Helvetica Neue == Neue Helvetica?

August 6, 2007 1:00 PM

Is Adobe's Helvetica Neue different from Linotype's Neue Helvetica?

Is Helvetica Neue, as sold by Adobe, exactly the same as Neue Helvetica, as sold by Linotype?

Adobe lists the designer of Helvetica Neue as "Linotype Staff," while Linotype appears to sell some Adobe fonts. The PostScript versions of both fonts appear to use the same "easy-to-use numbering system" in the font names.

Curiously, the Adobe OpenType version of Helvetica Neue appears to be missing the numbers in the font names.

I'm writing a style guide, and I'm trying to figure out which of these fonts (if any) are interchangeable. Thanks for your help.

posted by designbot to media & arts (8 comments total)

I would always advise using the original distributor since they most likely have access to the original cuts. ITC is the obvious postchild for raping fonts - just look at their cut of garamond.

I am not quite sure if there is a difference other than in name here but when in doubt would go with linotype.

you might want to ask this question at typophile or contact an adobe rep. they're quite nice actually.
posted by krautland at 1:39 PM on August 6, 2007

A data point: The description for Adobe's Helvetica Neue calls it "Neue Helvetica", and both talk about the same date (early 1980s vs 1983). That plus some Usenet discussions makes me lean towards "same".
posted by mendel at 1:42 PM on August 6, 2007

I would also ask typophile. I have Adobe's version but not Linotype's, so I can't tell you anything.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:24 PM on August 6, 2007

Thanks for the suggestion. I've posted the question to typophile now as well.
posted by designbot at 2:38 PM on August 6, 2007

designbot, check your email. I have both versions and made you a couple of PDFs. I can't see any difference at all.
posted by tellurian at 5:05 PM on August 6, 2007

Also I should mention I only used Helvetica Neue 55 Roman. Did you want to check another weight?
posted by tellurian at 5:14 PM on August 6, 2007

Fantastic, tellurian. Thanks! Looks very similar to me, too.
posted by designbot at 6:55 PM on August 6, 2007

The best place to ask this is at Linotype, as their internal documentation might be more complete than what's on their website.
posted by Typographica at 11:22 AM on August 7, 2007