to mark the centenary of Canadian Confederation
Canadian Centennial
The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...
.
In a 1977 revival of Cartier was produced under the name Raleigh by Robert Norton.
This typeface was later redesigned by Canadian typographer Rod McDonald in a digital format
Digital typography
Digital typography is the arrangement of type using computers.- See also :* Typography* Computer font* Web typography* Desktop publishing* Font rasterization...
. McDonald's Cartier family removed inconsistencies in the baseline weight, and streamlined the stroke angles to enforce a strong horizontal flow. His work was a form of homage to the validity of Dair's original design, which later was unfortunately plagued with weight, stroke, and grid issues because Dair insisted that Mergenthaler Linotype's drawing office not refine the face but instead relied only on his personal sketches.