Google changed the Merriweather font about dojo-website

[sebilasse]

p.s.: the font-weight: 300; is now closer to the "perfect original" 400.
p.p.s.:
Ok, google > Is there a reason not to version webfonts ?

[davelab6]

Currently TypeKit is designed so that when you integrate a web font via their API, you will never be auto-upgraded, and Google Fonts is designed you are always auto-upgraded.

The reason Google Fonts is like that is it intends to offer the most easy, no-brainer, path to using web fonts, and banks on users trust that upgrades will be beneficial.

@EbenSorkin has redesigned Merriweather and believes the new weight is an improvement. If you think it isn't you should tell him, and he may update the font again to be lighter.

[davelab6]

Ah, indeed @sebilasse you already did contact Eben on the Merriweather issue comment - sorry, wasn't paying enough attention to usernames =)

[sebilasse]

@davelab6 And ;) Answered on the original thread and you already gave an answer to the answer here:

Currently TypeKit is designed so that when you integrate a web font via their API, you will never be auto-upgraded, and Google Fonts is designed you are always auto-upgraded.

Did not know that.

If you think it isn't you should tell him

Did that.

👍 and thanks for your reply.

[kfranqueiro]

On Windows the new weight still doesn't look bad. I'd argue it's actually better visibility-wise at least for black-on-white text. I can see where the 15px white-on-dark text looks a little heavy though, especially on Mac.

[sebilasse]

Below is a screenshot on Mac where
the 300 has ligature issues and
the 400 appears "bold"

[davelab6]

@kfranqueiro thanks for offering your thoughts on this, will help @EbenSorkin make the call

[davelab6]

@sebilasse looks like edge web fonts doesn't automatically update so you can switch to the older version with them, then switch back on monday afternoon to avoid the Firefox 44 release problems. Example, http://jsbin.com/kimilitihe/1/edit?html,output

[sebilasse]

@dylans @kfranqueiro - fyi – @davelab6 tweeted:

@EbenSorkin has made it better for windows users, and mac font rendering is always a bit darker than win

Conclusion: While the old version looked fine with the default OS X font rendering the new version definitely looks better in OS X with:

-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
-moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale;

It is closer to the windows weights, still a bit heavier but fine for my taste ...
btw: Did not call it "a fix" ...

[dylans]

Thanks @sebilasse @kfranqueiro @davelab6 @EbenSorkin.

On a Mac, I would normally expect paragraph text to have a font weight comparable to:

You could argue that font weight might be a touch light. That said, with the changes to Merriweather, by default (as noted above), everything looks bolded:

[sebilasse]

@dylans
Ok, I agree.
What you expect is now merriweather light

font-weight: 300;
-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; /* default */

☝️ That weight is pretty similar to articles in theguardian.com ...
👇 while

font-weight: 400;
-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;

is pretty similar to articles in zeit.de ...

---

I would be curious to see a windows (edge) screenshot with 300 !
If it is not to thin, why not switch to 300 (ligatures will be fixed soon hopefully) ?

reason: on the road and my MBP you saw in Amsterdam is no more. Since yesterday it's now just a display and I got a new one where I have to install windows on an external disk later (because of apples new "clump together" policy ;)

see also
http://redaktor.circinus.uberspace.de/css/300/
http://redaktor.circinus.uberspace.de/css/400/

[edit]
Asked 6 people (not representative but interesting)
Three (dealing with the graphic industries somehow) voted for thin
Three (daddy and two friends) voted for thick
What would Otto say ?

[dylans]

I believe this has been fixed.