Using UCSF fonts

Brand standards for University publications

Faculty and staff: Before creating official publications, review the following documents provided by UCSF Public Affairs. Details: Understanding Identity.

Official UCSF typefaces

Section 4 (PDF, 6 pages, 274 KB) and Section 10 (PDF, 13 pages, 1.1 MB) in the Visual Identity Standards identify the following fonts as the official UCSF typefaces:

For print publications

• Bodoni
• Helvetica Neue

For text set in graphics on the web

• Bodoni Book
• Bodoni Roman
• Bodoni Italic
• Bodoni Bold
• Helvetica Neue 45 Light
• Helvetica Neue 55 Roman
• Helvetica Neue 56 Italic
• Helvetica Neue 65 Medium
• Helvetica Neue 75 Bold

For web text

• Helvetica
• Verdana
• Arial
• Times New Roman

Sections 4 and 10 provide detailed guidelines and examples for their use and are required reading for anyone needing to create typographic content within the specifications of the UCSF identity.

For print publications and for text set in graphics on the web, Helvetica is similar to Helvetica Neue, but it's not exactly the same. If adhering to the UCSF identity is critical to your work, use Helvetica Neue.

Obtaining the fonts

Check your computer

To save some money and time, see if you already have these fonts on your computer. In particular, the web text fonts above should already be on every computer in use today. In Windows, look in the Fonts control panel. On a Mac, look in Font Book in your Applications folder. If the fonts are already installed, use them and see if you get results that look similar to the examples in sections 4 and 10.

Ask around

Check with your co-worker, computer support team, or supervisor to determine if what you need has already been purchased. It could be that no money needs to be spent; you just need access to a prior purchase.

Purchase fonts

Unfortunately, UCSF does not have a site license for these typefaces.

Below we link to Adobe versions of these typefaces. The Adobe license enables you to install and use the typefaces on up to 5 computers. Unfortunately, Adobe does not offer an educational or UCSF discount for its typefaces.

For basic needs, use:

1. Bodoni Std 1 (OpenType, $125) which includes:

   • Roman
   • Italic
   • Bold
   • Bold Italic
   • Poster

2. Bodoni Std 2 (OpenType, $125) which includes:

   • Book
   • Book Italic
   • Poster Italic
   • Poster Compressed
   • Bold Condensed

   Book and Book Italic are designed to have thicker serifs for easier reading.

3. Helvetica Neue Std 2 (OpenType, $149) which includes:

   • Roman
   • Italic
   • Bold
   • Bold Italic
   • Thin
   • Thin Italic

For greater design flexibility in addition to the above, use:

1. Helvetica Neue Std 1 (OpenType, $99) which includes:

   • Ultra Light
   • Ultra Light Italic
   • Black
   • Black Italic

2. Helvetica Neue Std 3 (OpenType, $149) which includes:

   • Light
   • Light Italic
   • Medium
   • Medium Italic
   • Heavy
   • Heavy Italic

Related links

• Find official UC, UCSF, and School logos - See Using the University logo or seal.
• Find images of people, places, or things at UCSF
• Find clip art, stock photography, or illustrations

Are we missing something?

Contact Web & Data Services Manager Frank Farm (415/502-5372, farmf@pharmacy.ucsf.edu)

Go To: Communications