Nostr notes by Louie Mantia, Jr.

I always wondered— do potential customers of fonts like these ...

2026-03-03T22:24:21Z

I always wondered— do potential customers of fonts like these “waterfall” demo images, or is it something type designers just love to make?

Anyway, here’s Atencio.

→ https://crowntype.com/atencio/ ←

This whole Trump Greenland thing is batshit bananas. I cannot ...

2026-01-20T10:36:31Z

This whole Trump Greenland thing is batshit bananas. I cannot understand it, no matter how I try. (Of course there’s no way to rationalize this imperialist bullshit. I just can’t understand why of all things in the world, this is the hill he wants to die on.)

In 2000, Apple introduced a service called iReview where they ...

2025-12-24T05:56:46Z

In 2000, Apple introduced a service called iReview where they would review / rate websites so people could find which ones were good or useful.

I almost feel like we’re in desperate need of some way for independent organizations and individuals to review / rate websites. It should affect search ranking, probably.

There’s too much bullshit with the advent of AI slop, and without intervention, we’re just going to end up surfing in a sea of garbage. We should be able to demote trash.

My last name is “Mantia” not “Manton”

2025-12-05T03:38:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…xe8u
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My last name is “Mantia” not “Manton”

Was talking with a friend a few months ago about Alan Dye and how ...

2025-12-04T04:25:44Z

Was talking with a friend a few months ago about Alan Dye and how he even got that job to begin with, and I said this: “But like there’s Steve Lemay or Patrick Coffman, and neither of them got this job for some reason.”

Anyway, it’s great that Lemay finally got the job.

Really, just do it. https://lmnt.me/blog/make-a-damn-website.html

2025-09-29T01:14:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…zhsp
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Really, just do it. https://lmnt.me/blog/make-a-damn-website.html

I don’t care how bad you think you are at HTML (and CSS). A ...

2025-09-29T01:12:25Z

I don’t care how bad you think you are at HTML (and CSS). A website that you wrote the HTML yourself is infinitely better than any template-based website you pulled from somewhere else.

If you think it’s going to be too much work, I promise you, fiddling with a template-based solution is going to—somehow—be more work, especially to maintain as the framework, template, or font changes without you knowing.

Write it yourself. One of my all-time favorite websites is this: https://vitalesbakery.com

I assume a fair bit of people don’t know I make fonts. Even if ...

2025-09-28T23:52:17Z

I assume a fair bit of people don’t know I make fonts. Even if you don’t have a need for fonts, I recommend checking out the website I made for my type foundry, Crown. A lot of work went into this website to make it a great showcase for the work Ender and I are doing together.

🔗 https://crowntype.com/

I’m not saying if people developed real Mac apps again that ...

2025-08-28T04:31:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…02fs
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I’m not saying if people developed real Mac apps again that we’d be able to have app icons with different silhouettes again too. But I am saying that whenever I’m disappointed about Mac app for being just an iPad app that runs on the Mac, I look at its icon and think, well... yeah. Here we are, aren’t we?

iPhone is great. But it sucked all the air out of the room. It shifted all the talent away from the Mac, and people followed the money (and worked for bigger companies with bigger salaries).

As we collectively look back on what the Mac once was, I don’t ...

2025-08-28T04:22:20Z

As we collectively look back on what the Mac once was, I don’t want to conflate the repercussions of Apple’s design decisions with the massive fundamental shift that occurred in 2008 when developers chased after the iPhone market, leaving the Mac behind.

Yes, app icons don’t look like this anymore, but also... very few apps are developed for the Mac these days. I would love to create an app icon like this again, but I’d like to see *apps* that were like this again.
https://mastodon.social/@noleli/115102574956284169

Perhaps it’s a good time to re-share this post, which I really ...

2025-08-12T02:29:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…lpwz
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Perhaps it’s a good time to re-share this post, which I really love:
🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/why-do-you-like-disneyland.html

Other parks around the world have tried to replicate this to some ...

2025-08-12T02:28:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…8jdp
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Other parks around the world have tried to replicate this to some extent but none of them quite hit the mark that Disneyland in California is able to attain.

It’s not that having a container for a lost tooth is particularly special. It’s that to get to the point where you are considering a container for a lost tooth, you have taken care of so much already. If you decide to “stop” before you get to that point, then something like this can never happen.

Honestly, it really is things like this that make it clear how ...

2025-08-11T22:06:37Z

Honestly, it really is things like this that make it clear how special Disneyland is, specifically in California. 70 years of institutional knowledge of what happens and what to do. Disneyland often does what the rest of the world won’t. And I love that so much.
https://social.panic.com/@cabel/115012391326651989

hi my name is louie and it’s my opinion that text fields should ...

