Paweł Schulz The presentation will showcase a variety of custom digital tools and approaches that integrate collections, research, and typeface design at TYPA printing museum. They primarily center around the custom museum database constructed around the physical collection of museum fonts, matrixes, and printed type specimens. The database collects information about historical context, detailed photographs and scans. In addition it allows for collection of data about contents of type cases themselves. By assigning the Unicode values to physical letters existing in the collection, it creates opportunities for unique insights. This approach allows for the generation of UFO files, ready for revival work. It has the potential for programmatic analysis of language support of physical type.
The database has already inspired a variety of tools such as a compact higher-order interpolation plugin for Robofont, monotype units calculator, and a Font to STL script, which generates 3D models of letters for CNC cutter.
Detailed photographs allowed us to cut new wooden type that is being used during printing on fabric workshops. We hope to soon use this acquired experience to produce new monotype caster matrixes.
In everyday museum life, the database helps with the selection of the right typefaces for the printing job, giving the ability to sort rapidly through styles and physical heights of the type. PDF generation allows for quick creation of museum labels, and generation visual aids for volunteers sorting typefaces.
Currently, the database works as a primarily internal tool that aggregates the knowledge of various museum workers and researchers. The future goal is to make the website public to promote the collections and making it more accessible. It has the potential to spark further initiatives that bridge the gap between vast museum collections and screens.