Editing Optima (section)

{{Short description|Humanist sans-serif typeface}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox font
| name = Optima
| image = Optima font sample.svg
| style = [[Sans-serif]]
|classifications = [[Sans-serif#Humanist|Humanist]]
| releasedate = 1958
| creator = [[Hermann Zapf]]
| foundry = Stempel<br>[[Mergenthaler Linotype Company|Linotype]]
| variations = Optima Nova
|}}
'''Optima''' is a [[Humanist sans-serif|humanist sans-serif typeface]] designed by [[Hermann Zapf]] and released by the D. Stempel AG foundry, [[Frankfurt]], [[West Germany]] in 1958.

Though classified as a [[sans-serif]], Optima has a subtle swelling at the terminals suggesting a glyphic [[serif]]. Optima was inspired by [[Roman square capitals|classical Roman capitals]] and the stonecarving on [[Renaissance]]-period tombstones Zapf saw in [[Florence]] on a 1950 holiday to Italy.<ref name="Optima Monotype">{{cite web|last1=Haley|first1=Allen|title=Optima|url=http://cdncms.fonts.net/documents/4de43fc877b5c1ce/ILOptimaFIN.pdf|publisher=[[Monotype Imaging]]|access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref>

Zapf intended Optima to be a typeface that could serve for both body text and titling. To prove its versatility, Zapf set his entire book ''About Alphabets'' in the regular weight.<ref name="About More Alphabets review">{{cite web|last1=Shaw|first1=Paul|title=About More Alphabets review|url=http://www.paulshawletterdesign.com/2012/12/blue-pencil-no-20-zapfiana-no-1-about-more-alphabets/|website=Blue Pencil letter design|access-date=23 November 2015}}</ref> Zapf retained an interest in the design, collaborating on variants and expansions into his eighties.