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→Non-Microsoft operating systems: Fixed reversed ref to MS Sans Serif instead of Microsoft Sans Serif. (Two different things treated as the same in the text.)
 
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{{Short description|Neo-grotesque sans-serif typeface}}
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{{refimprove|date=August 2011}}
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{{Infobox typeface
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{{Infobox font
| name = Microsoft Sans Serif
| name = Microsoft Sans Serif
| image = MicrosoftSansSerifSpecimen.svg
| image = MicrosoftSansSerifSpecimen.svg
| style = [[Sans-serif]]
| style = [[Sans-serif]]
| classifications = [[Grotesque sans-serif|Neo-grotesque sans-serif]]
| classifications = [[Sans-serif#Neo-grotesque|Neo-grotesque]]
| based_on = MS Sans Serif (variation), [[Helvetica]]
| based_on =[[Helvetica]]<br/>[[Arial]]<br/>MS Sans Serif
| creationdate = {{Start date and age|1985}} (Helv)<br/>{{Start date and age|1992}} (MS Sans Serif)<br/>{{Start date and age|1997}} (Microsoft Sans Serif)
| creationdate = 1997
| releasedate = 1997
| releasedate = 1997
| trademark = Microsoft Sans Serif is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the [[United States]] and other countries.
| trademark = Either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the [[United States]] and other countries
| aka = MS Shell Dlg<ref>MS Shell Dlg is a logical font which maps to the shell system font, usually MS Sans Serif. See [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd374112%28VS.85%29.aspx Using MS Shell Dlg and MS Shell Dlg 2] on [[Microsoft Developer Network]]</ref><br/>Helv
| creator = [[Microsoft]]
| creator = [[Microsoft]]
| foundry = [[Microsoft Typography]]
| foundry = Microsoft Typography
| sample =
| sample =
}}
}}
'''Microsoft Sans Serif''' is a [[sans-serif]] [[typeface]] introduced with early Microsoft Windows versions. It is the successor of '''MS Sans Serif''', formerly '''Helv''', a proportional [[bitmap font]] introduced in [[Windows 1.0]]. Both typefaces are very similar in design to [[Arial]] and [[Helvetica]]. The typeface was designed to match the MS Sans bitmap included in the early releases of Microsoft Windows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linotype.com/875462/microsoft-sans-serif-family.html|title=Microsoft Sans Serif font family|website=Linotype.com|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/font-list/microsoft-sans-serif|title=Microsoft Sans Serif font family - Typography|last=Jacobs|first=Mike|date=2017-10-20|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref>
'''MS Sans Serif''' is a proportional [[raster font]] introduced in [[Windows 1.0|Windows 1.x]] as "Helv". MS Sans Serif is very similar in design to [[Arial]] and [[Helvetica]]. It changed to its current name in [[Windows 3.1]]. A [[TrueType]] version, '''Microsoft Sans Serif''', was introduced with the release of Windows 2000.


==History==
==History==
Microsoft Sans Serif's predecessor is Helv (a shortened form of Helvetica), a bitmap font included with Windows 1.0 and later. In [[Windows 3.1]], the bitmap font was renamed MS Sans Serif. "Helv" is still a valid alias for MS Sans Serif. [[OS/2]] and its successor [[ArcaOS]] still name the font "Helv".
MS Sans Serif is the default system [[typeface|font]] on [[Windows 3.1]], [[Windows 95]], [[Windows NT 4.0]], [[Windows 98]], and [[Windows ME]]. Starting from [[Windows 2000]], the default desktop scheme uses [[Tahoma (typeface)|Tahoma]]. MS Sans Serif is available in the font sizes 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, and 24. When changing dpi settings in Windows 95 or later (in Windows 3.1, dpi setting is tied to screen resolution, depending on driver information file), Windows is configured to load a different MS Sans Serif font, historically called the "[[IBM 8514|8514]]" variant, which adds sizes 23 and 30 points.


Today, the font is still available in all editions of [[Windows 7]] (a [[Euro]] symbol was added for the release of [[Windows 98]]), and is still used in menus, dialog boxes, etc. The name "Helv" is still used in Windows as a synonym for MS Sans Serif.
MS Sans Serif is the default system font on [[Windows 3.0]], [[Windows 3.1x|Windows 3.1]], [[Windows 95]], [[Windows NT 4.0]], [[Windows 98]], and [[Windows ME]]. A [[Euro]] symbol was added to this font for the release of Windows 98. MS Sans Serif is available in the font sizes 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, and 24. When changing the [[dots per inch|DPI]] settings in Windows 95 or later, Windows loads a different MS Sans Serif font, historically called the "[[IBM 8514|8514]]" variant, which adds sizes 23 and 30 points (high DPI versions of sizes 18 and 24 respectively). <!-- apparently Windows 10 always has them -->
Also, according to the strings hidden in the .FON file (on the original raster/bitmap variant), it is seen that the font was designed by Microsoft Corporation in 1987 (font sizes 8, 10, 12 and also a portion of the 8514/a version), also in 1985 by Xiphias, Los Angeles, CA (font sizes 14, 18, 24), also the 8514 version contains typefaces designed by Bitstream Inc. in 1989.


