The Swedish tradition of type design runs deep. From the crisp geometry of mid-century Scandinavian modernism to the organic warmth of hand-set letterpress work, there is a lineage of restraint that values clarity over ornament, function over flourish. Stråle inherits this lineage. It is drawn for the reader first and the designer second.
At text sizes, Stråle opens its apertures wider, reduces stroke contrast, and raises its x-height proportionally. These optical corrections ensure that body copy remains legible and comfortable whether rendered on a 72-dpi screen or a 300-dpi offset sheet. The italic is true-drawn, not slanted: each letter has been individually shaped with the calligraphic tradition in mind.
Stråle Caption — At 10px and below, the Caption optical size takes over. Counters open fully. Stroke modulation flattens. Letter-spacing loosens by approximately 2%. These adjustments are automatic in variable font implementations that support the opsz axis.
Scandinavian type design has always been defined by what it refuses to do. Where the Dutch experiment with extremes of contrast and the Americans pursue geometric purity, the Nordic tradition asks a simpler question: does this letter serve the word? Kai Bergström’s Stråle sits firmly in this tradition. Each glyph carries just enough personality to be memorable, and not a stroke more.
| Metric | Display | Text | Caption |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPM | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| x-Height | 486 | 512 | 538 |
| Cap Height | 710 | 710 | 710 |
| Ascender | 760 | 760 | 760 |
| Descender | -240 | -240 | -240 |
| Stroke Contrast | 1 : 3.2 | 1 : 2.4 | 1 : 1.8 |
Stråle is available under desktop, web, and app licenses. Each license permits usage within the scope defined at purchase. Volume discounts apply for organizations licensing more than 25 seats.
OpenType features include tabular figures, oldstyle figures, small caps, stylistic alternates (ss01-ss04), ligatures (standard and discretionary), superscript/subscript numerals, fractions, and case-sensitive forms. The variable font file exposes weight (300-700), italic, and optical size (caption/text/display) axes.
© 2026 Kai Bergström Type Design, Stockholm. All typeface designs, font software, and associated documentation are protected under international copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or modification of font files is prohibited. License terms available at bergstrom.se/legal. EULA version 2.4, effective January 2026.