I have been working on a two-axis variable font with weight and width axes. So far I have used the same stem width in the condensed and extended masters (Light Condensed – Light Extended: 50, Black Condensed – Black Extended: 185). However, the weight doesn’t look correct when the different widths are compared side by side.
In order to achieve a more balanced Black Extended I would need to add a lot of weight (from 185 to about 250 in stem width). The Light Extended would also need some weight to be more uniform (from 50 to about 62 in stem width)
What would be the best way do this? Apart from time travelling?
Also, how should I take into consideration that the design space should be rectangular in a variable font? Just change the weight value of the condensed masters to match the extended and forget its relation to stem width?