Reverse-contrast typefaces
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A reverse-contrast or reverse-stress letterform is a typeface or custom lettering where the stress is reversed from the norm, meaning that the horizontal lines are the thickest. This is the reverse of
A document printed in 1836, showing Didone (body text), "Italian" (the word "proceedings") and early sans-serif fonts. The "Italian" type is Caslon's Italian or a close copy. The document was printed in Michigan, showing how far the Italian style had penetrated around 15 years after its appearance in London.
Reverse-contrast executed in wood type by William Leavenworth, c. 1830s
French Clarendon wood type, showing its highly condensed design.
French Clarendon type on a 1914 poster from Ljubljana.
Adrian Frutiger
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Adrian Johann Frutiger was a Swiss typeface designer who influenced the direction of type design in the second half of the 20th century. His career spanned the hot metal, phototypesetting and digital
Frutiger in 1990
Univers Bold Condensed on a London street sign
Frutiger in use by the Dutch rail system
Avenir used by the election campaign of French president François Hollande