==Description==
==Microsoft Sans Serif==
Microsoft Sans Serif is a [[TrueType]] font that is designed as a vectorized, metric-compatible variant of MS Sans Serif, distributed with Windows 2000 and later (designed by [[Microsoft]]). This font also contains most glyphs shipped with any version of Windows until Windows Vista, excluding fonts supporting East Asian ideographs. The PostScript font name is MicrosoftSansSerif.
Microsoft Sans Serif is a TrueType font that is designed as a [[vector graphics|vectorized]], metric-compatible variant of MS Sans Serif, distributed with Windows 2000 and later. This font also contains most glyphs shipped with any version of Windows until [[Windows Vista]], excluding fonts supporting East Asian ideographs. The [[PostScript]] font name is <code>MicrosoftSansSerif</code>.


Despite being a vectorized replacement, there are subtle design changes. For example, the tail in the lowercase "a" is shortened to a vertical stem in Microsoft Sans Serif, the top of the stem on the lowercase "f" curves down instead of horizontally, the hook at the descenders of "y" and "j" are hooked up in Microsoft Sans Serif, the strokes in the middle of digit "8" intersect at a different angle. Capital R, which was designed in the style of original Helvetica in the original MS Sans Serif, is instead a compromise between Helvetica and the straight-diagonal descender in Arial; the descender curves at the top and is a straight diagonal at the bottom.
Despite being a vectorized replacement, there are subtle design changes. One example is the capital '''R''' - where in the original MS Sans Serif it was designed in the style of Helvetica, in Microsoft Sans Serif it becomes a compromise between Helvetica and the straight-diagonal descender in Arial; the descender curves at the top and is a straight diagonal at the bottom. Other examples include the tail in the lowercase '''a''' being shortened to a vertical stem, the top of the stem on the lowercase '''f''' curving down instead of horizontally, the hook at the descenders of lowercase '''y''' and '''j''' curving up, and the strokes in the middle of digit '''8''' intersecting at a different angle.


Version 1.10 of the font includes 1119 glyphs (1209 characters, 26 blocks), supporting Unicode ranges Alphabetic Presentation forms, Arabic, Arabic Presentation forms A-B, Cyrillic, General Punctuation, Greek and [[Coptic language|Coptic]], Hebrew, Latin Extended-A, Latin Extended-B, Latin Extended Additional, Mathematical Operators, Thai. Supported code pages include 1250-1258, Macintosh US Roman, 874, 864, 862, 708. Font is smoothed at 0-6 points, hinted at 7-14 points, hinted and smoothed at 15 and above points. OpenType features includes init, isol, medi, fina, liga for default Arabic script.
Version 1.10 of the font includes 1119 glyphs (1209 characters, 26 blocks), supporting [[Unicode]] ranges Alphabetic Presentation forms, Arabic, Arabic Presentation forms A-B, Cyrillic, General Punctuation, Greek and [[Coptic language|Coptic]], Hebrew, Latin Extended-A, Latin Extended-B, Latin Extended Additional, Mathematical Operators, Thai. Supported code pages include 1250-1258, Macintosh US Roman, 874, 864, 862, 708. Font is smoothed at 0-6 points, hinted at 7-14 points, hinted and smoothed at 15 and above points. [[OpenType]] features includes init, isol, medi, fina, liga for default Arabic script.


Version 1.41 (supplied with Windows XP SP2) includes 2257 glyphs (2301 characters, 28 blocks), which extended Unicode ranges to include Combining Diacritical Marks, Currency Symbols, Cyrillic Supplement, Geometric Shapes, Greek Extended, IPA Extensions, Number Forms, Spacing Modifier Letters. New OpenType scripts include Arabic MAR script. Additional OpenType features includes rlig for Arabic scripts.
Version 1.41 (supplied with [[Windows XP SP2]]) includes 2257 glyphs (2301 characters, 28 blocks), which extended Unicode ranges to include Combining Diacritical Marks, Currency Symbols, Cyrillic Supplement, Geometric Shapes, Greek Extended, IPA Extensions, Number Forms, Spacing Modifier Letters. New OpenType scripts include Arabic MAR script. Additional OpenType features includes rlig for Arabic scripts.


