Bitstream Charter
Encyclopedia
Bitstream Charter is a glyphic serif typeface designed by Matthew Carter
in 1987 for Bitstream Inc.
, a digital type foundry. Bitstream Charter is a typeface optimized for printing on the low-resolution 300 dpi laser printers of the 1980s. The typeface is suitable for printing on both modern high-resolution laser printers and lower resolution inexpensive inkjet printers.
In 1992, along with their version of Courier, Bitstream donated the Charter font to the X Consortium under terms that allowed modified versions of the font to be redistributed. The copyright Bitstream used to donate Charter is as follows:
This has resulted in derivatives of Bitstream Charter becoming available, including Charis SIL
.
The Bitstream Charter typeface is licensed through Bitstream's online interface MyFonts
. A new version of the face was released in 2004 with an expanded character set including additional symbols, ranging figures (old-style) and small capitals.
Matthew Carter
Matthew Carter is a type designer. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Carter's career in type design has witnessed the transition from physical metal type to digital type...
in 1987 for Bitstream Inc.
Bitstream Inc.
Bitstream Inc. is a type foundry that produces digital typefaces . Founded in 1981 by Matthew Carter and Mike Parker among others, it claims to be the oldest such company...
, a digital type foundry. Bitstream Charter is a typeface optimized for printing on the low-resolution 300 dpi laser printers of the 1980s. The typeface is suitable for printing on both modern high-resolution laser printers and lower resolution inexpensive inkjet printers.
In 1992, along with their version of Courier, Bitstream donated the Charter font to the X Consortium under terms that allowed modified versions of the font to be redistributed. The copyright Bitstream used to donate Charter is as follows:
- © Copyright 1989-1992, Bitstream Inc., Cambridge, MA.
- You are hereby granted permission under all Bitstream propriety rights to use, copy, modify, sublicense, sell, and redistribute the 4 Bitstream Charter (r) Type 1 outline fonts and the 4 Courier Type 1 outline fonts for any purpose and without restriction; provided, that this notice is left intact on all copies of such fonts and that Bitstream's trademark is acknowledged as shown below on all unmodified copies of the 4 Charter Type 1 fonts.
- BITSTREAM CHARTER is a registered trademark of Bitstream Inc.
This has resulted in derivatives of Bitstream Charter becoming available, including Charis SIL
Charis SIL
Charis SIL is a glyphic serif typeface developed by SIL International. It is based on Bitstream Charter, one of the first fonts designed for laser printers...
.
The Bitstream Charter typeface is licensed through Bitstream's online interface MyFonts
MyFonts
MyFonts is a digital fonts distribution, location based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, selling fonts through the web site. It launched in September 1999 , and started selling fonts in March 2000....
. A new version of the face was released in 2004 with an expanded character set including additional symbols, ranging figures (old-style) and small capitals.