Skip to main content

Missing characters in translations eliminated with this new typeface

Meet SST
A font is just a font, right? Well, when fonts are translated into different languages, missing characters are often turned into empty boxes, with the result being text that is not exactly lost in translation, but lost within the limitations of the typeface. Massachusetts-based font company Monotype launched SST typeface earlier this week, a font that can be translated into 93 different languages without the hieroglyphic boxes.

Monotype says the clean, highly-legible font is one of the most widely accessible typefaces available because of that multi-language compatibility. The sans serif font is designed to be easy to read both on small mediums like smartphone screens and larger publications, like billboards, the company says.

“Global brands have long struggled to find a brand identity that can help them carry a harmonious and appropriate tone of voice across multiple languages and geographies,” Akira Kobayashi, Type Director, APAC, at Monotype, said in a press release. “The SST typeface is consistently rich and legible and was designed with the purpose of making a brand experience memorable and uniform, without being too flashy. As a part of our design remit at Monotype, we are focused on creating global designs that have both staying power and the ability to tell a consistent story, no matter what language is being used to tell it.”

The font family was designed by Monotype’s Akira Kobayashi, in partnership with Sony Corporation. The result, Monotype says, is a font that offers a uniform look and feel for worldwide brands in both online and print publications.

As the internet continues to allow publications to reach across borders, more companies are developing fonts that can do the same kind of stretching. Adobe and Google recently partnered to develop the Source Hans Serif or Noto Sans font, an open-source typeface encompassing the Latin characters of English as well as simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

Monotype is launching the 93-language font in packs ranging from $79 per style to larger family packs, with a 50-percent discount until July 27.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
Over 100 more Best Buy Black Friday deals just went live
Digital Trends Best Black Friday Best Buy Deals

Best Buy is one of the key retailers when it comes to offering fantastic Black Friday deals. That means it's the perfect place to check out awesome TV deals, laptop deals, and even great sales on appliances too. With hundreds of options newly available, we've helped you out by picking out some highlights. Below, you'll find all the best Best Buy Black Friday deals on TVs, laptops, gaming PCs, headphones, appliances, and other items too.

Best Buy Black Friday TV deals

Read more
The 32 best early Walmart Black Friday deals still available
Digital Trends Best Black Friday Walmart Deals

Black Friday isn’t far off, and we’ve already seen a huge rush of early Black Friday deals from numerous retailers. You may be wondering if there are still any early Black Friday deals to capitalize on, and the answer is yes. Walmart is one of the most popular retailers when it comes to landing a good deal amongst the Black Friday sales, and there are a lot of deals available to shop there. From TVs to laptops and from small appliances to mattresses, we’ve tracked down all of the best Walmart Black Friday deals you can shop right now.

From an already cheap sticker price of $198, it’s available for just $148, so if you want an upgrade for your home theater setup but you’re on a tight budget, you won't want to miss out on this bargain. Heck, at under $150, it's worth buying just to put in the spare room.

Read more
These are the best microphones for streaming you can buy
Elgato Wave 3 microphone on a desk.

Streaming is as popular today as it's ever been, and if you're interested in giving it a go, you'll need a good microphone for the job. A solid gaming headset will do the trick, but a decent mic will be your best bet. The question is: Do you need to pay for a premium model? Not all mics are built the same, and some are better for the casual environment of streaming than others.

Here are the best microphones for streaming you can buy, with recommendation for a range of price options and use cases.

Read more