Ad Lib (typeface)

Ad Lib

Category	Display
Designer(s)	Freeman Craw
Foundry	ATF
Date released	1961
Re-issuing foundries	Bitstream Inc.
Design based on	the work of title designer and calligrapher Harold Adler

Ad Lib is a display typeface designed in 1961 by Freeman Craw for American Type Founders. The typeface was allegedly inspired by Harold Adler's design for the 1958 film Bonjour Tristesse . ^{[1] [2]} Filmotype also designed a narrow variant, Filmotype Pioneer ^[3] and a wider variant, Filmotype Moose. ^[4]

Originally released with two variants for many characters, ^[5] the digital versions seen today offer only one variant. ^[2]

References

1. Bradley, Susan (January 26, 2016). Harold Adler talks about title design & film production for Saul Bass. Vimeo (Video).
2. "Ad Lib in use". Fonts In Use. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
3. "Filmotype Pioneer in use". Fonts In Use. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
4. "Filmotype Moose in use". Fonts In Use. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
5. McGrew 1993, p. 3.

Further reading

• McGrew, Mac (1993). American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century (2nd revised ed.). New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Books. ISBN   0-938768-34-4.