# Mac dopers - what's the name of the 'Mac' font? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 19, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067 "2004-02-19T20:54:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067/1 "2004-02-19T20:54:42Z")
You know, the one they use in all the interfaces, menues ASF. I don’t know if it’s still around with OSX, but it used to be from way back in the 80’s, I think. Sorry if this is a bit vague, but I hope you get what I mean. Googling just reveals 1000K fonts _for_ Mac, but not what _the_ font is. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067/2 "2004-02-19T21:03:46Z")
Pre-OS 9, it was “Chicago” for the menus, menubars, etc., and “Geneva” (a Helvetica rip-off optimized for screen viewing) for file folder lists, text for file icons, etc. Now, it’s “Charcoal” as the default in place of Chicago, though you can change this if you wish. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067/3 "2004-02-19T21:07:12Z")
[http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/apple/chicago/](http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/apple/chicago/) Actually, it looks like “Charcoal” came about sometime during OS 8. > [@](#): > > Chicago > This Apple system font was designed as a bitmap by Susan Kare, and used for menus and buttons throughout the operating system — a large part of the Mac’s cute appeal. (The friendly icons were also designed by Kare.) More recently the Chicago design was made into an scalable TrueType font by the Bigelow and Holmes studio, but at small sizes on screen the new font is identical to Kare’s. > > For Mac OS 8, Apple decided to discard this wonderful part of their brand’s identity, and commissioned David Berlow of the Font Bureau to design Charcoal. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067/4 "2004-02-19T21:09:05Z")
Thanks. Chicago it is. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067/5 "2004-02-20T01:45:22Z")
Yup. Pre OS 8 Mac OSes defaulted to Chicago, OS 8-9.x used Charcoal, and OS 10.x uses Lucida Grande. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067/6 "2004-02-20T04:38:40Z")
I just got my mac back from the shop and everything is wonderful and configged and I couldn’t be happier. No wait. There is this one tiny problem, the front sixe for menus and stuff is so small I can hardly read it. I tried changing it in the netscape preferences I have it set at 30 and it’s still very small. I also tried playing with the buttons on the monitor but that didn’t produce any results. Any suggestions for me? The guy who fixed it have a ginormous screen apparently. I’m frustrated as I waited months to get it back and online, but now I can’t hardly read anything. I throw myself at your mercy. Also forgive the hijack and any spelling errors as I can hardly read what I’m writing. May heaven’s finest blessing shower down upon you for your kindness. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067/7 "2004-02-20T04:49:57Z")
You can change your font/ font size for the computer in the apple menu under appearance. (OS9) You can also change your resolution (which may be the problem) under Monitors. Maybe this helps? ---
**Author:** ![Geoduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@Geoduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geoduck)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-dopers-whats-the-name-of-the-mac-font/230067/8 "2004-02-20T05:04:57Z")
My guess is that your video resolution and speeds have been changed. That is common after repairs. If you are using OS X, go into the System Preferences and choose the Displays panel. Depending on your video card, you will have a choice of a few resolutions and speeds. I usually click the “show modes recommended by display” box and then choose the look that I like. I only have a classic 15 inch Trinitron and have the 1024X768 configuration running. While you are there, you might as well click on the Color tab and calibrate your screen colors to be accurate or choose an existing presetting. Often after repair it will default to something generic. It is a self-guiding process. Helps lots when you are printing photos using Colorsynch.