TF, 2 letters that signify at the same time Type Foundry and Typographie Française (French Typography). 205TF is a type foundry that brings together the work of independent typeface designers, some of them well known, others closer to the beginning of their career, all highly talented. Each of them developing characters where a certain French spirit can be felt. 205TF is a foundry on a human scale, and beyond the distribution of their work, it supports typeface designers by making their creations available to a wider audience, allowing for greater recognition of their work.
205TF makes a choice of quality: a small number of creators, a precise selection of characters. The number is of little importance, the quality however is essential.
All of the characters are developed according to common standards (set standard, set pro and set spécial). The typefaces have – at a minimum – an extended set of characters (Latin extended) and this allows them to be used for compositions in a wide range of languages. With an Opentype format, they provide access to specific characters such as small capitals (according to the characters), different series of figures (aligned, old style, proportional and tabular), ligatures, fractions, etc.
This format allows access to specific typographic settings according to the characters. - For the group of characters – functions “All caps”, “Case sensitive punctuation”, “Tabular lining figures”, “Tabular old-style figures”, “Proportional old-style figures”, “Ligatures”, “Fractions”, “Ordinals”, “Contextual alternates”, “Localized forms”, etc.
For certain characters — “Small capitals”, “Capitals to Small Capitals”.
The presentation and interest of each function are detailed in the typeface specimens that can be downloaded for each typeface.
The groups of characters function with both MacOs and Windows platforms and have been tested for Office and Adobe applications. They can then be easily installed on the vast majority of computers and the direct transfer of a file that uses 205TF typefaces from one platform to another and from a Macintosh version of software to a Windows version of software is a process which is seamless.
For cases involving a specific and/or proprietary operating system or specific software, please contact us directly.
Team
Rémi Forte, Foundry Manager
As Foundry Manager, Rémi Forte supports 205TF’s type designers in the development of their projects. He is also in charge of the foundry’s communication and customer relations.
Alongside his work for 205TF, Rémi is developing a practice-based research thesis in the TransCrit Research Unit (University of Paris 8), which follows his studies at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts (ENSBA) in Lyon, and Atelier national de recherche typographique (ANRT) in Nancy.
He also teaches graphic design and typography.
Damien Gautier, Founder and Partner
Cofounder of 205TF in 2017, Damien Gautier is codirecting the foundry’s operations and contributing to the catalogue as a type designer. His typefaces are available exclusively at 205TF, such as Maax, Plaak, Plaax, Alcalá or Beretta.
Florence Roller, Founder and Partner
Cofounder of 205TF in 2017, Florence Roller is codirecting the foundry’s operations. She leads with Damien Gautier the graphic design studio Bureau 205 and the publishing house Éditions deux-cent-cinq. Coauthor of 3 manuals on visual identity, posters and typography, she holds a degree from the École supérieure des Arts du Rhin in Strasbourg (HEAR).
New releases are carefully selected every year by the team and its advisory board, comprised of Matthieu Cortat, Thomas Huot-Marchand and Alice Savoie. They stand for a level of quality that our customers deserve and look for.
Matthieu Cortat is a type designer. He has designed several custom typefaces for clients, such as Eastpak, Caran d’Ache, the City of Lausanne, the Terminal Four at JFK Airport in New York or the TV channel Eurosport. He is Head of Master Type Design at the University of Art and Design Lausanne (ECAL). His typefaces are exclusively available at 205TF, including the most recent ones Zénith, Cosimo, Helvetius, Yorick or Molitor.
Thomas Huot-Marchand divides his time between teaching, type design and graphic design. Since 2012, he is Director of the Atelier national de recherche typographique (ANRT) in Nancy. A former resident of the Académie de France in Rome – Villa Médicis in 2006–2007, then at the Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography of Pasadena from May to July of 2019, he is now living and working in Besançon, where his activity as a Graphic Designer has developed mainly in the cultural sector. He has been a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) since 2010. The typefaces of Thomas Huot-Marchand are exclusively available at 205TF, such as Album, Garaje, Minérale or Minuscule.