Version 5.00 (supplied with Windows Vista and Server 2008) includes 3053 glyphs (2788 characters, 36 blocks), which extended Unicode ranges to include Arabic Supplement, Combining Diacritical Marks Supplement, Combining Half Marks, Latin Extended-C, Latin Extended-D, Phonetic Extensions, Phonetic Extensions Supplement, Specials, Superscripts and Subscripts. New OpenType scripts include Arabic URD (Urdu), Cyrillic (default), Hebrew (default), Latin (default, Romanian), Thai (default). Additional OpenType features includes ccmp, mark, mkmk for Arabic scripts; locl for Arabic URD (Urdu) script; mark, mkmk for default Cyrillic; dlig, ccmp, mark for default Hebrew; ccmp, mark, mkmk for Latin scripts; locl for Romanian Latin; ccmp, mark, mkmk for Thai.
Version 5.00 (supplied with Windows Vista and [[Windows Server 2008]]) includes 3053 glyphs (2788 characters, 36 blocks), which extended Unicode ranges to include Arabic Supplement, Combining Diacritical Marks Supplement, Combining Half Marks, Latin Extended-C, Latin Extended-D, Phonetic Extensions, Phonetic Extensions Supplement, Specials, Superscripts and Subscripts. New OpenType scripts include Arabic URD (Urdu), Cyrillic (default), Hebrew (default), Latin (default, Romanian), Thai (default). Additional OpenType features include: ccmp, mark, mkmk for Arabic scripts; locl for Arabic URD (Urdu) script; mark, mkmk for default Cyrillic; dlig, ccmp, mark for default Hebrew; ccmp, mark, mkmk for Latin scripts; locl for Romanian Latin; ccmp, mark, mkmk for Thai.


MS Sans Serif was given a PANOSE number that indicates it has "cove" serifs, While the PANOSE number for Microsoft Sans Serif indicates that is a sans serif.
MS Sans Serif was given a [[PANOSE]] number that indicates it has "cove" serifs, while the PANOSE number for Microsoft Sans Serif indicates that is a sans serif.


Glyphs from Microsoft Sans Serif are also used in the typeface Kartika.
Glyphs from Microsoft Sans Serif are also used in the typeface Kartika.


== Non-Microsoft operating systems ==
== Non-Microsoft operating systems ==
On October 16, 2007, [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] announced on their website that the next version of [[Mac OS X v10.5]] ("Leopard"), would include Microsoft Sans Serif. Leopard also ships with [http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#fonts several other] previously Microsoft-only fonts, including [[Tahoma (typeface)|Tahoma]], [[Arial Unicode]], and [[Wingdings]]. Microsoft Sans Serif has been included with all OS X versions since.
On October 16, 2007, [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] announced on their website that the next version of [[Mac OS X v10.5]] ("Leopard"), would include Microsoft Sans Serif. Leopard also ships with [https://web.archive.org/web/20081215210759/http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#fonts several other] previously Microsoft-only fonts, including [[Tahoma (typeface)|Tahoma]], [[Arial Unicode]], and [[Wingdings]]. Microsoft Sans Serif has been included with all [[macOS]] versions since.

[[OS/2]] and its successor [[eComStation]] still name the font "Helv".


Retail versions of the font are sold through [[Ascender Corporation]].
Retail versions of the font are sold through [[Ascender Corporation]].


==Notes==
== See also ==
* [[System (typeface)|System]]
⚫
<References/>
* [[Geneva (typeface)|Geneva]], the equivalent system typeface for the [[classic Mac OS]]

⚫
== References==
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Microsoft Sans Serif|Microsoft Sans Serif}}
{{Commons category|Microsoft Sans Serif|Microsoft Sans Serif}}
*[http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/family.aspx?FID=244 Microsoft's entry on Microsoft Sans Serif]
*[https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/font-list/microsoft-sans-serif Microsoft's entry on Microsoft Sans Serif]


{{Microsoft Windows Typefaces}}
{{Microsoft Windows Typefaces}}
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[[Category:Windows XP typefaces]]
[[Category:Windows XP typefaces]]
[[Category:Neo-grotesque sans-serif typefaces]]
[[Category:Neo-grotesque sans-serif typefaces]]
[[Category:1985 introductions]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1985]]
[[Category:Typefaces and fonts introduced in 1992]]
[[Category:Typefaces and fonts introduced in 1997]]

Latest revision as of 10:02, 20 August 2024

Microsoft Sans Serif
CategorySans-serif
ClassificationNeo-grotesque
Designer(s)Microsoft
FoundryMicrosoft Typography
Date created1985; 39 years ago (1985) (Helv)
1992; 32 years ago (1992) (MS Sans Serif)
1997; 27 years ago (1997) (Microsoft Sans Serif)
Date released1997
Design based onHelvetica
Arial
MS Sans Serif
TrademarkEither a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries

Microsoft Sans Serif is a sans-serif typeface introduced with early Microsoft Windows versions. It is the successor of MS Sans Serif, formerly Helv, a proportional bitmap font introduced in Windows 1.0. Both typefaces are very similar in design to Arial and Helvetica. The typeface was designed to match the MS Sans bitmap included in the early releases of Microsoft Windows.[1][2]

History

[edit]

Microsoft Sans Serif's predecessor is Helv (a shortened form of Helvetica), a bitmap font included with Windows 1.0 and later. In Windows 3.1, the bitmap font was renamed MS Sans Serif. "Helv" is still a valid alias for MS Sans Serif. OS/2 and its successor ArcaOS still name the font "Helv".

