Typeface puzzler.
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- nb
Hey QBN. I'm a long-time listener, first-time caller and I need some help.
I'm working on a set of cards that have a coupon code for customers to enter into a field on a website. I need a typeface that is legibile, and has no two identical characters.
The codes are provided, about 8-characters long and case-sensitive. So I don't want any customers to confuse a lower case l with a 1, or a zero with an O.
At least I don't have to worry about symbols.
Help me out, QBN. Google is failing me.
Here's some I've already tried, but don't work.
Courier
OCR A Std
Trebuchet
Garamond
American Typewriter
Ommegaand
LubalinSo far, the best face I've found is Monaco. But the lower case Ls are a little weird.
- jimbojones0
Frutiger
- jimbojones0
one more thing: customers are not stupid. if you're assuming so, go all caps and slashed zero: idiot-proof.
- max_prophet0
Trade gothic bold condensed no. 20
- max_prophet0
the obvious thing to do would be to omit ambiguous characters from the codes.
- Yes, and have something on the entry screen that you did just that as well.flavorful
- drgss0
comic s... no, no wait..maybe something else
- typist0
monospaced font and zero with a stroke
http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/tru…
http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/ing…
http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/ken…
- nb0
Both Trade Gothic's and Frutiger's 0 and O are too similar.
The codes are generally too short to contain both 0 and O, this confusing the customer. Customers are not stupid, but it's easy to mistake a zero for an O. (For example, some codes may contain no numbers other than zero, it would be easy to assume it's an O.) If the customer types in the wrong character, they will simply receive an error, and this will create some level of confusion, and more customer support issues.
I totally want slashed zeros, or dotted zeros.
I can't change the codes. I don't create them, it's out of my control.
- jimbojones0
Take FF Unit then. You won't be able to prevent the customers of confusing the O and zero, if they only see the O. If the width isn't a hint, they WILL make a mistake. And try again. Problem solved!
- typist0
akkurat mono, problem solved
- nb0
See, the problem is that many fonts differentiate between similar characters, but you can only tell the difference if you see both. Or in the case of Akkurat Mono you only know the L is an L if you see it along side the 1.
I know I'm being anal about this, but I can't accept that customers would have to use trial and error to make this work. One of the targets for this project is people who don't normally shop online. The designer in me wants it to be absolutely clear to them.
- monospaced0
OCRF
Looks good, too!
- ESKEMA0
you could modify an existing font, choose one that only needs to update the zero with a slash
- typist0
modify the zero with a slash
http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/mic…
- nb0
Yes! I didn't even think of modifying the zeros. So easy.
Thanks all.
- flavorful0
http://www.qbn.com/topics/586835…
Seriously.
- nb0
Also, I realized that total clarity is impossible. If there is an O but no zero, it's possible that some customers will think the O is a zero. BUT at least by using proper Ls, Os and zeros I can eliminate some of the customer service issues.
Definitely the only real solution is to remove the ambiguous characters, which for now is out of my hands. I will be making that recommendation to the owners of the website and hopefully I can convince them to care as much about communication as I do.