Alice Savoie is an independent type designer and researcher. She holds an MA and a PhD from the University of Reading. As a practicing type designer she has collaborated with international foundries and design studios. Her recent type design works include Faune, an award-winning typeface family for the French Centre national des arts plastiques. She teaches at ANRT in Nancy (France) and ECAL in Lausanne (Switzerland). 205TF distributes her typeface Romain 20.
Charly Derouault, Alexis Faudot and Federico Parra regularly collaborate with the foundry as graphic and type designers.
Roxane Gataud did work with 205TF from 2016 to 2020 as a type designer and font engineer.
Thomas Leblond, a graphic designer, participated in the creation of the foundry in 2017.
We look forward to possible font proposals. Please do not hesitate to contact us for sharing your projects.
Alcalá is based on the “Biblia poliglota complutense” (Polyglot Bible of Alcalá). It was the first edition of a complete polyglot Bible, as well as the first printed version of the New Testament in Greek (Septuagint) with gloss. Conceived between 1502 and 1517, it was produced under the patronage of Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros.
The first drawings of Alcalá go back to 1995. A second version started in 2011, commissioned by a publisher for a French
and Malagasy edition of the Bible by J.N. Darby. Alcalá was developped in three styles: roman, italic and bold. Today, a new cut is added: Alcalá Black Display, its intended to compose titles and headings.
Alcalá has all requested qualities for editorial design, especally newspaper and magazine layouts. Its sharp design guarantes high readability, space saving and smart printed rendering in small sizes, as well as a great look in bigger uses. Look at its alternative punctuation! For book design, Alcalá Roman contains titling capitals and its Italic contains a serie of special ligatures.
While other characters has extended families, Damien Gautier decided to develop a reduced one. Alcalá has the only the cuts you need!
As every 205TF typefaces, Alcalá has an extented Latin glyphset which allows to compose many languages.
Caps Punctuation
Alternative punctuation
Proportional Lining Figures
Proportional Old Style Figures
Tabular Lining Figures
Tabular Old Style Figures
Automatic Fractions
Superiors/Inferiors
Ordinals
Discretionary Ligatures
Stylistic alternates
Arrows
This standard corresponds to the standard set to which is added a significant quantity of signs decided by the designer as a function of the typeface itself: small capitals, series of complete inferior and superior letters and numbers, titling capitals, etc. The detail of the characters available for each typeface is presented in the typeface specimen that you can download from our website.
The Chrysaora typeface was originally commissioned by the architects of group8 and the artist John Armleder, for a piece entitled, “Les Plates-formes de la porte dorée”, inspired by the story of the Golden door. It is part of the Parisian landscape, echoing the engravings made by the great names of the wall of the Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration, originally the Museum of the Colonies, a showroom for French colonialism. Chrysaora revisits the general features of these engravings, solely in capitals, and is used to engrave texts presented in John Armleder's work. Chrysaor (literally “golden sword”) was the son of Poseidon and Medusa, the brother of Pegasus. His mother was transformed into a gorgon by the goddess Athena as punishment for having desecrated her temple. A statue of Athena, incarnating a triumphant France, decorates the Palais de la Porte dorée.
The Chrysaora typeface is available in three weights, and can be used to compose more than 105 languages, including Vietnamese with its many accented characters. It also contains numerous ligatures.
Automatic Fractions
Superiors/Inferiors
Ordinals
Arrows
This standard corresponds to a set of characters that respond to the Extended Latin standard. It allows for the composition of a large majority of Western European languages. To do this, signs have been added to the standard latin alphabet, either through use of diacritic signs, or through construction of specific signs. The Extended Latin standard does not contain specific Cyrillic or Greek characters. The detail of the characters available for each typeface is presented in the typeface specimen that you can download from our website.
