Resident Fonts for Consumer Computing Devices
Introduction
In the early 1990s, Windows, macOS, and many other operating systems of the time converged on a set of core fonts that, though stylistically different, were metrically compatible. Most famously, Windows’s Arial, Courier New, and Times New Roman share the metrics of macOS’s Helvetica, Courier, and Times, respectively.
These shared metrics enabled reliable document interchange, preventing unpredictable text reflows that could alter line breaks, table layouts, and page counts when documents were shared or edited across platforms.
Although modern type and technology offer far greater choice, these original core fonts retain their importance as a near-universal typographic baseline. They provide known, stable metrics that are crucial for fallback rendering, that ensure layout consistency across platforms, and that support legacy documents.
Fonts for OS Core Font Compatibility
The MetricsMatch OS-Compatible Font Set features Dalton Maag designs adapted to be compatible with industry-standard OS core font sets and their clones:
| MetricsMatch Family | Available Styles |
|---|---|
| WGL4 Glyphset¹ | |
| Aktiv Grotesk MXM OS or Sans 82 MXM OS² | 6: Regular, Italic, Bold, Bold Italic, Black, Black Italic or variable fonts |
| 6: Regular, Italic, Bold, Bold Italic, Black, Black Italic or variable fonts | |
| Nine Elms MXM OS | 4: Regular, Italic, Bold, Bold Italic or variable fonts³ |
| WGL4 + Hebrew Glyphset¹ | |
| Courier Recast MXM OS | 4: Regular, Italic, Bold, Bold Italic or variable fonts⁴ |
| Font-Specific Glyphsets¹ | |
| Dingbats 90 MXM OS | 1: Regular |
| Symbol MXM OS | 1: Regular |
- Our glyphsets adhere to industry standards, but may not be identical to the fonts which ship with every version of an OS.
- OEMs can choose between Aktiv Grotesk MXM OS or Sans 82 MXM OS. Both are functionally identical, but Aktiv Grotesk MXM OS is a direct adaptation of our Aktiv Grotesk family, whereas Sans 82 MXM OS more closely aligns with the design features of the industry-standard font family.
- The variable font implementation of Nine Elms MXM OS includes an optical size axis, with all optical sizes sharing the same metrics. The static fonts are the Text optical size only.
- The variable font implementation of Courier Recast MXM OS includes a weight axis that spans a wider weight range than the industry-standard fonts, while maintaining the same metrics across all weights due to its monospace design.
The MetricsMatch OS-Compatible Font Set is available now for device manufacturers and other OEMs. You can find out more in our Dalton Maag Fonts for OEMs guide, or contact us to discuss licensing and integration.
macOS is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Arial, Helvetica, Times, and Times New Roman are registered trademarks, and Courier New is a trademark of Monotype Imaging Inc. or its subsidiaries.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Use of a trademark does not imply endorsement or affiliation.