Opentype features
The OpenType format defines a number of typographic features a font may support. This enable a font to e.g. specify alternate letterforms such as small-caps.
Software – e.g. Adobe InDesign or Affinity Publisher – let users enable this.
Web browsers supporting CSS Fonts Module Level 3 support this via 'font-feature-settings'.
Following Opentype features are supported by Tranemo.
Small caps. Replace lower-case letters with small caps version. Tag: 'smcp'
Tabular figures. Replace figures with glyphs of uniform width. Perfect to vertically align in a column. Tag: 'tnum'
Fractions. Converts figures separated by slash with diagonal fraction. Tag: 'frac'
Denominator. Converts to appropriate fraction denominator form. Tag: 'dnom'
Numerator. Converts to appropriate fraction numerator form. Tag: 'numr'
Inferiors. Replace figures with inferior figures, primarily for chemical or mathematical notation. Tag: 'sinf'
Superiors. Replace figures with superior figures, primarily for footnote indication. Tag: 'sups'
Case sensitive forms. Replace characters, especially punctuation, with forms better suited for all-capital text. Tag: 'case'
Stylistic Set 1. Replace f, t and j with alternative wider character. A separate axis in the variable font. Tag: 'ss01'
Tranemo bring better curves, more contrast, and consistent angular transitions amongst other improvements.
About Tranemo
Tranemo is a geometric sans-serif. A modern interpretation of the typeface used on road signs in Sweden. For Swedish people, Tranemo brings to mind an authoritarian and credible – but friendly – voice. A typeface Swedish people have a relationship to.
Signs using Tratex are omnipresent all over Sweden, not only along the roads.
Compared to the source of inspiration, Tranemo adds more weights, an italic counterpart, better language support and Opentype features. It’s designed in line with what’s expected from a modern typeface, including optimised for screen and available as a variable font.
Tranemo is better suited for long text use with it’s generous letter spacing. A good fit for identity work and display settings. Performing well both on screen and in print, making it perfect for the next-door startup.
An older version of Tratex used on street signs in Gothenburg. E.g. the letter “s” resembles Tranemo with its narrow design.
The original – Tratex, short for “traffic text” – is developed for maximal readability on Swedish road conditions. Tranemo is not intended to replace it for this purpose. In the original, many glyphs are missing and are miss-placed. A two weight typeface (light and dark) with a narrow area of use. Tranemo aims to correct this and bring the familiar lettershapes – with all its quirks – to more people by supporting more languages.
The design of Tranemo started as a design exercise. Road signs are omnipresent in all our cities. For a trained eye it’s not hard to see it was engineered rather than designed. How could I maintain the feeling of the typeface, make it more consistent and carry that into a type family? Happy with how it progressed, I decided to finalise it and release it as my first retail font.