Mandatory Font

MANDATORY (version 5.0)

Keith Bates / www.k-type.com © 2004, 2023

Mandatory is a full font developed from the typeface used for UK vehicle registration plates. There is improved stroke separation on the M and W which are pointed at the centre.

Mandatory has been designed to conform to the required proportions –

Height – 790 units Character width – 500 units (except 1 and I) Stroke – 140 units Sidebearings – 2 x 55 units (Letter spaces – 110 units) Word/Group Space – 330 units

Only the Upper Case letters and the numerals are used for registration plates. The capital I, which is the same as the 1, is not used. The Q is generally unused but may still be required for updating old plates.

For designers, the font is completed with small capitals for the lower case, currency symbols, punctuation marks, printers' symbols and accented characters.

Version 5 contains heavier small caps characters. These better match the weight of the uppercase letters and make the font more useful for mixed case text.

Version 5 also includes numerous outline and spacing improvements.