TYPE DESIGN INFORMATION PAGE last updated on Wed Nov 20 11:46:07 EST 2024

FONT RECOGNITION VIA FONT MOOSE

LUC DEVROYE

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Helvetica clones

Linotype's Helvetica, itself derived from Haas Grotesk, has a large number of clones, some of which I will attempt to list here (see Jacci Howard Bear's list for other fonts as well):

• Aristocrat
• CG Triumvirate (Agfa/Compugraphic, now Monotype)
• Claro
• Corvus
• Europa Grotesk
• Geneva 2
• Hamilton
• Helios/II
• Helv
• Helvetica Compressed: clone of Helvetica Inserat.
• Helvette
• Tex Gyre Heros (2007): an extension of URW Nimbus Sans L, totally free.
• Holsatia (Hell): bought by Linotype
• Impact: Clone of Helvetica Inserat.
• Megaron/II
• Newton
• Nimbus Sans URW (1987): great free clone that comes with GhostScript. Note that URW now sells an OpenType version as Nimbus Sans and Nimbus Sans Novus for 300 and 400 Euros, respectively.
• Miedinger (2015). Free fonts by Owen Earl.
• Placard Bold: Clone of Helvetica Inserat.
• Sans DTC
• Sans URW
• Sonoran Sans Serif. Well, this is the original Arial, actually, with the name used on the IBM 3800 laser printer. Arial is based on Monotype Grotesque, and is in fact not a clone of Helvetica at all. The fact that it matches the metrics of Helvetica is explained by the practical need on the part of IBM, which hads licensed Helvetica for its laser printers, to have matching metrics.
• Spectra
• Swiss 721: Bitstream's infamous clone of the Linotype original.
• Switzerland
• Swiss 911 BT: Bitstream's clone of Helvetica Compressed.
• Swiss 921 BT: clone of Helvetica Inserat.
• Vega

EXTERNAL LINKS
Helvetica clones
MyFonts search
Monotype search
Fontspring search
Google search

INTERNAL LINKS
Choice of fonts ⦿ Type design in Switzerland ⦿ Font names/aliases ⦿