How to make your text look futuristic (2016)
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文章介绍了六条排版规则，用来在科幻电影中营造未来感，并以对单词在 Eurostile Bold 字体上的逐步变形为例说明。规则一是加入斜体倾斜，暗示前进的动感；规则二把曲线与棱角结合起来；规则三在字母上加入"consummate Vs"（即尖锐的 V 形切口）；规则四通过字母相互连接，呼应虚构的 "Kern Wars"，并避免触犯 "Kern Tithe"；规则五去掉字母里任意的水平线段；规则六则加入噪点纹理、拉丝金属效果、蓝色光效、浮雕以及星空背景。
作者把 Ridley Scott 的 Blade Runner 视为这些原则的"始祖范例"。文中列举了许多其他电影在不同程度上运用这些规则：Battlestar Galactica (2003) 和 Transformers 几乎涵盖了所有规则，后者尤重拉丝金属效果；Guardians of the Galaxy 除斜体外用到了大多数技巧；RoboCop 强调 consummate Vs 和夸张的浮雕；Star Wars 用相连的字母很好地体现了规则四；The Amazing Spider-Man 也遵循了大部分规则，但在字距处理上有些疏漏。
其它例子还包括：Captain America: The Winter Soldier 在规则二和三上表现突出；Alien vs. Predator 采用了斜体与金属化风格；G.I. Joe: Retaliation 使用了除字距调整外的所有技巧；WALL·E 侧重规则二；Back to the Future 展示了规则一、二和四。文末更新指出，Star Trek: The Next Generation 是一个典型范例，甚至用了星空背景。文章最后提到，这篇内容的扩展版收录在书籍 Typeset in the Future 中。
The article presents six typographic rules for making text look futuristic in science fiction movies, using a step-by-step transformation of a word in Eurostile Bold as an example. Rule 1 involves adding an italic slant to suggest forward motion. Rule 2 introduces a mix of curvy and angular forms. Rule 3 adds "consummate Vs," or sharp V-shaped notches in letters. Rule 4 combines letters to reflect the fictional "Kern Wars" and avoid violating the "Kern Tithe." Rule 5 removes arbitrary horizontal segments from letters. Rule 6 incorporates noise textures, brushed metal effects, blue lighting, embossing, and a star field background.
The author identifies Ridley Scott's Blade Runner as the "Ur Example" of these principles in action. Numerous other films are cited as following these rules to varying degrees. Battlestar Galactica (2003) and Transformers apply nearly all the rules, with the latter emphasizing brushed metal. Guardians of the Galaxy uses most tricks except italics, while RoboCop focuses on consummate Vs and extreme embossing. Star Wars exemplifies Rule 4 with its connected letters, and The Amazing Spider-Man follows most rules but is noted for missed kerning opportunities.
Further examples include Captain America: The Winter Soldier for its strong use of Rules 2 and 3, Alien vs. Predator for its italic and metallic style, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation for using every trick except kerning. WALL·E is highlighted for its focus on Rule 2, and Back to the Future demonstrates Rules 1, 2, and 4. An update notes that Star Trek: The Next Generation is a quintessential example, even featuring a star field. The article concludes by noting that an expanded version appears in the book Typeset in the Future.
60 comments • Comments Link
- 讨论指出，某些字体被赋予了文化含义：Neuland 和仿中文字体常被当作非西方文化的刻板代表，而 Eurostile 等则在科幻媒体中成为"未来感"美学的代名词。
- 关于《回到未来》的 logo 是否真的比《夺宝奇兵》的更有"未来感"的争论表明，这类联想更多是语境和使用惯例赋予的，而非字体本身固有的属性。
- 作者在原网站内容基础上扩展成书，深入梳理了科幻字体惯例的历史背景，是理解这些设计趋势的宝贵资料。
- 多位评论者指出该网站已停止更新；有人建议观察 AI 生成字体是否会重复这些陈词滥调，也有人询问 Trajan 的流行是否终将结束。
- 讨论中提到具体案例，如《 Avatar 》使用的 Papyrus 字体和《 Terminator 》的 logo，并戏谑说《 Avatar 》续集可能会把 Papyrus 用到 2030 年代。
- 一位创客空间的 logo 设计师提到，Michroma 可作为 Google Fonts 中 Eurostile 的替代品，显示这些字体话题在实际设计中的应用价值。
- 该帖子在沉重的科技新闻中显得轻松幽默，评论者欣赏其诙谐语气，并引用了虚构的"2067 年字距战争"来调侃。
- 关于 ESPN logo 是否类似《 Star Trek 》字体的讨论有些混淆，一位评论者指出，尽管用于现代体育网络，但其外观讽刺性地非常有 80 年代风格。
- 讨论表明，字体的文化联想通常源于媒体和文化语境中的反复出现，而非字体本身的内在特性。
- 评论者普遍希望网站能继续更新，显示出大家对分析当代字体趋势及其文化影响的持续兴趣。 • The discussion highlights how certain typefaces become culturally coded, with Neuland and faux Chinese fonts serving as stereotypical representations of non-Western cultures, while Eurostile and similar fonts have become shorthand for "futuristic" aesthetics in sci-fi media.
• There's debate about whether the Back to the Future logo truly evokes "future" versus Raiders of the Lost Ark, suggesting these associations are more contextual than inherent to the typefaces themselves.
• The author's book expands on the website content with deeper historical context about how sci-fi typography conventions developed, making it a valuable resource for understanding these design trends.
• Several commenters note the site stopped updating, with one suggesting it would be interesting to see how AI-generated fonts might now produce these same clichés, and another asking if the Trajan font trend has finally ended.
• The conversation touches on specific examples like Papyrus for Avatar and the Terminator logo, with humor about Avatar sequels potentially keeping Papyrus in use through the 2030s.
• A makerspace logo designer mentions Michroma as a Google Font alternative to Eurostile, showing practical applications of these typography discussions.
• The post is appreciated as lighthearted content amid heavier tech news, with commenters enjoying the tongue-in-cheek tone and references to fictional "Kern Wars of 2067."
• There's some confusion about whether the ESPN logo resembles the Star Trek font, with one commenter noting it ironically looks very 80s despite being used for a modern sports network.
• The discussion reveals how typeface associations are often more about cultural context and repeated usage in media than any inherent qualities of the fonts themselves.
• Commenters express interest in seeing the site continue updating, suggesting there's appetite for more analysis of contemporary typography trends and their cultural implications.