The title cards in Blade Runner are amazing(randsinrepose.com)
317 points by ExMachina73 16 hours ago | 155 comments
tl;dr: Blade Runner's title sequence uses a single typeface—Goudy Oldstyle—but wields it masterfully through varied capitalization, letterspacing, small caps, and a signature red italic for "Replicant," establishing the film's dystopian mood far better than the workprint's clumsy Impact. The author uses this as a springboard to argue that typography always conveys feeling, and that the final 10% of obsessive detail work is what separates AI-generated "garbage" from products that feel genuinely crafted by humans.
HN Discussion:
  • ~Other elements like Vangelis' score and sound effects contribute equally to the sequence's power
  • Notes irony of author being machine-bound while praising human craft in a film about machine rebellion
  • The title cards are mediocre and the typographic analysis is a weak prop for an anti-AI rant
  • Appreciation for typographic details like distinctive italics and the red accent color reinforces the article's thesis
  • Adds corrections or supplementary typography knowledge (small caps history, missed capitalization variant, kerning flaws)