2025-07-23T20:58:56Z

hi my name is louie and it’s my opinion that text fields should always be super-duper extra frosted or completely opaque, no matter what

I’ve got better things to do than write about Liquid Glass ...

2025-07-03T09:51:10Z

I’ve got better things to do than write about Liquid Glass (again), and yet, here I am.

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/ive-got-better-things-to-do-than-this-and-yet.html

very, very few people appreciate a joke in response to a ...

2025-06-29T05:30:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…0zzt
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very, very few people appreciate a joke in response to a question.

Nostr event nevent1qqsdcqvg827djkm0qn3u20jv6ruxegu92ftpgsnkv8ys75zy0zd8dzczyz5qmsa4u22ffg9vclkd4s7ydvk77ezgtzd854ujm3n0rldyyu486xegvu2

2025-06-28T23:43:01Z

Is Dr. Dre still an employee at Apple?

But here we are with a new visual design language that somehow ...

2025-06-28T09:07:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…e427
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But here we are with a new visual design language that somehow manages to compromise on both the content area *and* the UI.

I’m *living* on macOS Tahoe and I’m here to tell you that the apps that are a pleasure to use are the ones that haven’t adopted Liquid Glass (in essence... all the third-party apps.)

This should be a blog post. But I need to collect my thoughts and write it all better. So consider this a beta version. lol

The problem is not the introduction of glass as an element of the ...

2025-06-28T09:00:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…ljss
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The problem is not the introduction of glass as an element of the visual design language. If used as the Dock background alone, it would be totally fine! But because someone said “UI should get out of the way” and no one challenged it—instead of content literally being the focus, Apple has to intentionally put content *out of focus* (blurring) to make the glass elements visible. They have to put a gradient behind the glass so you can see it. That should’ve been the “oh, it doesn’t work” moment.

You know, I could write a whole blog post about this—and I ...

2025-06-28T08:36:41Z

You know, I could write a whole blog post about this—and I might—but I think we need to start addressing the very likely possibility that the *entire thesis* that “UI should get out of the way” and “apps should focus on content” is wrong.

Apps aren’t just for looking at photos or videos. They’re for navigating through these things, organizing them, editing them. The tools to do those things should not get out of the way. They should be clearly defined and separate from the content.

There’s an unkillable idea in Silicon Valley now that a ...

2025-05-23T04:57:54Z

There’s an unkillable idea in Silicon Valley now that a theoretical future device will replace or add to the computer + phone combo. Billionaires keep pretending like they’re doing research to find it, but …I suspect there may never be such a device.

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/the-dystopian-dream-team.html

Womprat is capable of so much. It’s an extremely extensive ...

2025-04-27T02:43:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…2ahv
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Womprat is capable of so much. It’s an extremely extensive toolbox of styles and characters. It supports 100 languages, has 400 icons, and 2000 ligatures. It’s as crazy as it sounds.

Make cohesive logos without manually selecting from the glyph panel. Just change stylistic sets for different looks!

The Crown website is very new, and this page is bonkers! Browse ...

2025-04-27T02:35:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…2nnz
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The Crown website is very new, and this page is bonkers! Browse samples, view stylistic sets (and hover to see without). Test your own text. Select from 26 OpenType features. Browse and filter the character set. Hold the Option key to change checkboxes into radio buttons. This is practically an app!

Friends, it’s time again for the Womprat Dune Sea Special! This ...

2025-04-27T02:23:49Z

Friends, it’s time again for the Womprat Dune Sea Special!

This week only, get Womprat—the best Star Wars font in the galaxy—for a special discounted price, just $100.

Womprat is ideal for podcasts, fan films, gaming streams, t-shirts, cosplay clubs, and ...more!

https://crowntype.com/womprat/dune-sea-special/

I’m a total and complete wreck. Goodbye, my little co-pilot. ...

2025-04-24T05:45:49Z

I’m a total and complete wreck.
Goodbye, my little co-pilot.

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/goodbye-chief.html

Nostr event nevent1qqs9cgh3tau4mztd2dsj2js42acg9xc5229eqhgrd92r55203n4mwjszyz5qmsa4u22ffg9vclkd4s7ydvk77ezgtzd854ujm3n0rldyyu486nx0rkl

2025-03-25T11:31:24Z

🖥️

Making a new app that demanded a nostalgic icon. I think it’s ...

2025-03-14T00:35:36Z

Making a new app that demanded a nostalgic icon. I think it’s looking preeeeetty great.

