posted
I'm pretty well clued up on the traditional signwriting side of things, but have a lot to learn when it comes to computers. So how do I go on about converting a hard copy font into a true type font. I'm ok with scanning and tracing and cleaning up the control points or scanning and hand digitising. but what do I do then to make it useable with the bought fonts I have on my system.I was thinking of converting some of the alphabets that signcraft seem to have now dropped [shame on them]. I take it that designers intended that they should be used ok seeing as how they were published.I'd be grateful for any help some of you computer whizzes can give me.
[ October 27, 2001: Message edited by: Dave Hodge ]
[ October 27, 2001: Message edited by: Dave Hodge ]
-------------------- Goldenmahl Dave Hodge's Traditional Signs. Preston, England. 01772 743352 Posts: 108 | From: Preston, Lancashire, England | Registered: Mar 2000
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Gday Dave, I have no recollection what software you are using but for the purpose of the exercise I'll assume you have a copy of Corel or access to a copy. Scan the alphabet, tidy it up (reduce the node count and smooth the lines) Make sure each letter is a closed path - no open ends/nodes. Set up a couple of guidelines & drop or nudge each letter till it is aligned on the baseline to your satisfaction. Go to File/Export/Filetype=ttf and select the appropriate keystroke to which the letter should be assigned.
This is the extremely abridged version but should get you started. There are numerous fontmaking programs available as well as a myriad of tips and tricks available for the process I outline above. The simplest advise i can give, don't start with a connected script. As for the legalities, I suggest you search the archives for a post relating to font copywrite, I seem to remember there was a response from Tom McIltrot (sp? sorry Tom) regarding SignCraft's stand on the issue. HTH, David
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov
Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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I think FONTOGRAPHER is probably what you want. Getting the letters in the proper key positions is part of it, but you also need to assign all the kerning info for each letter and different letter pair combinations.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Dave... To add to what David and Rick have said. I started creating fonts out of some of the alphabets that were in SignCraft. I recall that Tom McIltrot basically commented that digitizing and creating fonts from those alphabets was not a problem as long as they were for the personal use of the person doing it.
The few alphabets that I converted to fonts were just fine for my personal use, using CorelDraw's export to TTF. BUT the kerning is a big problem, when you consider the overwhelming number of letter combinations that are involved and add upper and lower case letters as well. Tom or the originators certainly don't have to worry about me trying to sell a "font". I didn't have the patience for all of the kerning problems!
For more info on creating a font using Corel here is a link.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
Thanks for the replies guys, I do have Corel Draw but hardly ever use it,so I didn't realise you could just save as a true type font. As far as using the font in a job situation, that ought not to be to much of a problem as once the copy is typed into flexi-sign there is the option of defining the kerning visually. So although it might look a mess when you type it in, it shouldn't take too much fixing.Anyway I'll give it a whirl and let you know how I got on.And I will only be using such fonts for my own use
-------------------- Goldenmahl Dave Hodge's Traditional Signs. Preston, England. 01772 743352 Posts: 108 | From: Preston, Lancashire, England | Registered: Mar 2000
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Just when you feel things are going really well. I picked Mac's Dollar Bill Roman to start with; it's only upper case - no numbers or lowercase. Scanned in to Flexi-Sign and did the editing (I know these editing tools better than coreldraw)saved as AI. Imported to coreldraw - great! - find the export type .ttf - great! Hit the button to export - not so great! - it tells me there are too many objects to export.
-------------------- Goldenmahl Dave Hodge's Traditional Signs. Preston, England. 01772 743352 Posts: 108 | From: Preston, Lancashire, England | Registered: Mar 2000
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Dave....Take a look at the link I mentioned. Also You have to set up a grid size etc. and export each individual letter seperately, assigning the appropriate keystroke to each letter.
I found the online help in version 9 but can't seem to find it in version 10, which is what I currently have installed. Seems to me it was under "typefaces, creating".
I'll do a bit more searching and see what I can come up with.
[ October 27, 2001: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
Dave, you missed one step. You have to export every single letter as a separate export task. You can only have one object in each export.
You have a letter O, and it will not export. That means that Corel is seeing two objects, the outside and the inside. You have to use the "combine" command on each object with more than one set of lines before you can export.
All of the above posts are basically on track. I used to use Corel conversion at Bob Loves Signs. The process is tedious, but it works fine if you only create a font once in a while.
I use a program called FontLab that is both pricey and powerful. I don't even understand some of the features.
If you can get your basic ttf file working and e-mail it to me, I will housekeep it to make most of the little Corel nuisances go away. FontLab is lightning fast at this. Hopefully you will not mind my keeping a copy for personal use only.
Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA
Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Dave,...if you read the help file in corel on true type export features it will cover most of the basic options needed to know in creating a font.You will need to set up a page with guidelines for margins & change your settings on that particular file so that you have a page that is 720 pts(about 6").Then you will need to create each character & export it to the filename for the font you wish to create. The manual covered this fairly well in the version that this option first became available in,...think it was ver 3.
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Well thanks for the info gentlemen,and for going to such great lengths. I did go to that article Dave and printed it all out. I'm feeling quite chuffed that I've now got a true type font in adobe type manager called Dollar Roman - True there's only one character in it yet, but at least I now know the process,and there are only 25 more letters and the numbers. There's always someone that helps you out in this great forum - fantastic!
[ October 27, 2001: Message edited by: Dave Hodge ]
-------------------- Goldenmahl Dave Hodge's Traditional Signs. Preston, England. 01772 743352 Posts: 108 | From: Preston, Lancashire, England | Registered: Mar 2000
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Just to through my two cents of Grahix Advantage by Gerber. I take the handlettered alphabets from signcraft and scan them. From there,I ungroup,highlight what letters I will be needing,copy any duplicates.Then visually kern to complete. It takes a small amount of time to accomplish. But.. so did handpainting each letter! The only advantage I see with cutting in vinyl.Is the fluid look of the letter style,plus the drying time.
Hope this helps
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY
Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thanks for the input, I think I've cracked it thanks to you. Although as PK says it is taking a while to clean up the scan whilst trying not to lose too much of the character of the font and make it look sterile.I'll certainly E-mail it to you when I've finished it Victor.Bear in mind it is only in caps.
-------------------- Goldenmahl Dave Hodge's Traditional Signs. Preston, England. 01772 743352 Posts: 108 | From: Preston, Lancashire, England | Registered: Mar 2000
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