MS Sans Serif is the default system font on Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows ME. A Euro symbol was added to this font for the release of Windows 98. MS Sans Serif is available in the font sizes 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, and 24. When changing the DPI settings in Windows 95 or later, Windows loads a different MS Sans Serif font, historically called the "8514" variant, which adds sizes 23 and 30 points (high DPI versions of sizes 18 and 24 respectively). Also, according to the strings hidden in the .FON file (on the original raster/bitmap variant), it is seen that the font was designed by Microsoft Corporation in 1987 (font sizes 8, 10, 12 and also a portion of the 8514/a version), also in 1985 by Xiphias, Los Angeles, CA (font sizes 14, 18, 24), also the 8514 version contains typefaces designed by Bitstream Inc. in 1989.

Description

[edit]

Microsoft Sans Serif is a TrueType font that is designed as a vectorized, metric-compatible variant of MS Sans Serif, distributed with Windows 2000 and later. This font also contains most glyphs shipped with any version of Windows until Windows Vista, excluding fonts supporting East Asian ideographs. The PostScript font name is MicrosoftSansSerif.

Despite being a vectorized replacement, there are subtle design changes. One example is the capital R - where in the original MS Sans Serif it was designed in the style of Helvetica, in Microsoft Sans Serif it becomes a compromise between Helvetica and the straight-diagonal descender in Arial; the descender curves at the top and is a straight diagonal at the bottom. Other examples include the tail in the lowercase a being shortened to a vertical stem, the top of the stem on the lowercase f curving down instead of horizontally, the hook at the descenders of lowercase y and j curving up, and the strokes in the middle of digit 8 intersecting at a different angle.

Version 1.10 of the font includes 1119 glyphs (1209 characters, 26 blocks), supporting Unicode ranges Alphabetic Presentation forms, Arabic, Arabic Presentation forms A-B, Cyrillic, General Punctuation, Greek and Coptic, Hebrew, Latin Extended-A, Latin Extended-B, Latin Extended Additional, Mathematical Operators, Thai. Supported code pages include 1250-1258, Macintosh US Roman, 874, 864, 862, 708. Font is smoothed at 0-6 points, hinted at 7-14 points, hinted and smoothed at 15 and above points. OpenType features includes init, isol, medi, fina, liga for default Arabic script.

Version 1.41 (supplied with Windows XP SP2) includes 2257 glyphs (2301 characters, 28 blocks), which extended Unicode ranges to include Combining Diacritical Marks, Currency Symbols, Cyrillic Supplement, Geometric Shapes, Greek Extended, IPA Extensions, Number Forms, Spacing Modifier Letters. New OpenType scripts include Arabic MAR script. Additional OpenType features includes rlig for Arabic scripts.

Version 5.00 (supplied with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008) includes 3053 glyphs (2788 characters, 36 blocks), which extended Unicode ranges to include Arabic Supplement, Combining Diacritical Marks Supplement, Combining Half Marks, Latin Extended-C, Latin Extended-D, Phonetic Extensions, Phonetic Extensions Supplement, Specials, Superscripts and Subscripts. New OpenType scripts include Arabic URD (Urdu), Cyrillic (default), Hebrew (default), Latin (default, Romanian), Thai (default). Additional OpenType features include: ccmp, mark, mkmk for Arabic scripts; locl for Arabic URD (Urdu) script; mark, mkmk for default Cyrillic; dlig, ccmp, mark for default Hebrew; ccmp, mark, mkmk for Latin scripts; locl for Romanian Latin; ccmp, mark, mkmk for Thai.

MS Sans Serif was given a PANOSE number that indicates it has "cove" serifs, while the PANOSE number for Microsoft Sans Serif indicates that is a sans serif.

Glyphs from Microsoft Sans Serif are also used in the typeface Kartika.

Non-Microsoft operating systems

[edit]

On October 16, 2007, Apple announced on their website that the next version of Mac OS X v10.5 ("Leopard"), would include Microsoft Sans Serif. Leopard also ships with several other previously Microsoft-only fonts, including Tahoma, Arial Unicode, and Wingdings. Microsoft Sans Serif has been included with all macOS versions since.

Retail versions of the font are sold through Ascender Corporation.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Microsoft Sans Serif font family". Linotype.com. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  2. ^ Jacobs, Mike (2017-10-20). "Microsoft Sans Serif font family - Typography". docs.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
[edit]
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