Over a year later, Safari is still the only browser to support @font-face embedding, but the next versions of Firefox, Opera, and Google Chrome are planning support. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer does currently support @font-face embedding, but only when using a special font format (Embedded OpenType). If you’re a Firefox user and can’t wait for the next release, you can download the version 3.5 beta now, which does support font embedding.

So to prepare for the day when we can enjoy these fonts en masse, I’ve designed the new version of spigotdesign.com using Fontin Sans, by Jos Buivenga of exljbris Font Foundry. exljbris is one of the growing number of font foundries that are beginning to allow their fonts to be embedded.

As a preview of what you could be seeing (if your not using Safari) here’s a screenshot of this site, as viewed in Safari:

Fontin Sans on spigotdesign.com

And for those of you who are viewing this with Safari or Firefox 3.5, here’s what everyone else sees:

Helvetica instead of Fontin Sans

Hopefully in the next few months all this will change, and nearly everyone will get to enjoy Fontin Sans (except IE viewers).

11/07/09 UPDATE: We no longer use Fontin Sans on the site. There are still too many issues with browser support, as well as the resulting load time issues.

Spigot Design

For those who liked the site just fine the way it was, check out the link on the home page that will allow you to switch it back (and forth). Give it a click and you’ll be taken back to the dark design, and should remain that way the next time you happen to grace these pages again.

The new design also sports a special font called “Fontin Sans” from font designer Jos Buivenga (Exljbris Font Foundry). Exljbris has allowed @font-face embedding of many of their fonts into websites. Unfortunately, unless you’re viewing this site with Safari, you’ll be seeing good old Helvetica instead, as @font-face support is very thin at the moment. The good news is that the next versions of Firefox and Opera will be supporting it. As for Internet Explorer… well, who knows…

Any feedback would be well appreciated, especially if you find a bug.

Spigot Design