Mill Condensed is a typeface I designed as part of my thesis project at MICA.

Learn more about the Parks Project here. Or Check out Mill on my website

Mill Condensed is a classic American style wood typeface I designed and cut as part of my thesis project at MICA.

Some of my initial sketches. I knew I wanted to cut the typeface using a single bit on a CNC mill. This added a couple constraints to my type. For one, all the inside corners needed the same radius. I had to do away with any sharp inside corners. 

I designed the typeface in Robofont so I have a working .otf file as well as the wood type. I wanted to create a typeface that sat between traditional type and contemporary media. It is styled it after classic American wood type with a thin face and fatter serifs. I styled Mill to give it the proper inside radius and a more ridgid machined quality to the typeface.

When setting up my file for cutting, I spaced everything as tight as possible to maximize the amount of letters, while still allowing the bit to pass between them. I bought the raw lumber and cut and surfaced it down to the 0.918 in needed for type high on the press. 

proof ready to cut the type. After I had it machined, I took it into the wood shop and cut them all apart on the bandsaw. After some light sanding to get rid of the burrs, my type was ready to finish.

Fresh cut Mill

A couple coats of Bullseye Shellac and some light sanding, we're ready to print.

I'll call this the maiden print. I ran a proof of the alphabet and some national park themed phrases.

The typeface turned out great, The surface was a little rougher than a true font which is why I have some of the texture on the letters. Historically type was cut on the end grain because it creates a smoother finish and the ends are more durable. To make it easier for me, I cut it out of hard maple on face grain so we'll see how durable my type turns out to be.