What are the differences between joiner programs?


Answer: Capital letter heights, (some) joining strokes and restricted availability to Publishers.
Major differences are:
  • The original 'Sassoon Joiner' has normal sized capital letters which appear short because ascenders rise above the capitals. This happens naturally in handwriting. There are 8 fonts (4 with baselines).
  • The 'Sassoon Cambridge Joiner' has capital letters enlarged to the same height as capitals for the purpose of having the top of the capital and ascending letter (such as h) at the same point for teaching. As a convenience for teaching, four 'tramlines' can then be used to indicate: capital height, x-height, baseline, descender. There are 8 fonts (none with baselines).
Joining differences
  • The original 'Sassoon Joiner' uses joining principles of Dr. Rosemary Sassoon.
  • The 'Sassoon Cambridge Joiner' has joins reflecting the views of the 'Penpals for Handwriting' authors.
  • The 'top-looped' f is missing from the Cambridge version as an option in Preferences.
Program/interface differences
  • The original 'Sassoon Joiner' is currently in version 3.1.0 release 3 (k1 or k2)
  • Development of the program and its fonts continues with updates when available
  • It is no longer a 'kiosk' interface, but a more usual separate floating document window.
  • It now "joins-as-you-type" on-screen.
  • As Preference choices are made, an example is displayed.
  • Program icon: yellow backgound with blue 's' colour scheme.
  • 'Sassoon Cambridge Joiner' is currently in version 1.3.5
  • Development of this program has stopped and will not be updated
  • A shorter Progress Bar time
  • If the End User accidentally rests all fileds to use another (unwanted) font such as Arial because text was 'pasted into fields, a 'Reformat now' button in Preferences sets all fields back to the requires Sassoon joining fonts (if installed).
  • Program icon: blue backgound with cream 's' colour scheme.

Distribution differences
  • The original 'Sassoon Joiner' can be purchased and used by Schools/Teachers AND is available for commercial Publishers to use and license for their work
  • The 'Sassoon Cambridge Joiner' may not be used by commercial Publishers and can only be used by Schools/Teachers in their work.
Solution:
  • Use the 'Sassoon Cambridge Joiner' (item SC140) only if you intend following the 'Penpals for Handwriting' scheme from Cambridge University Press.
Item SC140 has four font styles (levels 1, 2, 3, 4) available only to full-time education organisations at the discounted education price.
  • If the joining principles of Dr. Rosemary Sassoon are paramount in your work, use the original 'Sassoon Joiner' (item S140).
Item S140 has four font styles (levels 1, 2, 3, 4)
Available to full-time education organisations at the discounted education price. Available to Publishing organisations at the commercial price.



Club Type products by Adrian Williams Design Ltd. Last updated 27 September 2010.
Webmaster: adrian@clubtype.co.uk