Fontworks' LETS fonts include fonts provided as "solution fonts".
"Solution fonts" are fonts that have been redesigned or tuned up to suit the intended use or medium of use. Currently, there are three types of solution fonts: for printing, for comics, and for broadcasting.

Fontworks first released fonts as a third party in 1990. At the time, fonts were designed and released primarily for use in print and other paper media.
However, with the dramatic improvement in printing systems and the resolution of output devices, and the need for digital fonts diversifying beyond paper media to include television and other broadcasting, digital content such as animation and games, and display content on the web, as a font manufacturer we now also offer fonts with designs that are specialized for specific uses and media.
This is called a "Solution Font" and is offered by Fontworks as a font that suggests usage methods and media from a developer's perspective.
This time, as the first installment of this "Solution Font," we will introduce the background to the creation of "TsukuMin LB/RB" and the features of the fonts provided.

"TsukuMin-LB/RB" reduces "fading" and "bleeding" during printing

"TsukuMin-LB/RB" is a printing solution font provided by LETS as part of the Tsukushi typeface series of the Fontworks Collection.

"TsukuMin LB" was born in 2003 together with "TsukuMin L". "TsukuMin RB" was born in 2004 together with "TsukuMin R".

The design concept of "TsukuMin" is "to follow the essence of the era of typesetting and phototypesetting as a full-fledged Mincho font for long body Text, and to give maximum consideration to what a Mincho font should be" and "to have a nostalgic feel, as if you could see the ink pools like type even in offset printing."
The first typeface we created, "TsukuMin-L," was created with the assumption that it would be used for long Text in paper media such as books, novels, and literary history books, where the base paper color is white.

On the other hand, we created "TsukuMin LB" which was released in the same year, assuming the use of photos and patterns in magazines and other places that are not "white", as well as overlaying colors.
The background to the creation of this font was a request from some designers who wanted a Mincho font that would be beautifully readable even with a thin weight, when used to lay color on a background or overlay text on a photo.

The "TsukuMin-LB/RB" is a typeface that has increased the density of "TsukuMin-L/R" by thickening both the horizontal and vertical strokes. It represents a "black type" that appears to be the same Weight as the equivalent weight when printed in white Mincho font on a black background (background pattern). When "TsukuMin-LB" is used on a black background, it can be made to look the same Weight as when "TsukuMin-L" is overlaid on a white background.

Comparing the images above, you can see that not only the horizontal lines, but also the vertical lines and curves are made thicker in each part. By doing this, the paper density is increased and the text is clearer and easier to read, even without using a thick Mincho font.

In addition, this typeface has come to be used in a variety of media as it reduces fading and bleeding even when used over a photograph or black background.

It has been established as a typeface that can fully demonstrate its beauty not only as a white-out Mincho typeface, but also as a typeface for Text.

Comments and Usage for "TsukuMin LB/RB" - Designer: Kazushi Suzuki "A typeface that expresses strength"

Mr. Suzuki, a book designer who handles the overall design of books, including the binding and Text, previously spoke about "TsukuMin-LB/RB" in the member interview corner of the LETS site as follows:

I think TsukuMin can be said to be the Mincho of the CTP (Computer to Plate) era. The horizontal strokes are relatively strong and it is soft to the eye.
As a user, I would like to know that the appearance and Weight of the characters differs greatly depending on the type of CTP. It is completely unknown how Weight of the characters will be secured by combining various types such as resin-plate CTP and CTP burned from negative. They are being distributed nationwide in a fragmented state.
I used a weight M for a Mincho font before, but it looked like an L. If it was that thin, I should have just increased the weight by one... But it's too late now. I wonder how it will work with CTP. Unlike before, CTP doesn't have a printing plate, so you can't adjust the print, so the only thing you can do is adjust the amount of ink applied.
TsukuMin-LB may be a good choice when the printing plate tends to be thin.

Next time, we will introduce the solution fonts for comics: Manyo Koin Large, ComicMystery, and ComicReggae. To be continued