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/sketchbook/buddies.html

🍄 Super Storage icons are here! Hard drive icons featuring ...

2025-02-16T07:57:30Z

🍄 Super Storage icons are here! Hard drive icons featuring motifs from Super Mario characters. I love them so much. I just wish I had 34 hard drives so I could use them all!

❤️ If you love them like I do, please make a donation!

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/icons/super-storage.html

Be careful not to fall in love with your operating system! But ...

2025-02-05T09:38:25Z

Be careful not to fall in love with your operating system! But it’s okay to love this wallpaper. (I do!)

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/wallpapers/os1.html

Thank you! I hope you enjoy those. ☺️

2025-01-21T10:29:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…9spc
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Thank you! I hope you enjoy those. ☺️

I’m embarrassed to admit this took about two full days to make, ...

2025-01-21T08:52:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…emxk
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I’m embarrassed to admit this took about two full days to make, so if it is even a tiny bit amusing to you that I spent that much time on it, please click the donate button at the bottom of the post.

(I’m sorry, but the donate button actually didn’t work at the time I originally posted it. Now it does. Sorry about that, if you tried! It works now.)

✍️ This may be the silliest post I’ve ever written. But I ...

2025-01-21T08:30:22Z

✍️ This may be the silliest post I’ve ever written.

But I had to figure out what the “most Mario” colors were. Follow me on this bizarre journey of useless discovery.

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/the-most-mario-colors.html

Now I’ve gone and done it! 🔗 https://lmnt.me ...

2025-01-13T03:06:03Z

Now I’ve gone and done it!

🔗 https://lmnt.me

As we get increasingly more tired with social media companies who ...

2025-01-12T02:19:40Z

As we get increasingly more tired with social media companies who keep inventing problems, I’m still wondering why more people don’t have websites and RSS feeds. It’s the way out.

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/range.html

⏳ Moments 🔗 https://lmnt.me/moments/

2025-01-03T07:45:23Z

⏳ Moments

🔗 https://lmnt.me/moments/

🎮 Right about now feels like a great time for fun and games. ...

2024-11-05T14:42:59Z

🎮 Right about now feels like a great time for fun and games. So here they are— Nintendo Controllers, a set of 20 icons that depict various button arrays from different systems over the years.

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/icons/nintendo-controllers.html

💻 Finders Keepers, Vol. 2 An expansion pack of 12 Finder ...

2024-10-30T09:47:48Z

💻 Finders Keepers, Vol. 2
An expansion pack of 12 Finder icons, including Ceramic, Gold, Silver, and Sapphire Glass. Kabuki? Picasso? *Phantom of the Operating System*? Yep.

💸 These icons are free, but please donate if you enjoy them! ♡

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/icons/finders-keepers-vol-2.html

This is a long shot but is there any chance that anyone ...

2024-10-28T23:22:12Z

This is a long shot but is there any chance that anyone downloaded (and still has) these “Nintendo Revolution” / Wii icons of mine from around April 2007? It’s one of the only downloads I can’t seem to find anymore.

I reject the seriousification of companies and their products. I ...

2024-10-23T11:30:15Z

I reject the seriousification of companies and their products. I don’t want fast food joints to look upscale. I’m not saying they have to look trashy, but they should look fun and silly.

I don’t want things to be devoid of fun and whimsy, I want them to exhibit that. It has appeal! When everything is presented so seriously, it makes everything seem quite bland. How about some flavor! Some enthusiasm! Some style!

Laurent!! Thank you so much for doing this. I’m really, really ...

2024-10-18T12:42:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…96qw
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Laurent!! Thank you so much for doing this. I’m really, really glad you took the time to make this page.

I made a Finder icon in the style of a Blueberry iMac G3, ...

2024-10-16T10:48:13Z

I made a Finder icon in the style of a Blueberry iMac G3, because... why wouldn’t I?
(Yes, I did make the other flavors. Yes, there’ll be a new download for them soon.)

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/sketchbook/blueberry-finder.html

Yesterday I was thinking: what’s the most well-known music ...

2024-10-14T13:40:32Z

Yesterday I was thinking: what’s the most well-known music composition from Japan of all time?

It has to be the Super Mario Bros. overworld theme?? What else could it be?? And isn’t it crazy if it’s that?

pReTtY sUrE tHiS iS oPtIcAlLy AlIgNeD

2024-09-30T19:33:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…junr
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pReTtY sUrE tHiS iS oPtIcAlLy AlIgNeD

please clap

2024-09-20T00:19:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…pwlk
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please clap

holy shit, inbox zero. I did it. it’s been a while. ...

