Ever heard of a font called Gypsy?

October 14, 2005 9:33 AM

A web design client insists on using this font on her page, but we can't seem to find it anywhere. Can you help?

The font is apparently included in PrintMaster, but it's not available in other Windows programs and we can't find a usable font file for it anywhere -- Google suggested that it should be in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Broderbund\Core Fonts, but it's not. I can't find it anywhere online, either. It's possible that it's known by a different name outside of PrintMaster.

What I'd really like is a place where I can download the font, preferably free. Alternatively, if you know exactly where to find a usable font file for this font on a computer with PrintMaster installed, I could then copy or link that file to the system fonts folder so it's usable from a normal graphics program on the client's machine. Failing that, can you recommend a font available online that's similar enough to the linked graphic to please a fairly picky client?

posted by Acetylene to media & arts (16 comments total)

It's called HOBO. You can get it from myfonts or any type vendor, really.
posted by luriete at 9:36 AM on October 14, 2005

Have you tried WhatTheFont.com to see if it can identify a replacement? (You'll need to have a sample with fewer characters)
posted by justkevin at 9:36 AM on October 14, 2005

The URW version is the cheapest of the 5 or 6 they carry.
posted by luriete at 9:38 AM on October 14, 2005

What the Font says it's "Hobo".
posted by smackfu at 9:39 AM on October 14, 2005

Thank you so much, luriete!
posted by Acetylene at 9:39 AM on October 14, 2005

I don't think she's very picky if she wants Hobo. Barf.

But check your email. ;)
posted by Optimus Chyme at 9:53 AM on October 14, 2005

I'd suggest you fire the client on grounds of taste deficiency. Oy.
posted by ninthart at 10:12 AM on October 14, 2005

That's a joke by the way. I love clients and their wacky requests. Oh yes.
posted by ninthart at 10:15 AM on October 14, 2005

Hey, I've seen some really excellent settings of Hobo. Oh wait, no I haven't.
posted by luriete at 10:20 AM on October 14, 2005

I worked with a guy once who said the only explanation for Hobo is that it's a test of the skills of graphic designers. If you use Hobo, you fail the test.
posted by jjg at 10:30 AM on October 14, 2005

If you use Hobo, you fail the test.

Upon what is this based exactly, jjg? Opinion or what?
posted by wsg at 11:16 AM on October 14, 2005

Upon what is this based exactly, jjg? Opinion or what?
posted by wsg at 11:16 AM PST on October 14

It's basically an unusable face because it is so god-awful ugly. Same reason Comic Sans - though loved by receptionists worldwide - is hated by designers. It's a shit design with horrible lines and it doesn't work for anything.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 11:28 AM on October 14, 2005

Thanks, OC.
posted by wsg at 1:51 PM on October 14, 2005

I know that's not a very objective answer; I apologize. An experiment would be to take any professionaly designed material and switch out the primary font with Hobo. It never looks better; I submit that's because the letterforms are just not straight enough to be elegant and not rounded enough to be organic. I believe the Emigre font Dead History will suffer this fate as well, though it still enjoys some popularity.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 6:44 PM on October 14, 2005

There are only three appropriate settings for Hobo. One is classic Mountain Dew ads with moonshiners. The second is certain 1970s paperback editions of The Hobbit. The other is the photonovel of Hair, the Film.

So, hillbilly, hobbit, or hippie? What's your client going for, here?
posted by dhartung at 11:37 PM on October 14, 2005

It's exactly like dhartung says. I would use it only if I was trying to duplicate a certain look. I certainly wouldn't select it for any original design.
posted by evilcolonel at 8:05 PM on October 16, 2005