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Chicago (typeface)
Encyclopedia
Chicago is a sans-serif
typeface
designed by Susan Kare
for Apple Computer
. It was used in the Macintosh operating system
user interface
between 1984 and 1997 and was an important part of Apple’s brand
identity. It is also used in early versions of the iPod
user interface. While initially a bitmap font, Apple commissioned the type foundry Bigelow & Holmes to create a TrueType
version, as the OS
’s capabilities improved. The typeface is named after the U.S.
city of Chicago
.
According to Susan Kare, Chicago was the first font to be developed for the Macintosh. Before the team settled on the familiar “world cities” naming convention for the fonts, it was called Elefont (Elefont is also the name of a bold semi-serif typeface designed by Bob McGrath in 1978). The first bitmap version included only a 12 pt.
version. This font, with only very minor changes to spacing, was used for menus, dialogs, window titles and text labels in up to and including version 7.6 of the system. The TrueType version had many differences from the bitmap version, which became more apparent at greater sizes. One of Chicago’s major features was that it could remain legible while being made “grey” (to indicate a disabled menu item) by the removal of every other pixel (since actual grey type was impossible on a black-and-white monitor). The zero was slashed.
German
versions of System 7.x had a different rendering of Chicago. The “w” had two dips instead of one at the end of the letter, and the “I” (capital “i”) appeared more like a column than a vertical line. A mix of this and the original Chicago was used in the original iPod
.
In Mac OS 8
, Charcoal
replaced Chicago as the default system font. Chicago continued to be distributed as a standard component of the system, and Apple even urged developers to keep designing user interfaces for the Chicago typeface, since the new alternate fonts used the Chicago metrics as a foundation.
Chicago was also used in Apple marketing materials. It was also common to find this font in early amateur desktop publishing
productions, since it was available as part of the system. While Apple gravitated away from Chicago following the adoption of Charcoal as part of the platinum theme in Mac OS, it was later revived in the user interface for the iPod
music player, where legibility on a low resolution black-and-white screen became once again an asset. With the introduction of the iPod mini
, a smaller typeface was needed, and the Espy Sans
font from the Apple Newton
was used. Finally, with the introduction of the iPod photo
, the color iPod interface changed to Podium Sans
—a bitmap font similar to the Myriad Pro
typeface which Apple has adopted gradually for its marketing since 2002.
Chicago is a registered trademark (“typeface fonts recorded on computer software”), belonging to Apple since August 1996.
Sans-serif
In typography, a sans-serif, sans serif or san serif typeface is one that does not have the small projecting features called "serifs" at the end of strokes. The term comes from the French word sans, meaning "without"....
typeface
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
designed by Susan Kare
Susan Kare
Susan Kare is an artist and graphic designer who created many of the interface elements for the Apple Macintosh in the 1980s. She was also one of the original employees of NeXT , working as the Creative Director.-Background:Kare was born in Ithaca, New York and is the sister of aerospace engineer...
for Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
. It was used in the Macintosh operating system
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
user interface
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
between 1984 and 1997 and was an important part of Apple’s brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
identity. It is also used in early versions of the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
user interface. While initially a bitmap font, Apple commissioned the type foundry Bigelow & Holmes to create a TrueType
TrueType
TrueType is an outline font standard originally developed by Apple Computer in the late 1980s as a competitor to Adobe's Type 1 fonts used in PostScript...
version, as the OS
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
’s capabilities improved. The typeface is named after the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
city of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
According to Susan Kare, Chicago was the first font to be developed for the Macintosh. Before the team settled on the familiar “world cities” naming convention for the fonts, it was called Elefont (Elefont is also the name of a bold semi-serif typeface designed by Bob McGrath in 1978). The first bitmap version included only a 12 pt.
Point (typography)
In typography, a point is the smallest unit of measure, being a subdivision of the larger pica. It is commonly abbreviated as pt. The point has long been the usual unit for measuring font size and leading and other minute items on a printed page....
version. This font, with only very minor changes to spacing, was used for menus, dialogs, window titles and text labels in up to and including version 7.6 of the system. The TrueType version had many differences from the bitmap version, which became more apparent at greater sizes. One of Chicago’s major features was that it could remain legible while being made “grey” (to indicate a disabled menu item) by the removal of every other pixel (since actual grey type was impossible on a black-and-white monitor). The zero was slashed.
German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
versions of System 7.x had a different rendering of Chicago. The “w” had two dips instead of one at the end of the letter, and the “I” (capital “i”) appeared more like a column than a vertical line. A mix of this and the original Chicago was used in the original iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
.
In Mac OS 8
Mac OS 8
Mac OS 8 is an operating system that was released by Apple Computer on July 26, 1997. It represented the largest overhaul of the Mac OS since the release of System 7, some six years previously. It puts more emphasis on color than previous operating systems...
, Charcoal
Charcoal (typeface)
Charcoal is a sans-serif typeface designed by David Berlow of Font Bureau during the period 1994–1997. Charcoal was the default menu font in Apple Computer's Mac OS 8 and 9, replacing Chicago as part of the new Platinum interface. In Mac OS X, it was replaced with Lucida Grande as the system typeface...
replaced Chicago as the default system font. Chicago continued to be distributed as a standard component of the system, and Apple even urged developers to keep designing user interfaces for the Chicago typeface, since the new alternate fonts used the Chicago metrics as a foundation.
Desktop publishing
Desktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer.The term has been used for publishing at all levels, from small-circulation documents such as local newsletters to books, magazines and newspapers...
productions, since it was available as part of the system. While Apple gravitated away from Chicago following the adoption of Charcoal as part of the platinum theme in Mac OS, it was later revived in the user interface for the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
music player, where legibility on a low resolution black-and-white screen became once again an asset. With the introduction of the iPod mini
IPod mini
The iPod Mini is a digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was the midrange model in Apple's iPod product line. It was announced on January 6, 2004 and released on February 20 of the same year. A second-generation version was announced on February 23, 2005 and released later...
, a smaller typeface was needed, and the Espy Sans
Espy Sans
Espy Sans is a bitmap font created by Apple Computer and used for the Newton PDA project and their eWorld online bulletin board service. It was later adapted for use in the Apple Guide help system and some versions of the iPod, particularly the iPod mini...
font from the Apple Newton
Apple Newton
The MessagePad was the first series of personal digital assistant devices developed by Apple for the Newton platform in 1993. Some electronic engineering and the manufacture of Apple's MessagePad devices was done in Japan by the Sharp Corporation...
was used. Finally, with the introduction of the iPod photo
IPod photo
The iPod Photo was a portable media player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was the top-of-the-line model in Apple's iPod family. It was positioned as a premium higher-end spin-off of the fourth-generation iPod on October 26, 2004...
, the color iPod interface changed to Podium Sans
Podium Sans
Podium Sans was the typeface used on all models of iPod with color displays previous to the iPod lineup refresh on September 5, 2007.When the iPod photo was first announced Apple claimed that the device featured a "new Myriad typeface," stating......
—a bitmap font similar to the Myriad Pro
Myriad (typeface)
Myriad is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Robert Slimbach and Carol Twombly for Adobe Systems. The typeface is best known for its usage by Apple Inc., replacing Apple Garamond as Apple's corporate font since 2002. Myriad is easily distinguished from other sans-serif fonts due to its...
typeface which Apple has adopted gradually for its marketing since 2002.
Chicago is a registered trademark (“typeface fonts recorded on computer software”), belonging to Apple since August 1996.