# Typeface for Smarties **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713 "2024-10-13T13:22:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/1 "2024-10-13T13:22:50Z")
I’m hoping that the ubiquity of the chocolate treat named “Smarties” is fairly familiar. I want to outrageously steal their signature brand image, at the request of my 7 year old son this Halloween. He wants to go as a box of Smarties. I am capable of making the costume, the “Smartie” circular decorations, the patch on one side with ingredients and a bar-code. But, what is the (probably propriety) font? Or one closely similar? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/2 "2024-10-13T13:41:46Z")
I very much doubt that it’s a font at all, rather a custom-drawn logo. However you can find several similar fonts at [Fancy \> Cartoon fonts | dafont.com](https://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=101) Super Water looks close enough with a bit of jiggling. [Super Water Font | dafont.com](https://www.dafont.com/super-water.font) ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/3 "2024-10-13T13:51:40Z")
I don’t think you’re going to find a font that will match. If you want it to say “Smarties,” try to find the largest version you can of their logo online (do a google search for “smarties logo” and click on Images). Would this work? [https://www.flickr.com/photos/nestle/9782377481](https://www.flickr.com/photos/nestle/9782377481) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/4 "2024-10-13T14:10:48Z")
It’s actually not, at least, not in the US, where most of this board is based. This is the us product of that name > **[Home - Smarties®](https://www.smarties.com/)** > > Smarties Candy Company, maker of the iconic Smarties® candy roll, has been family owned and family run since 1949! Learn about the candy's history, dig into nutritional and allergen information, and shop at Smarties.com. Here’s the product called that in most other countries, which i think is what you are describing > **[Smarties](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smarties)** > > Smarties are dragée chocolate confectionery. They have been manufactured since 1937, originally by H.I. Rowntree & Company in the United Kingdom, and now by Nestlé. > Smarties are oblate spheroids with a minor axis of about 5 mm (0.2 in) and a major axis of about 12 mm (0.5 in). They come in eight colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, mauve, pink and brown, although the blue variety was temporarily replaced by a white variety in some countries, whilst an alternative natural colouring dye o... I’d try drawing the logo by hand. Do a draft in pencil until you are happy with the shape, then color it in. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/5 "2024-10-13T14:11:30Z")
Super Water looks good enough that a 8 year old child might not spot the difference- though he is intelligent and his mum is a graphic designer. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/6 "2024-10-13T14:13:43Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It’s actually not, at least, not in the US, M&Ms have cornered the market here. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/7 "2024-10-13T14:14:24Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Here’s the product called that in most other countries, Wow, I had no idea. I thought the potentially toxic bright coloured chocolate treats were ubiquitous enough that they had attained brand autonomy. But, yes, and thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/8 "2024-10-13T14:19:35Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I’m hoping that the ubiquity of the chocolate treat named “Smarties” is fairly familiar. These are the only candies I’ve ever heard of called Smarties: [![](https://mintyscandies.com/cdn/shop/products/Smarties_grande.jpg?v=1585445188) ](https://mintyscandies.com/cdn/shop/products/Smarties_grande.jpg?v=1585445188) These… [![](https://www.candycarrollton.com/cdn/shop/products/Smarties.jpg?v=1571708598) ](https://www.candycarrollton.com/cdn/shop/products/Smarties.jpg?v=1571708598) …I’ve never seen before. Wiki says they’re a Canadian/European thing. Best I can tell is that if you see the chocolate ones in the US, they’re ‘gray market’ Smarties. ETA > **[Smarties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smarties)** > > Smarties are dragée chocolate confectionery. They have been manufactured since 1937, originally by H.I. Rowntree & Company in the United Kingdom, and now by Nestlé. > Smarties are oblate spheroids with a minor axis of about 5 mm (0.2 in) and a major axis of about 12 mm (0.5 in). They come in eight colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, mauve, pink and brown, although the blue variety was temporarily replaced by a white variety in some countries, whilst an alternative natural colouring dye o... > Smarties are sold primarily in Europe, Canada, South Africa, Australia and the Middle East. Smarties are not distributed (except via [parallel import](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_import)) in the United States ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/9 "2024-10-13T14:20:39Z")
Absoluty the second. My son would not be impressed if I offered the first. I tnink the original is UK based (Cadbury, though that is now international) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/10 "2024-10-13T14:21:47Z")
Nobody would be, it’s like eating chalk. I mean…they’re not bad, but neither are fruit flavored Tums. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/11 "2024-10-13T15:32:22Z")
I love American smarties. They are sweet and sour and melt in interesting ways in your mouth. Full confession, I also like fruit flavored Tums. But smarties (US type) are much better, not just pleasant but delicious. I’m not certain I’ve ever had the chocolate ones, but my guess is they are similar to m&ms, which i also like. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/12 "2024-10-13T16:29:59Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I love American smarties. They are sweet and sour and melt in interesting ways in your mouth. Same here! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/13 "2024-10-13T16:35:51Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > Wow, I had no idea. I thought the potentially toxic bright coloured chocolate treats were ubiquitous enough that they had attained brand autonomy. They apparently predate M&M’s, which were, if [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%26M%27s) is accurate, inspired by Smarties, and first introduced in the U.S. in 1941. (Smarties have apparently been marketed under that name since 1937, though it sounds like they actually were introduced as “Chocolate Beans” in the 1880s or before.) As others have noted, the chocolate Smarties are essentially not marketed in the U.S. (except through importers), as M&M’s is one of the U.S.'s most-popular candy brands. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/14 "2024-10-13T16:51:50Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > Super Water looks good enough that a 8 year old child might not spot the difference- though he is intelligent and his mum is a graphic designer. Dumb question; why are you asking _us_ and not the boy’s graphic designer mother? ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/15 "2024-10-13T16:56:13Z")
She is a graphic designer. That’s quite different from a 3D designer. One is paper. The other… can be anything. I don’t claim to be a really good 3D designer but I have built a dragon mask whose lower jaw was matched to mine (kids reading along should learn that silicone to skin is not a good idea) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/16 "2024-10-13T16:58:38Z")
Still, isn’t that a profession that gives one some experience with identifying fonts for clients who want their graphics to “look like that”? ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/17 "2024-10-13T17:00:38Z")
Indeed, and I have asked her. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/18 "2024-10-13T17:03:37Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > These are the only candies I’ve ever heard of called Smarties: … In Canada, those are called “Rockets.” We get the chocolate Smarties. And M&Ms too. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/19 "2024-10-13T17:15:23Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > In Canada, those are called “Rockets.” We get the chocolate Smarties. And M&Ms too. I’ve had M&M’s and Smarties(UK), but can not remember. Are they about the same? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713/20 "2024-10-13T17:21:57Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > They apparently predate M&M’s, which were, if [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%26M%27s) is accurate, inspired by Smarties, and first introduced in the U.S. in 1941. Indeed. Forrest Mars, on a European vacation, was impressed by the fact that they didn’t melt on his pocket, and so wanted to bring candy coated chocolate to the States. His father, Forrest Mars, Sr (progenitor of the Mars bar, among others) was not impressed. So, Mars, Junior, teamed up with Bruce Murrie (the son of William Murrie, a Hershey executive - there sure was a lot of nepotism in the candy business) to sell M&Ms, which melt in your mouth, not in your hand. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typeface-for-smarties/1008713.md?page=2)