Microgramma (typeface)

Microgramma is a sans-serif typeface designed by Aldo Novarese and Alessandro Butti for the Nebiolo Type Foundry in 1952. It became popular for use with technical illustrations in the 1960s, and was a favourite of graphic designers by the early 1970s. Its uses range from publicity and publication design to packaging, largely because of its availability as a Letraset typeface. Early typesetters (like the AM Varityper) also incorporated it. Novarese later developed Eurostile in 1962, a successor to Microgramma that added lowercase letters, a bold condensed variant, and an ultra narrow design he called Eurostile Compact.

Microgramma is almost always used in its extended and bold extended forms (pictured). Initially, it was a titling font with only uppercase letters. Later versions, by Linotype and URW, contain a lowercase as well, making it functionally identical to Eurostile. These digital versions also include accented Latin characters, mathematical symbols, and Latin ligatures. In the URW version, there are also extended Latin, subscripts and superscripts, and extended Latin ligatures.