Free Snellen Optotype font?
October 5, 2006 9:25 PM   RSS feed for this thread Subscribe

Font/Typography hounds! Trying to find a free Snellen Optotype style (font used in vintage eye charts) like this:



Will Work For Free Fonts!

Please help!
: )
posted by spock to computers & internet (10 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
You are aware there's a $10 version, right?

Would you settle for another slab serif?
posted by booksandlibretti at 9:29 PM on October 5, 2006


If I was a professional designer I would spend the $10 in a heartbeat. But I'm just a poor font snob (and I have a hard time believing a font this simple to make isn't out there somewhere).
: )
posted by spock at 9:35 PM on October 5, 2006


Rockwell (bold) is pretty close. There's a free version on this page. I'm pretty sure "Rockney" is the exact same font too.
posted by O9scar at 9:56 PM on October 5, 2006


Rockwell is a not bad suggestion! (But that Rockney imitation really sucks).
: )
posted by spock at 10:00 PM on October 5, 2006


try dafont.com even if you don't find this one, its a must have site for font geeks :)

reg
posted by legotech at 10:12 PM on October 5, 2006


Note that the $10 Snellen Optotype font only includes C, D, E, F, L, O, P, T, and Z.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 11:08 PM on October 5, 2006


This looks to be pretty close. The serifs off the back end of the E don't look as long, but otherwise, its close and free.

Acknowledgement
posted by gregschoen at 3:56 AM on October 6, 2006


You might also try Courier Bold.
posted by fandango_matt at 7:35 AM on October 6, 2006


You can't really just swap in different typefaces and have a completely useful Snellen chart. The weights of the strokes are quite carefully selected to subtend 1 minute of arc (at 20/20). The glyphs subtend 5 minutes of arc. The letters C, D, E, F, L, O, P, T, and Z suffice, as these are the only ones used in Snellen's original design.
posted by rlk at 8:07 AM on October 6, 2006 [1 favorite]


Suddenly I realize I've just made the ridiculous assumption that the poster wants to make a Snellen chart, as opposed to designing something else that looks convincingly like a Snellen chart.

I generate charts for a (small) part of my research, so that's where I'm comin' from.
posted by rlk at 8:12 AM on October 6, 2006


« Older Good news: I have been offere...   |   I have a dear pal with a coke ... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.


Related Questions
I at least know what kerning is... April 16, 2008
Looking for that great advice about web typography October 18, 2007
Please help me name this font! October 17, 2007
What the font? July 27, 2007
How can I convert Mac-fonts to PC-fonts? February 21, 2006