Artscript was Sol Hess's "attempt to convert into rigid metal the graceful penmanship of the ancient scribe". This type of script is more common in digital from but when originally released in 1948, it required special handling to avoid breakage. Extensive alternates were added based on original Hess drawings and additional sources. Both versions are combined into the Opentype version along with an expanded Central European character set as well as ligatures, Swash/Alternates, fractions, superior/inferior numerals and ornaments.