2024-09-20T00:08:17Z

holy shit, inbox zero. I did it. it’s been a while.

📖 Arbitrarily Adapting No, I don’t think putting the URL ...

2024-09-18T07:58:07Z

📖 Arbitrarily Adapting
No, I don’t think putting the URL field at the bottom of Safari years ago was “smart,” it’s just a reality of the situation we’re in now (jumbo phone hell).

🔗 https://lmnt.me/blog/arbitrarily-adapting.html

Is anyone else having a rough time on the betas getting the Apple ...

2024-09-18T02:14:32Z

Is anyone else having a rough time on the betas getting the Apple Intelligence Siri to do *anything* you want it to that old Siri could?

Like, It can’t understand me when I’m asking for directions, it says it “doesn’t know where” I am, despite having location services turned on for it. It can’t show me pictures of me, let alone pictures of anyone else, it just searches Bing for images instead. I can’t get it to do... anything.

So if you don’t have the time to learn how to make art, fine. ...

2024-09-13T12:34:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…p5q7
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So if you don’t have the time to learn how to make art, fine. Don’t make art. Don’t pretend to make art. Don’t generate images that sucked up all the art that we all sweat over for our entire lifetimes.

Artists have absorbed so much of the world around them to create what they have. When you use generative AI to make you an image, you’ve decided that the output from artists is yours to take. You’ve outsourced interpretation. You’ve not expanded your imagination, but instead limited it.

Stealing the result, using the result in training AI... it ...

2024-09-13T12:29:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…ypv0
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Stealing the result, using the result in training AI... it doesn’t have the context of the life experience behind it. Every piece of art has a thousand or more little things in your life that influenced it. And the thief doesn’t know about those. The AI doesn’t know about those.

I’ve had people insist they drew one of my icons. I’ve seen a penny press machine with my stolen art on it. My brush strokes on it. Like... no one can tell me they made it, because I remember the decisions that made it.

And non-artists, non-creative people may never, ever understand ...

2024-09-13T12:25:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…ugls
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And non-artists, non-creative people may never, ever understand this. They’ll never get why this matters to you, why you wouldn’t fight against someone stealing your work. They’ll never get why you get upset about it. They’ll say stupid shit like, “imitation is the sincerest form of—” bullshit. Or misuse quotes like, “great artists steal.”

They will never understand that the work you put into something isn’t just about the tangible result, because the result hides years of life experience.

I can’t count how many instances I’ve seen of an artist ...

2024-09-13T12:23:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…ukgf
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I can’t count how many instances I’ve seen of an artist helplessly flailing on social media because some big company stole their art and just shipped it like it’s no big deal. It’s happened to me, and I’ve also helplessly flailed on social media about it. It sucks. You can’t do anything because they’re just so much more powerful than you.

But this is the kicker. The time you’d spend rectifying it, against those odds... will just take time away from doing what you feel you have to do: make art.

Basically all artists I know of—myself included—neglect so ...

2024-09-13T12:21:28Z

Basically all artists I know of—myself included—neglect so many other important things in their lives so they can make time for making art instead. Artists usually give up quite a lot to be artists. Making art is often not the most lucrative profession, so people who choose that path are doing so almost purely because they love it. They feel—deep down—that they need to do it.

After all that dedication, having your work stolen, used by companies and individuals... it its gut-wrenching.

It’s 2024 and QuickLook on a folder in Finder doesn’t let you ...

2024-09-09T22:24:16Z

It’s 2024 and QuickLook on a folder in Finder doesn’t let you preview its contents in any way. You just get a jumbo folder icon.

Leave me alone. I hate that you can’t dismiss this. ...

2024-09-07T00:10:15Z

Leave me alone. I hate that you can’t dismiss this.

when ai summarizes your email is the goal that you dont read the ...

2024-09-04T08:41:32Z

when ai summarizes your email is the goal that you dont read the actual email or that it helps you decide when to read it?

and how will you know if it summarized it accurately, without missing some key piece of information that would have not made you skip over it?

what I don’t quite understand is how you’ll know whether or not it’s doing a good job, thereby making you unsure if you’re doing a good job.

Nostr event nevent1qqs0jsqdp0p6yappzmmzhdrgqcffjrsnyys2qanjd0eqjw9ztka6d6szyz5qmsa4u22ffg9vclkd4s7ydvk77ezgtzd854ujm3n0rldyyu486dcgyfw

2024-08-04T22:28:13Z

Do you still use Twitter?