TTI study on E modified vs Clearview and "enhanced" E modified

[roadman]

http://d2dtl5nnlpfr0r.cloudfront.net/tti.tamu.edu/documents/TTI-2014-3.pdf

In one sentence - The difference between Clearview and Em is not considered to be statistically significant.

[KEK Inc.]

So basically, no need to change it.

[Zeffy]

What exactly is enhanced EM? I looked through but I couldn't find anything to define it.

So basically, no need to change it.

But I doubt Clearview-using states will go back to EM anytime soon...

[myosh_tino]

So basically, no need to change it.

But I doubt Clearview-using states will go back to EM anytime soon...

They would have to if the FHWA revokes the interim approval.

[Scott5114]

The "enhanced E Modified" appears to be Series E with E(M) kerning. Which is more suitable for retroreflective signage, since the thinner stroke width and bigger counter spaces reduce the effects of halation in much the same way that Clearview does.

The study did show that Clearview was generally more legible, but the effect is so inconsistent as to be statistically insignificant. The researchers noted it was unlikely that halation occurred during the study.

Interestingly, the data shows that of the signs showing solely numerical messages, the one missed most frequently was in Clearview.

[Alps]

The "enhanced E Modified" appears to be Series E with E(M) kerning. Which is more suitable for retroreflective signage, since the thinner stroke width and bigger counter spaces reduce the effects of halation in much the same way that Clearview does.

The study did show that Clearview was generally more legible, but the effect is so inconsistent as to be statistically insignificant. The researchers noted it was unlikely that halation occurred during the study.

Interestingly, the data shows that of the signs showing solely numerical messages, the one missed most frequently was in Clearview.

No shit, Series E is meant for non-button copy applications. The (m) series should have died in 2000.

[roadfro]

The "enhanced E Modified" appears to be Series E with E(M) kerning. Which is more suitable for retroreflective signage, since the thinner stroke width and bigger counter spaces reduce the effects of halation in much the same way that Clearview does.

So this was basically a study based on a premise we discussed here in a Clearview thread a few years ago...

[Revive 755]

So basically, no need to change it.

But I doubt Clearview-using states will go back to EM anytime soon...

They would have to if the FHWA revokes the interim approval.

Speaking of that, it appears FHWA may do such a thing.  They are apparently not granting anymore interim approvals to use Clearview - example of such a rejection

[Zeffy]

Speaking of that, it appears FHWA may do such a thing.  They are apparently not granting anymore interim approvals to use Clearview - example of such a rejection

The statement "Based on these and other reasons, we expect to rescind the Interim Approval in the near future." made me smile. Looks like the plug on Clearview may soon be pulled...

[roadman]

So basically, no need to change it.

But I doubt Clearview-using states will go back to EM anytime soon...

They would have to if the FHWA revokes the interim approval.

Speaking of that, it appears FHWA may do such a thing.  They are apparently not granting anymore interim approvals to use Clearview - example of such a rejection

Thanks for sharing.  You just made my evening!

[hbelkins]

I STILL do not get this irrational hatred for Clearview. What is so all-fire great about the FHWA font that it so many consider it sacrilege to use something different?

[Zeffy]

I STILL do not get this irrational hatred for Clearview. What is so all-fire great about the FHWA font that it so many consider it sacrilege to use something different?

The FHWA fonts are still perfectly usable, so why does the FHWA feel the need to try out a new typeface? Also, Clearview's numbers are butt-ugly, and all caps Clearview is yucky looking too (most of the time). I wouldn't hate it if it were used like it was supposed to be - for destination legends only, but when you have Clearview numerals and Clearview in negative contrast backgrounds, it just looks bad, and, worse, decreases legibility.

[KEK Inc.]

I STILL do not get this irrational hatred for Clearview. What is so all-fire great about the FHWA font that it so many consider it sacrilege to use something different?

No point fixing something that isn't really broken and spending tax dollars on it.  As Zeffy pointed out, it's not even approved for numbers or negative contrast. 

[Bobby5280]

Series 2000 Gothic needs to be updated with a native small capitals character set for those obnoxious looking cardinal direction labels. Either they need to do that or have the next MUTCD remove the goofy requirement of making the first letter in "North" be bigger than the other capital letters. Fake small capitals is a visual sin of graphic design.

[DaBigE]

Series 2000 Gothic needs to be updated with a native small capitals character set for those obnoxious looking cardinal direction labels. Either they need to do that or have the next MUTCD remove the goofy requirement of making the first letter in "North" be bigger than the other capital letters. Fake small capitals is a visual sin of graphic design.

Years ago, I used to see a ton of signs with the capital letter that looked like that (quite a few of them exist on overhead street name signs around Madison, WI), but I rarely see it any more. Maybe it's just around here, but the stroke width of the capitals seem to match the rest of the copy.
Old, "bold" capital
New capitals

Even the work I do in GuidSIGN, the capitals look like they have been stroke-corrected. Maybe that's a Transoft thing they did on their own. The cardinals look just fine with the taller initial capital. Maybe I am not looking at it as close...

[Alps]

Speaking of that, it appears FHWA may do such a thing.  They are apparently not granting anymore interim approvals to use Clearview - example of such a rejection

The statement "Based on these and other reasons, we expect to rescind the Interim Approval in the near future." made me smile. Looks like the plug on Clearview may soon be pulled...

[briantroutman]

Old, "bold" capital
New capitals

At a quick glance, that looks like an E Modified capital followed by E lowercase letters.

[DaBigE]

Old, "bold" capital
New capitals

At a quick glance, that looks like an E Modified capital followed by E lowercase letters.

I thought that at once too, but if you have E lowercase, you already have E uppercase...Why mix the two?