View source for Ecofont

{{ infobox typeface
| familyname       =
| image            = Ecofont Logo.jpg
| style            = [[Computer font|Display]]
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| creator          = [[SPRANQ]]
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| foundry          = SPRANQ
| foundries        =
| creationdate     = 2009
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{{ infobox software
| name                   = Ecofont Software
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| author                 =
| developer              = SPRANQ
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}}
'''Ecofont''' is the name of a [[TrueType]] font family, an application program for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], and a [[Netherlands|Dutch]] business firm.
Ecofont Vera Sans (originally called Eco Sans) was developed by SPRANQ in the [[Netherlands]] in order to reduce ink consumption when printing. Each character in the font contains tiny holes. SPRANQ claims that this reduces the amount of ink needed by approximately 15 percent when compared to the [[Bitstream Vera Sans|Vera Sans]] family on which Ecofont Sans is based.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dutch Company's 'Ecofont' Saves Printer Ink|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,471088,00.html|date=December 22, 2008 |accessdate=2012-10-10|author=FoxNews.com|publisher=Fox}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The ecofriendly font that saves on ink|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2008/dec/22/waste-ethicalliving|first=Tristan |last=Parker |date=22 December 2008 <!-- 15.28 GMT -->  |accessdate=2012-10-10|work=Environment Blog|publisher=guardian.co.uk | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=6515553|title=Dutch Company Punches Holes in Font to Save Ink|last=STERLING |first=TOBY |date=December 22, 2008|work=AP Business Writer|publisher=The Associated Press/ABC News|accessdate=2012-10-10}}</ref>
The Ecofont [[application program]] (formerly marketed as "Ecofont Professional") inserts small holes in other fonts in order to reduce ink consumption.<ref>{{cite web | title = How it works | url = http://www.ecofont.com/en/products/green/printing/environmentally-aware-printing-with-ecofont.html | accessdate = 2010-04-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131214134733/http://www.ecofont.com/en/products/green/printing/environmentally-aware-printing-with-ecofont.html | archive-date = 2013-12-14 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Susan Wilson |title=Use Ecofont to save your printer ink |url=http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2009/07/24/use-ecofont-to-save-your-printer-ink/ |publisher=TECH.BLORGE |date=24 July 2009 |accessdate=2012-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Jason Fitzpatrick |title=Ecofont Saves Your Ink |url=http://lifehacker.com/5108188/ecofont-saves-your-ink |publisher=Lifehacker |date=2012-10-10 |accessdate=29 July 2009}}</ref>
Both the software and the Ecofont Sans fonts are distributed and sold by Ecofont BV, based in [[Utrecht]].
== History ==
[[File:Test ecofont.pdf|thumb|Test of the "Eco Sans" font in comparison with the "Bitstream Vera sans" font]]
Ecofont Vera Sans was originally designed as an ink saving alternative to the [[Verdana]] typeface.
Ecofont Vera Sans saved 20% more ink when compared to Bitstream Vera Sans in a 2010 test. However, both [[sans-serif]] fonts used more ink than most typical [[serif]] fonts.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ecofont | url = http://farlukar.110mb.com/stuff.php#ecofont | accessdate = 2010-05-14 }}</ref>
In 2011, Ecofont claimed that a reproducible test comparing Arial with Ecofont Arial showed ink savings of 28%.<ref>{{cite web | title = What is the evidence for the toner saving? | url = http://www.ecofont.com/en/help/ecofont/faq/0030.html | accessdate = 2011-05-21 }}</ref>
A comparison of printing with different fonts until the ink ran out found that Ecofont Vera was similar to [[Century Gothic]] and less economical than [[Times New Roman]]. [[Garamond]] was significantly more economical, though [[Garamond#Printer ink claim|it also sets smaller]] than other fonts at the same nominal point size.<ref name=errera>{{cite web | title=Which Fonts Use The Least Ink & Toner? [We Tested 7 Different Fonts]|first=Rob |last=Errera | publisher=Toner Buzz | url=https://www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/which-fonts-use-the-least-ink-toner/ |date=16 June 2023}}</ref>
== Awards ==
The Eco Sans font received the European Environmental Design Award 2010 from DiMAD in Spain.<ref>{{cite news |author=DiMAD |title=First European Environmental Design Award BEST_ED |url=http://www.dimad.org/node/158 |publisher=DiMAD |date=25 March 2010 |accessdate=7 April 2010 |language=es |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326141028/http://www.dimad.org/node/158 |archivedate=26 March 2010}}</ref>
Ecofont received the Accenture Innovation Award 2011 in the category Consumer Products,<ref>{{cite web | author=AccentureNL |title=Accenture Innovation Awards 2011 |url=http://www.slideshare.net/AccentureNL/accenture-innovation-awards-cpa-concept-ecofont |publisher=AccentureNL|date=11 November 2011 |accessdate=19 March 2012}}</ref> the Sprout Challenger Award in 2012 <ref>{{cite web |author=Sprout |title=Sprout Challenger Award 2012 |url=http://www.sprout.nl/117/63416/nieuws/ecofont-is-sprout-challenger-van-het-jaar.html |publisher=Sprout |date=6 November 2012 |accessdate=3 February 2014 |archive-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117123910/http://www.sprout.nl/117/63416/nieuws/ecofont-is-sprout-challenger-van-het-jaar.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the SMEs Innovation Top 100 in 2013.<ref>{{cite web | author=Syntens |title=SMEs Innovation Top 100, nr 1, 2013 |url=http://www.mkbinnovatietop100.nl/site/top-100-2013 |publisher=Syntens Innovatiecentrum|date=12 June 2013 |accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref>
==Other fonts designed for economy==
Another font designed for ink economy using the same "hollow letter" concept is Ryman Eco.<ref name=errera/>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{official website|http://www.ecofont.com/}}
[[Category:Display typefaces]]
[[Category:Printing and the environment]]
[[Category:Sans-serif typefaces]]
[[Category:Typefaces and fonts introduced in 2009]]