With the FHWA likely to rescind the interim approval for Clearview, in a Texas A&M experiment there was a variation of FHWA Series E-Modified known as Enhanced E-Modified. Basically, Enhanced E-Modified was the regular FHWA Series E, but with Series E-Modified spacing. Enhanced E-Modified was found to have comparable performance to Clearview 5-W, although neither had much better performance than Series E-Modified.
I was thinking, could the FHWA consider adding Enhanced Series E-Modified to its family of fonts? I am pretty sure the states that currently use Clearview would prefer it over going back to Series E-Modified.
I don't see why not. Unlike Clearview, Enhanced E requires no new templates. It relies on off-the-shelf existing letters and templates. Any DOT or toll agency could use Enhanced E today with no problem and no special licenses.
I think so, but it seems like the FHWA is taking its time when it comes to rescinding Clearview. I guess there's a long process when it comes to that. Not sure what places like Texas and Michigan are going to do though, when Clearview is considered to be an "inappropriate font".
Quote from: SignGeek101 on December 22, 2014, 02:36:39 PM
Not sure what places like Texas and Michigan are going to do though, when Clearview is considered to be an "inappropriate font".
Hopefully call for a repeal of FHWA's authority to dictate which fonts states must use. Or extend the middle finger.
Quote from: jbnv on December 22, 2014, 03:33:39 PM
Quote from: SignGeek101 on December 22, 2014, 02:36:39 PM
Not sure what places like Texas and Michigan are going to do though, when Clearview is considered to be an "inappropriate font".
Hopefully call for a repeal of FHWA's authority to dictate which fonts states must use. Or extend the middle finger.
Hell, CalTrans has done the latter for decades.
The point of Clearview was for it to look ugly. :pan: E-Modified is not.
Quote from: Brandon on December 22, 2014, 05:33:13 PM
Quote from: jbnv on December 22, 2014, 03:33:39 PM
Quote from: SignGeek101 on December 22, 2014, 02:36:39 PM
Not sure what places like Texas and Michigan are going to do though, when Clearview is considered to be an "inappropriate font".
Hopefully call for a repeal of FHWA's authority to dictate which fonts states must use. Or extend the middle finger.
Hell, CalTrans has done the latter for decades.
Not when it comes to typefaces.
Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.
Quote from: codyg1985 on December 22, 2014, 06:59:07 PM
Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.
I haven't seen any pictures, but it is basically plain Series E with Series E Modified spacing width between letters.
Quote from: codyg1985 on December 22, 2014, 06:59:07 PM
Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.
Hardly scientific, but something I threw together:
Clearview 5WR -- Series E(M) -- Series E Enhanced Modified E(M) Enhanced FHWA Series E Highway Gothic Advanced (or whatever it's called)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5Z49YTE.png&hash=b2c67cd225732de86276d245ac76bb0e13991075)
Quote from: codyg1985 on December 22, 2014, 06:59:07 PM
Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.
Looks like Jakeroot beat me to it but here's my illustration...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FEM_vs_EEM.png&hash=3451ad3e08b0c11b215748d66517d7f18886c5a1)
...and then there is this on northbound I-680 near Sunol...
(https://www.aaroads.com/california/images680/i-680_nb_exit_025_03.jpg)
I'm pretty sure the typeface used is not E-modified but possibly Series E but with E-modified inter-character spacing.
I have seen a few signs in Missouri that look similar to this.
Quote from: jakeroot on December 22, 2014, 07:14:48 PM
Quote from: codyg1985 on December 22, 2014, 06:59:07 PM
Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.
Hardly scientific, but something I threw together:
Clearview 5WR -- Series E(M) -- Series E Enhanced Modified E(M) Enhanced FHWA Series E Highway Gothic Advanced (or whatever it's called)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5Z49YTE.png&hash=b2c67cd225732de86276d245ac76bb0e13991075)
At a glance, the one on the right is easiest, IMHO, to read. It's Series E, but nice and thin with good spaces between letters and number, and within the letters and numbers. I find it better than the Clearview one to the far left for legibility.
Nice to see a side-by-side-by-side comparison though.
We had a discussion several years ago on this board where someone proposed this very idea of using Series E with Series E(M) spacing in place of Clearview. (I think it was somewhere in the old Road-Related Illustrations thread, before that became its own board). If I recall, the membership here seemed to like that mockup the best as well.
Quote from: myosh_tino on December 22, 2014, 07:29:13 PM
Quote from: codyg1985 on December 22, 2014, 06:59:07 PM
Does anyone have an example of what FHWA Enhanced E-Modified looks like? I don't think I've seen it.
Looks like Jakeroot beat me to it but here's my illustration…
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FEM_vs_EEM.png&hash=3451ad3e08b0c11b215748d66517d7f18886c5a1)
…and then there is this on northbound I-680 near Sunol…
(https://www.aaroads.com/california/images680/i-680_nb_exit_025_03.jpg)
I'm pretty sure the typeface used is not E-modified but possibly Series E but with E-modified inter-character spacing.
You're correct. That's Series E with E-Modified spacing.