commentator12 0 Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 Why are CBS2 and Fox5 using a font that looks like standard Arial as an on air font? Is it due to the conversion to HD? CBS2 is in HD but I don't think Fox5 has converted yet. Fox5 uses what looks like Arial for its Weather graphics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que 73 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 My guess is it is easy to read. And when it comes down to it, average viewers don't really care for the graphics. They are watching the news for content and want something which is easy to watch and understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopdevil 1 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Is it due to the conversion to HD? Put down the bong... step away from the computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess 1110 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 It's a phenomenon known as "the station being cheap". If you notice the spate of rebrandings lately, you'll see stations adopting Myriad, Helvetica, and Arial left and right. All three are tremendously easy to access. Arial is installed on nearly every single computer, Helvetica is a default font on the Mac, and Myriad Pro is bundled with all Adobe applications. Granted, a lot of this is also designer choice. Even in the preceding package, it seemed that someone at WCBS had an affinity for Windows' default fonts. The news logo used Verdana, lower thirds used Trebuchet MS. I think it detracts from the package, myself. The overall look is pretty solid, it's just the font choice that continues to bug me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey 779 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I think I'm the only one in the world but I don't understand this hatred of some of those common fonts. It gives CBS 2's graphics a clean, modern look. But for some reason, no one else likes Arial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrfRptr 3 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I think I'm the only one in the world but I don't understand this hatred of some of those common fonts. It gives CBS 2's graphics a clean, modern look. But for some reason, no one else likes Arial. I agree. I like it. What's wrong with being traditional? Does everything have to be super flashy with crazy animation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess 1110 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I think, personally, it's because Arial has always been a kind of ugly, inconsistent font that works more as a computer UI display font than anything else. As it's also overused by the general public at large, Arial lends a certain amount of inherent cheapness to the look. Helvetica is less cheap - I like the look - but it's been used by SO many stations, in all of its forms, that it's starting to look just as unimaginative and plain. Like I said, WCBS used Verdana and Trebuchet previously, and while they are also extremely common they're not as ubiquitous. Trebuchet in particular is a good, readable on-screen font. KYW uses Myriad now, and used Lucida Grande (the OS X system font) in its previous look. All looked good, so common fonts don't automatically equal bad. And before anyone adds DIN, which is used extensively by NBC, to the list... I understand that the version of DIN they use was customized for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caliwxdude 252 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 And before anyone adds DIN, which is used extensively by NBC, to the list... I understand that the version of DIN they use was customized for them. It is, it's called ArtHouse DIN. But the differences between ArtHouse DIN and regular DIN are pretty much unintelligible. About the Arial thing, I agree... it looks cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
commentator12 0 Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 The key thing here is originality. I think CH2's news graphics look like a Powerpoint presentation or an infomercial. LOL. I tend to flip the channel to 7 after about 10 minutes. It gets boring. However, I do agree that too much flash and overuse of animations( a la WSVN 7, emulated by Fox5 ) can also get boring and turn viewers off. Arial is not a bad font but it looks bland on the air. WCBS used to have a certain unique quality to its newscasts back in the mid-late 80s and early 90s when they used the Futura font with those Dark red/Grey graphic elements. The glasslike Channel 2NEWS logo("Because anything can happen in New York" slogan) rocked. Even the 1994 abstract teal/orange and black look was better than what they have today. I think WCBS has suffered from complex branding over the years(wether to call it 2news?, News2?, CBS2?, etc.) Just call it Channel 2 News WCBS-TV. Use fonts that are unique and give your brand some sort of identity but limit the animations and keep the lower thirds clean and simple. Keep good anchors and thats it. I think thats what viewers want. How does Interstate or Avenir font sound? WBZ in Boston is using Interstate.(Same font used by The Weather Channel and most road signs). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyewitness_news 5 Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 How does Interstate or Avenir font sound? WBZ in Boston is using Interstate.(Same font used by The Weather Channel and most road signs). Or Antique Olive? WTNH here in New Haven, Connecticut must've used it from 1999 to 2003. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad 276 Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 I think I'm the only one in the world but I don't understand this hatred of some of those common fonts. It gives CBS 2's graphics a clean, modern look. But for some reason, no one else likes Arial. I agree too, I don't see anything wrong with it, they do add a bit of shadow to the text so that really lifts the font up. I think a light shadow that is very small in size should always be added to text to lift them up a bit, and they do so there really is nothing wrong with that. I think WABC and WNBC have very nice fonts. The Zurich (WABC) and the Swiss (WNBC) font are both pretty clean and unique, but there really is nothing wrong with the Arial font... CBS 2 uses Final Cut Pro for their graphics and animations so perhaps it's a program limitation or they just have so many templates based on Arial that it would be simply too much work to convert them all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMA 135 Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 I'd prefer if they would use Helvetica. Arial looks cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfoland 0 Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Does anyone know where I can get the ArtHouse DIN font? I really want that font.. but can't find where to download/purchase it. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMA 135 Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 http://www.laduk.co.uk/resources/fonts/fonts.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfoland 0 Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 thanks for the font.. however the 4 is different from my local news ArtHouse package. Here is an image of how there ArtHouse DIN looks. Thank you very much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMA 135 Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 It's probably a customized variant of the font. It's not publicly available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfoland 0 Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 How easy would it be to draw the layout of the pic I showed you? I like the layout of it and the colors. I have a background already... I wish I knew how to do that lol. I like the ArtHouse font Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfoland 0 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Can someone please help me make a background/ layout something like this: http://media2.wdtn.com/weather/no_bkgrd_7day_full.JPG of course not exact LOL, but I'd like a nice background if possible. Just make the background area where it says PLANNING FORECAST (I can edit text there) and I can probably make a logo... Then I need the table for the icons highs/lows... and an area where I can put the days.. I can probably make something for them using WordArt. then where it says WDTN at the bottom.. put Mikes Radio 105 FM Weather. I'd like something professional like that.. but I don't know how to make one.. whoever designs this for me.. I will be more than happy to advertise your site, Background brought to you by Designer.. etc Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstNews8 13 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Yeah.. if anyone knows any sites with free fonts... post please... I know there are a few others out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstNews8 13 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Why are CBS2 and Fox5 using a font that looks like standard Arial as an on air font? Is it due to the conversion to HD? CBS2 is in HD but I don't think Fox5 has converted yet. Fox5 uses what looks like Arial for its Weather graphics. I also dont think that the chyron operator cares too much... to them.. a font is a font... and as NTX said... most viewers dont care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey 779 Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 It's not the chyron operator who gets to decide. I still don't get why so many people are offended by Arial. It's a simple, clean font and nobody ever has trouble reading it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstNews8 13 Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 What? That font is just about as basic as it gets.... Why not go with a Helvetica... thats a step above Arial... and actually looks good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKyuubi 0 Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Why don't these people use some of the Windows Vista/Office 2008 fonts? I must say, Calibri could look pretty hot on those Hothaus-style looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evening Magazine 18 Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Why don't these people use some of the Windows Vista/Office 2008 fonts? I must say, Calibri could look pretty hot on those Hothaus-style looks. Eh. I DOUBT it, at least for graphic design. But hey, it's better than Times New Roman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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