To achieve efficiency, Morison raised what is called the “x-height” of the letters. The Rare Book Division has an example of Gros Cicero in Surius’ Commentarivs Brevis Rervm In Orbe Gestarvm, printed in 1574. The “cicero” in Gros Cicero was a contemporary term for the size of the type-today, we would describe cicero’s size as 11.5-point-and the “gros” referred to the proportions of the letters. He liked the look of the modern typeface Plantin, which was based on the older typeface Gros Cicero, designed by Robert Granjon. Morison looked to classical type designs for inspiration.
Morison wanted any printing in his typeface to be economical, a necessity in the newspaper business, but he also wanted the process of reading to be easy on the eye. Morison enlisted the help of draftsman Victor Lardent and began conceptualizing a new typeface with two goals in mind: efficiency-maximizing the amount of type that would fit on a line and thus on a page-and readability. So The Times asked him to create something better. You might be surprised to learn that Times New Roman began as a challenge, when esteemed type designer Stanley Morison criticized London’s newspaper The Times for being out-of-touch with modern typographical trends. It’s so ubiquitous that we take it for granted, but just like Spider-Man or Wolverine, this super-typeface has its own origin story.
#TIMES OLD ROMAN FONT SOFTWARE#
If you open up your word processing software and start typing, chances are you’re looking at Times New Roman.
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