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Our software prints labels using the Proxima Nova font1. The software reads data from a CSV file, and if there's a fraction within a field, we replace that fraction with Unicode values. For example,

1/2 -> \u00BD
1/3 -> \u2153
1/4 -> \u00BC

These are standard Unicode values for common fractions, like 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4. It produces ½, ⅓, and ¼ respectively.

Unfortunately, there don't seem to be standard Unicode values for sixteenths, like 1/16, 3/16, etc. Is there a way to produce sixteenth fractions nicely in the Proxima Nova font? Are there Unicode values that I'm not aware of for sixteenths? Or is there another way?

We have already tried producing sixteenths by creating a superscript character (like superscript 1, 3, etc.) followed by a forward slash and then subscript 16. It looks okay but it still looks noticeably different from other fractions. We are looking for a better solution, if there is one.

1 We are more specifically using Proxima Nova A — Regular as our font, in case it matters.

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Proxima Nova seems to have a limited fractions set, however you can build your own by just typing 1/16 or just any fraction, then tick 'Character → OpenType → Fractions', however this may or may not work with your version of InDesign and/or Proxima Nova. Alternatives shown in these videos:

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  • Where do you tick Character -> Type -> Fractions? In Microsoft Word? We are generating fractions programmatically, from data in a CSV file, so we strictly need the Unicode values, or sequences of Unicode values, to generate fraction glyphs. Would you happen to know what Unicode values or sequences are used when you tick Character -> Type -> Fractions to generate 1/16?
    – ktm5124
    Mar 11, 2019 at 14:08
  • I should clarify that I don't have InDesign. And we need to do this programmatically, in JavaScript to be specific. We are simply substituting text like 1/2 with the Unicode equivalent of the fraction glyph, and would like to do the same for sixteenths.
    – ktm5124
    Mar 11, 2019 at 14:11
  • Oh, actually you should have mentioned the tools you are using. I assumed InDesign since this is a graphic design forum and Javascript has little to do with graphic design itself, which makes this more of a programming question. But yes ultimately my answer assumes the use of InDesign, which can "simulate" these characters, otherwise you may be limited to what the font includes in its default character set.
    – Lucian
    Mar 11, 2019 at 14:21
  • Is there a website where I can look up all that Proxima Nova A - Regular includes in its character set? Especially, the Unicode values for each glyph?
    – ktm5124
    Mar 11, 2019 at 14:22
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    I assume you DO have access to the actual A REGULAR font file, in which case you can use a character map viewer to see the glyphs and assigned unicodes. Again InDesign has its own glyph viewer which can list all the characters and unicodes in a specific font. fonts.com/font/mark-simonson-studio/proxima-nova/regular click character map
    – Lucian
    Mar 11, 2019 at 14:28

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