In 2008, P22 type foundry commissioned Canadian graphic artist Jim Rimmer to create a new type design: Stern. This became the first-ever simultaneous release of a digital font and hand-set metal font. The design is a delicate upright italic named in memory of Chris Stern, the late artist and printer from Washington State. Rimmer was one of only a few who possessed the skills needed to create a metal font and additionally was well versed in digital font production.
Realizing that this was a rare opportunity, P22's art director RIchard Kegler decided to video tape the making of the type at the home studio of Jim Rimmer. The result of this footage was made into the documentary: Making Faces Metal Type in the 21st Century, where the full process of creating a typeface—from drawing to casting the metal type. The digitization of the drawings is shown as a step toward the final metal type and gives an idea of the technical range of Mr. Rimmer.
The font release was met with enthusiastic response. Both digital and metal versions garnered attention. In 2012, the RImmer Type collection including Stern was transfered from P22 to Canada Type
Matrix for letter 'k' as seen cut in the Making Faces film.
Cast letter 'k' made for includion in the Making Faces film packaging
Drawings for the first version of Stern. Discarded and started over (as referenced in Making Faces film)
First Specimen of Stern 'k' as seen preinted in Making Faces film.
The above charater set is from the first "Stern Pro". The remastered version from Canada Type includes hundreds of additional glyphs including additional ligatures, Greek and expanded latin language support