The list of languages in which it is possible to compose is in the specimen.
This concise typeface was originally designed for the eponymous city in Bourgogne, in 1995. Ultimately it was never used as planned for the signage in the municipal buildings.
In 2011, Damien Gautier completely overhauled this typeface to make it more lively. Its design has become simplified and stated. A number of details reveal surprising choices for this typeface that nonetheless retains its engraved origins. The numerous ligatures are a clear sign of this.
With the efficient and precious help of Roxane Gataud.
Superiors/Inferiors
Ordinals
Discretionary Ligatures
Stylistic Alternates
This standard corresponds to the Standard set to which are added specific signs depending on each typeface (alternative signs, stylistic signs, etc.) The detail of the available characters for each typeface is presented in the typeface specimen that you can download from our website.
This typeface is based on the principle – apparently simple but ultimately quite complex – of layering of letters. Each letter is effectively layered upon the previous one and this systematically creates encounters that are automatically corrected by more than 1,200 ligatures. The addition of alternative letters allows the result to be perfected. The Opentype format and the associated functions render the use of this typeface almost child's play.
With this typeface, Damien Gautier was awarded the “Bukva:raz !”, ATypI 2002 prize for excellence.
With the efficient and precious help of Roxane Gataud.
Discretionary Ligatures
This standard corresponds to the Standard set to which are added specific signs depending on each typeface (alternative signs, stylistic signs, etc.) The detail of the available characters for each typeface is presented in the typeface specimen that you can download from our website.
Le François is a unique typeface for several reasons.
Firstly, it only contains capital letters, in three distinct series: uppercase, “high” and “low” small caps. However, the capitals are in strong contrast to ancient historical engravings. With its geometrical form, Le François echoes French characters such as Peignot, and its contrast between thick and thin strokes evokes the elegance of letterings such as Yves Saint-Laurent, also created by Cassandre.
Secondly, thanks to several ligatures and its specific spacing, you can compose distinctive words and titles. Just as Avant Garde Gothic, it plays with the strong contrast in lighting created by the capital letters, resulting in a dynamic graphic rhythm.
The synergy created between classic French and more modern references give this typeface a strong personality. Le François can therefore be an alternate typeface in many historical and patrimonial contexts. It is also perfectly adapted to fashion, luxe and gastronomy, as it distinguishes itself not only by its elegance, but also its bold audacity.
2 series of small caps
Ligatures
Superiors/Inferiors
Proportional Lining Figures
Proportional Old Style Figures
Ordinals
Discretionary Ligatures
Stylistic Alternates
This standard corresponds to the Standard set to which are added specific signs depending on each typeface (alternative signs, stylistic signs, etc.) The detail of the available characters for each typeface is presented in the typeface specimen that you can download from our website.
This dingbats typeface responds efficiently to what a lot of designers seek: choose a series of arrows that adapt themselves precisely to any character that has previously been retained. Up to now this kind of typeface has not been enough and has rapidly revealed itself to be insufficient: the number of arrows proposed is ultimately quite limited.
This typeface proposes a much greater number, thanks to a misuse of OpenType technology. In effect, it is not a new typeface that proposes a renewed batch of arrows. It is not in fact a tool that allows the designer to compose an infinite number of arrows. Through a logical set that uses the keys on the keyboard, the designer could/can choose the different elements that make up an arrow: tail, body and point.
The arrows are automatically composed thanks to more than 5,000 kerning pairs. The user can not only choose the style of an arrow but also its length (by composing a number of successive elements) and its direction (towards the left or the right using capitals and lowercase characters).
Though there may be a certain learning curve associated with the use of this typeface, the result ultimately reveals itself to be well worth the time and effort!
thanks to more than 5000 kerning pairs
This standard corresponds to the Standard set to which are added specific signs depending on each typeface (alternative signs, stylistic signs, etc.) The detail of the available characters for each typeface is presented in the typeface specimen that you can download from our website.