Robert Ouimet

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Ecofont Helps Save Printer Ink

As a consultant, I prepare a lot of documents for clients. Actually, even before they become clients, I find myself preparing and printing documents as part of whole process of determining whether we’ll work together.

Despite the fact that everything is prepared digitally, and often sent digitally, printing hard copy just hasn’t gone away. Even if I send only a digital copy, inevitably a copy is printed. It’s not just habit – most people find it easier to review and mark-up hard copy in advance of a meeting.

I do use recycled paper in my printer, and when ever feasible I print double sided – but I came across an idea that makes perfect sense, and one I’m going to start using right way.

It’s a font created in Holland that uses less ink.

It’s called the Ecofont, and it maintains readability, but because the characters aren’t ‘solid’, it uses less ink when printing.

20081220ecofont_490

Here’s the info from the folks who created it – a Dutch ad agency…

The prints we make for our ‘daily use’ not only use paper, but also ink. According to SPRANQ creative communications (Utrecht, The Netherlands) your ink cartridges could last longer. SPRANQ has therefore developed a new font: the Ecofont.

“After Dutch holey cheese, there now is a Dutch font with holes as well.”

Appealing ideas are often simple: how much of a letter can be removed while maintaining readability? After extensive testing with all kinds of shapes, the best results were achieved using small circles. After lots of late hours (and coffee) this resulted in a font that uses up to 20% less ink. Free to download, free to use.

One of my great frustrations is that I’m still printing loads of documents that end up going into recycling. So, I’m going to start using the Ecofont in my printed documents starting today.

Interestingly, on the screen at least, the cut-out dots don’t really show up until you get to a fairly big size – around 24 px and up.

I think, just to help spread the word, I’ll add a “made with the ecofont” in the footer.

20081220_18-60_ecofont

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Publishing, Technology Tagged With: conserve, eco, ecofont, green, Holland, ink, SPRANQ

James Glave Podcast

A veteran writer turns his obsession with detail into a building project.

In his new book, Almost Green, James Glave tells the story of building a green studio in the front yard – and changing his life forever.

Recording at James Glave’s eco-shed on Bowen Island, this podcast was recorded before the book was published.

http://snitcast.com/vangogreen/20080220_vgg_james_glave.mp3

Read more about James Glave and how to buy the book on his web site, www.glave.com

photo courtesy James Glave

Robert’s notes…

I’ve known James since the mid-90’s. We both fumbled our way onto the then new world wide web – he was with Vancouver Magazine and I was with CBC Vancouver.

I always looked forward to seeing a new magazine article by James – they were smart, witty and superbly crafted. He brought the same high quality to his online work; it stood out then, and it stands out now.

When he left Vancouver for San Francisco and Wired News in 1997, many of us were envious of his determination to carve out a living ‘on the internet’. He became a regular guest speaker at the Simon Fraser University summer web publishing courses, and he regaled us with news from the front lines of life in Silicon Valley.

I’m glad James is back in Vancouver – and thrilled to see him bringing outstanding journalism and his determined voice to stories about the environment and sustainability.

While we wait for his book to come out – do check out his mini-book Buck The System on his web site – add your contribution to his PayPal fund – and enjoy the articles he’s distributing online.

The podcast with James Glave runs: 25:30 and was originally produced for VanGoGreen.com

podcast ISBN: 978-0-9809054-3-4

© Bigsnit Media Consulting Inc. 2008. Podcasts are available for re-broadcast by contacting info@robertouimet.com

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Podcasting, Technology Tagged With: Almost Green, Bowen Island, green, James Glave, literature, non-fiction, podcast, podcasting, sustainabiity

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