(feat. Because I want to use it)
Pixel Fonts?
Pixel fonts (a.k.a. bitmap fonts) are characterized by a shape resembling stacked square blocks when zoomed in. Although their expression is limited, they have the advantage of being clear on digital screens, especially low-resolution screens. Nowadays, vector fonts that maintain smooth outlines even when zoomed in at very close magnifications are commonly used. However, pixel fonts are still frequently seen in places like bus stop signs.
Not only on billboards but also in computers and old video games of the 8-bit and 16-bit era, you can recall the low-resolution graphics of console games. The trend of the unquenchable retro, along with the Y2K craze, is being summoned across various fields.
I reminisced about the fonts I saved up for with my allowance from a long time ago. Where are those fonts now? Oh, the company I'm working for now was that company...
Introducing the Sandoll Pixel Series!
The 『SD Pixel』 Series is a font series that restores and processes Sandoll's pixel fonts, which were first introduced as web fonts in the early 2000s. Initially released by Sandoll's mobile font brand ‘Iam’, it includes a total of 10 fonts: 「Jjokji」, 「Bimiljjokji」, 「Goodmorning」, 「Goodbam」, 「Dongdongdong」, 「Petitgongju」, 「Sagwanamu」, 「Somesome」, 「Yosuljipangi」, and 「Jongihak」.
Upon opening Sandoll's dusty old file drawer(!), I found over 40 pixel fonts. Since it's impossible to release them all, we selected nine fonts to showcase the charm and variety of pixels and even created an additional font. Let's take a look at each one!
First, let's talk about 「Petitgongju」 and 「Yosuljipangi」. The decorative elements filled with charms may sometimes interfere with readability, but when it comes to fonts from that era, you can never past by these fonts.
「Sagwanamu」, with its 'ㅎ' resembling an apple stem, has a cute impression with its fluctuating initial consonants and seemingly short vowels. The 'ㅇ' represented by a black dot adds to its cuteness. 「Dongdongdong」 shares similar characteristics but emphasizes a slightly more angular impression, with its diamond-shaped Latin characters being quite appealing.
With a refreshing impression as if stretching tall and slim, 「Goodmorning」 and 「Goodbam」 reminiscent of a dark night with twinkling stars or a snowy night, are font companions.
Do you remember practicing handwriting to write adorable letters? 「Jjokji」 is named after those memories of writing cute notes secretly during class. Its font partner, 「Bimiljjokji」 includes pictures instead of some letters. Initially, it may take a while to read naturally, but once you get used to it, you'll find a different kind of fun. Even if someone sneaks a peek, they might not grasp the content at first glance, right?
Even though no one asked for it! (really), there's a font specially created by a designer because they wanted to use it on mobile messengers. It's called 「Somesome」, first time being introduced to the public. The word "somesomeoksu" sounded good, and I thought of the appearance of small islands scattered all over the blue sea, so I named it that way. The letters are densely designed and easy to distinguish, making it quite readable even at a small size. Lastly, 「Jongihak」 is the only font in the series with beaks, giving it a touch of elegance like handwritten script.
Check out the pixel font that appeals to you the most out of the 10 fonts!
Enhancing Usability!
Did you know that the modern Korean syllabary, which combines all the consonants and vowels we know - ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, … ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ... - consists of 11,172 characters? It's a larger number than you might think. Now, here's a quiz! Do Korean font designers always create all these characters?
The answer is △. Sometimes they create all 11,172 characters, but other times they create around 2,000-3,000 characters to reduce production time and font file size. They often exclude complex characters like '쫣' and '뜏', which were once referred to as "alien characters."
Not creating all characters can lead to inconvenience. Especially during word input in messengers, some characters may not appear or may be replaced by system default fonts. Another drawback is the difficulty in accurately representing loanwords or onomatopoeia when complex characters are missing.
Returning to the topic of pixel fonts, back in the early 2000s, rapid rendering in web environments was crucial. For this purpose, smaller font file sizes were preferable. A simple and effective way to reduce the font file size is to decrease the number of characters. Therefore, pixel fonts at that time only supported 2,350 Korean characters.
In 2023, with the reintroduction of the 『SD Pixel』 Series, all 11,172 Korean characters have been created to allow for more versatile expression. Thanks to this, they are suitable for use in mobile messengers like KakaoTalk. Additionally, various symbols and punctuation marks have been added. Among the series, 「Somesome」, 「Dongdongdong」, 「Jjokji」, and 「Bimiljjokji」 also support Latin extensions, allowing them to handle characters with diacritics!
What Impression Does ‘Pixel’ Leave on You?
For some, ‘pixel fonts’ may evoke nostalgic memories, while for others, they may represent a fresh visual delight. When I think of ‘pixel’, I recall the colorful and vibrant Y2K era, filled with various elements, although it may seem somewhat dated now. In line with this direction, to celebrate the release of the 『SD Pixel』 series, I created Y2K-themed Instagram filters. From the glittering 2D graphics reminiscent of that era's sentiment to the emerging retro 3D graphics, it's a rich mix. I hope pixel fonts can subtly blend into your daily life, so I composed them with witty phrases.
By clicking the link below, you can immediately try them out on Instagram. Additionally, there are also KakaoTalk themes created with the 『SD Pixel』 series, so I hope you enjoy them in moments of your daily life.
Go to KakaoTalk Themes (Link)
Go to Instagram Filters (「Petitgongju」, 「Somesome」, 「Goodmorning」)
Author: Planning and Operations Team, Park Bumi