Global Graphics Software
Smart software components for Print OEMs and ISVs

News Release

9 August 2016

New Bilingual Arabic-Latin font is a happy marriage

A new bilingual Arabic-Latin language typeface developed in response to the fast growing Arabic market has been unveiled by Global Graphics’ font foundry URW++.

Boutros-URW Franklin Gothic Arabic is the result of a unique collaboration between London-based Boutros™ which has specialised in Arabic fonts since 1966, and URW++ the designers of fonts for Mercedes Benz, Siemens, General Motors, Blizzard (Activision) and developers of the highly successful Latin face URW Franklin Gothic.

The new typeface is a happy marriage whereby the clean lines of the Latin URW Franklin Gothic Arabic have inspired the development of the Arabic companion typeface.

“The Arabic market has been fast-growing since the 1980s” says Mourad Boutros “and bilingual typefaces are in demand.  Our aim is to work with professional type foundries like URW++ that have successful Latin fonts.  We worked the Arabic font design around their Latin font and the result is a modern, aesthetically pleasing Arabic face available in four weights, light, book, medium and demi.”

 “Bilingual fonts need to be visually compatible with each other” says Frank Steitiya of URW++.  “We took Boutros’ beautiful Arabic design and converted it into the OpenType/ TrueType Format.  We’ve also written supporting technical documentation so that it can be implemented successfully by graphic designers. It is suitable for virtually all communications from headlines to body copy in all bilingual Arabic-Latin languages.”

Boutros-URW Franklin Gothic Arabic is designed for maximum legibility, especially at small point sizes. The spaces between characters and between leadings have been condensed, giving high "x" heights and wider white areas. This has made the new typeface especially suitable for setting body text in manuals, directories, dictionaries and the like.

The new typeface is based upon the highly acclaimed Latin typeface Franklin Gothic which was designed in 1902 by Morris Fuller Benton. It was named after Benjamin Franklin, one of the most prolific American printers. Franklin Gothic has been widely used in press and advertising applications for more than a hundred years. While some minor adjustments have been necessary to accommodate digitisation and changes in printing techniques, Franklin Gothic remains one of the most successful fonts of all time.

Boutros-URW FranklinGothic Arabic is available from the URW++ font shop at http://bit.ly/2aNxQ9j as well as http://www.boutrosfonts.com/Boutros-URW-FGothicArabic.html.

Editors notes

About URW
URW++ has established itself in the graphic design industry by continually developing and marketing innovative font and software products. Based on our technical font production skills, we are particularly successful in the area of corporate type development and production as well as a supplier of so-called world or global fonts for OEM customers. Additionally, we distinguish ourselves by a comprehensive non-Latin font offering. We are well equipped to meet the growing demand in the OEM and Corporate Company market for so-called Global Fonts resp. World Fonts. Customers include BMW, Daimler, Deutsche Bahn, Bosch, Deutsche Telekom, Evonik, Hilti, MAN, Siemens, Würth as well as Cisco, Lexmark, General Motors, Epson, NEC and Panasonic.

About Global Graphics
Global Graphics (Euronext: GLOG) develops software platforms for digital printing, digital document and PDF applications, including the Harlequin RIP. Customers include HP, Quark, Canon, Delphax, Kodak and Agfa. The roots of the company go back to 1986 and to the iconic university town of Cambridge, and, today the majority of the R&D team is still based near here. There are also offices near Boston, Massachusetts and in Tokyo.  Global Graphics acquired URW++ in 2015. http://www.globalgraphics.com

Global Graphics is a trademark of Global Graphics S.E. which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand and product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

Paula Halpin/Global Graphics Software

+44 1223 926017
paula.halpin@globalgraphics.com

Talk to us about your project

If you need more information about any of our products, technologies or services, get in touch.