Italicised Tahoma font in Pages

Question

Level 1

8 points

Italicised Tahoma font in Pages

Hello,

I like the font Tahoma and wish to use it. However, there doesn't seem to be the option of italicising it, which I need to do on a regular basis. The option to italicise isn't there in the font box, nor will it apply if I click Format > Font > Italics. Any idea how I can either enable it, if necessary, or obtain it?

Many thanks,

Jonathan Mercer.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 15, 2007 9:36 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barbara Brundage

Level 7

22,066 points

Feb 16, 2007 4:32 PM in response to IanB

Well, you can italicise fonts in programs like Appleworks or Word in OS X, but it seems one of the goals of Pages is to create output that meets good standards. No reputable print shop would ever be happy with a file using fake italics, for instance, if they ask you to send a pdf with the fonts embedded.

Reply

Answer 2

Feb 15, 2007 10:13 AM in response to jmercer

Are you sure you have Tahoma Italic? Pages doesn't support fake formatting in italics, bold, etc. (a good thing, on the whole, but annoying in situations like this). If you got Tahoma with Office (the usual source) you got regular and bold but not italic. To use italic, you will need to obtain and install the true italic font.

Reply

Answer 3

jmercer Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 16, 2007 1:58 AM in response to Barbara Brundage

I don't have Office; I only use iWork. Although Office test-drive (or something) was installed when I bought the machine (new) from Apple. I have since deleted it, though.

Do you know where I can get the true italic font from?

Thanks.

Reply

Answer 4

IanB

Level 4

1,374 points

Feb 16, 2007 2:39 AM in response to jmercer

Hi Jonathan

I think that you might struggle to get an italic version of Tahoma. Microsoft are the publisher of that font and they don't produce one: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/font.aspx?FID=19&FNAME=Tahoma&FVER=3.1 4.

Verdana is very close in appearance and has an italic variant. I suggest using that instead.

Reply

Answer 5

IanB

Level 4

1,374 points

Feb 16, 2007 10:18 AM in response to jmercer

Apparently, Windows can italicise any font. It does so by shearing the regular or bold version. The result is OK for the screen but it looks a supposedly a bit ropey in print compared with a proper italic font. I think Tahoma was originally designed for display on screens more than anything else.

Reply

Answer 6

Tulse

Level 5

5,812 points

Feb 16, 2007 11:03 AM in response to IanB

A type enthusiast would say that Window slopes fonts, but doesn't italicize them. If you look at fonts that have actual italic versions, they are not just the sloped regular form.

Apple has generally been a strong proponent of good typography, starting with the introduction of the laser printer. It can seem annoying to have this apparent "limitation" in iWork, but it really does ensure that the final product looks best.

Reply

Answer 7

Feb 16, 2007 12:56 PM in response to IanB

... Windows can italicise any font.

I would prefer phrasing it: "Windows has no built in filter against bad italics."

Admittedly MacOS X's filter is a usability disaster, as a beginner has no way of telling what is going on, but the end result is prettier than on Windows.

Reply

Answer 8

jmercer Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 16, 2007 10:13 AM in response to IanB

That's a shame. I thought I remembered using Tahoma quite extensively on a PC (which would have included italicising). It seems odd for there to not be an italic version of the font.