FontLab

So, you just got done surfing the net for the one great font that you need for your document or project. You've been searching for a long time and just can't seem to find that font. You have the image in your mind, but you just can't seem to find something that resembles your image.

Well, why not make your own? Sure you can do it. Enter FontLab. FontLab is a software program for creating fonts.  "Is FontLab hard?" I hear you ask. No. But, then again, it's not like a word program you just open, run, and know what you're doing. There is a learning curve here that begins before you open FontLab. One of the best things you can do is read the book that comes with the software. It is an excellent book that covers using the software and information you need to know about font making. Once you get a little knowledge under your belt, open FontLab and play. I had a lot of fun playing with FontLab, myself. I learned a very interesting lesson while working with this program. Creating a font is not something your going to do today or tomorrow. Creating a font is going to take some serious time and effort. If you have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of type you'll be in working order.

 

The main menu system is really simple.

This is the font editing window.  From here you will double click on a letter or symbol and begin to create what your font will look like.

  

From these two drop down menus, you will set up what type of font you are creating. Now you see part of the reason why you need to study what fonts are all about before beginning to create your own.

Under the symbol menu you will see that you can copy the font glyph to an EPS file or instead paste it from and EPS file. These would be image type files associated with Photoshop. 

It is also possible to export a glyph as an AI (Adobe Illustrator) file. Even EPS/AI files can be imported to add glyphs to your font. All this means you can create a glyph in Photoshop or Illustrator and import that glyph into your font file.  Think of all the possibilities. I was really excited about this option. It is also possible to export a glyph as an AI (Adobe Illustrator) file. Even EPS/AI files can be imported to add glyphs to your font. All this means you can create a glyph in Photoshop or Illustrator and import that glyph into your font file.  Think of all the possibilities. I was really excited about this option. It is also possible to export a glyph as an AI (Adobe Illustrator) file. Even EPS/AI files can be imported to add glyphs to your font. All this means you can create a glyph in Photoshop or Illustrator and import that glyph into your font file.  Think of all the possibilities. I was really excited about this option.

Under the Tools menu are three sub-menus, which will be shown below. The Transform option lends the ability to modify selected nodes.  You can move your nodes, rotate them and scale them. "Define a new Axis" makes it possible to define a multiple master font. "Assign Mask" is a really nice feature in which you can select elements of another font and add them to a mask layer of the font you are creating. The Transform option lends the ability to modify selected nodes.  You can move your nodes, rotate them and scale them. "Define a new Axis" makes it possible to define a multiple master font. "Assign Mask" is a really nice feature in which you can select elements of another font and add them to a mask layer of the font you are creating. The Transform option lends the ability to modify selected nodes.  You can move your nodes, rotate them and scale them. "Define a new Axis" makes it possible to define a multiple master font. "Assign Mask" is a really nice feature in which you can select elements of another font and add them to a mask layer of the font you are creating.

As you can see by the above and below two images, you really have control over the font you create with FontLab.

Below is the glyph edit screen. This is where you will draw your glyphs. You'll notice across the top of the actual edit area, there are a set of drawing tools.

There is also a dialog box that allows you to define your paint options.

You have the option to use standard kerning or set your own manually if you so choose.

If you are into fonts like I am, this program can really satisfy that need to create and to have the exact fonts you want and need. There is a big learning curve in the beginning for those who are not familiar with creating fonts, but once you have that handled, I know you'll have lots of fun with this program. You'll also find that fonts take some time to create, but, it is very rewarding. 

Don't misunderstand that the learning curve is something that has to do with the software. The FontLab software is easy to use and mostly self explanatory. If you understand the terminology you are on your way. Coupled with an excellent manual that is very well written in plain English, FontLab is a great program.

Not only is FontLab a great program, it's a fairly small program, using only about 5 meg of hard disk space. Try it out, I know you'll like it if you like fonts. The price is a small one to pay for having so much power at your fingertips. This is another one of those great programs where you are only limited by your imagination. Specifications (as shown on the FontLab site)

Import formats: PC/Mac Type 1, PC/Mac TrueType, CID, EPS Export Formats: PC/Mac Type 1, PC/Mac TrueType, EPS (Only the Mac version can import and export Mac format fonts) Tools: Draw, Erase, VectorPaint, Rotate, Mirror, Skew, Scale, Zoom, Composite, Set Startpoint, Insert Node, Remove Overlap, Merge Contours, Subtract Contours, Intersect Contours, Snap to Guides, Check Connections, Nodes at Extremes, Ruler, Undo (100 levels) Filters: Bold, Outline, Sidebearings Control, Scale, Slant, Rotate, Autohint - all programmable and applicable font wide (You can program sequences of filters and apply them to any range of characters, including the whole font.) Windows: Edit, Font chart, Font Manager (unlimited simultaneous open fonts),
Preview/Kerning/Metrics  Encoding: Unicode, Custom, ANSI, ASCII Printouts: Character, Preview, Font Table, Kerning, Font Report, Encoding (with keyboard mode) 370 -page user manual
 

System Requirements
486 or Pentium Processor
Win95/NT VGA or better Video Card
8 meg of RAM (more needed for fonts with many characters)
Mouse
5 Meg of hard drive space

Price:  399.00 US Visit FontLab and check it out, download the trial version and try it out.

Copyright Vikki Olds, All Rights Reserved