genoTyp
An experiment about genetic typography
Michael Schmitz, Student of Digital Media Design
Department
of Visual Communication, University of Arts Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Developed in the class Digital Media Design
with Professor Joachim Sauter.
© University of Arts Berlin 2003/04
e-mail: info@genotyp.com
What is generativity?
Do letters live?
Which genes discribe a type?
Is it possible to combine
typography and genetics?
Are types able to reproduce
themselves?
genoTyp tries to find
answers.
genoTyp is an experiment
regarding fonts under genetic aspects.
Their characteristics are
encoded in hereditary factors. Different fonts can be mixed as desired and
their genomes can be manipulated. New fonts are generated according to genetic
rules.
In order to pair different
fonts, their genetic structure must correspondence. In biology only organisms
belonging to the same species can pair themselves. However fonts are of
different species. One a for example ist defined by 30 points connected to each
other to an outline, another by 60 points. Some a´s do have serifs, others
don´t. There are fonts with high contrast (difference in the line strength) and
some with almost continues line strength (low contrast).
So a special format had to be
developed, which applies to all letters: The form of a letter results from the
extents, the line strength and the serif form (if available). So these three
informations are the genes of a letter.
They are saved in the DNA and
describe the coordinates of points building a sceleton with rips and serifs in
terms of a genetic code.
The program is divided
into three sections:
The introduction
explains the idea of genoTyp and the genetic fontformat.
Here
original fonts can be loaded into a family tree and paired with each other. In
addition options of the hereditary course can be affected.
In the gene laboratory all
produced fonts and every single letter can be looked at and compared in
genotype and phenotype. Their genetic code can be manipulated what effecs the
phenotype. Changes can be saved within the programm.
In addition a help section
explains the features of the program and an encyclopedia gives information
about technical terms.
Combining different types
often results in mutants. Nevertheless new types are being generated which show
a completely own, sometimes unexpected, character. Properties of the parents
can be suspected but nevertheless something new and unique developed.
Thus genoTyp is a machine,
which proposes ideas for new typefaces. How the results are used, or whether
they serve as basis for advancements, is left to the designer.
On www.genoTyp.com you can breed and manipulate. Have fun.
Michael Schmitz