How do i create a typeface?

[linziloop]

Hi guys, so I'm wondering, i create a nice looking typeface/font in illustrator, where do i go from there so that folk can use it? What do you use to convert it into an actually usable typeface?! Never done it before, feel i should at least try, and i have a personal project I'd like to do it for rather than use an existing font....

Cheers!

[djb]

I used to have a programme which did it, couldn’t remember the name and googled font editing programme and, well, there’s loads. None of which rings a bell!

font editing program - Google Search

[linziloop]

Hehe yeah i downloaded a trial of one called fontographer but i was kinda wondering if there is one seen as the "industry standard"

Edit: and oddly, all the ones i seem to click on have awfully designed websites which leads me to think i haven't found a good one yet, i mean, if they can't even be bothered with a decent website, it doesn't say much for their software does it? I know i know, shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I'm a designer! These things matter lol!

[djb]

I was editing my previous post to say I’d remembered and it was Fontographer :)

I think (not sure though) that it used to be made by Macromedia? As for industry standard don’t know I’m afraid.

[djb]

These people say Fontlab Studio, and I agree with the websites being awful!

So you want to create a font. Part 1 | I love typography, the typography and fonts blog

Used by Adobe, Apple, Bitstream, IBM, Linotype, Microsoft, Monotype, Morisawa and almost every other major font foundry in the world.

Dying to download it myself but must do some work now!

[SparkCreative]

Fontographer was excellent. Shame Adobe killed it when they bought macromedia.

Fontlab Studio is indeed what you're after. It ain't easy though.

[linziloop]

Thanks guys! I'll show you what i come up with - though it may be some time!

[hamishmash]

I recently created a custom font for Beauty UK Cosmetics (see attached) by using Illustrator and then importing it into a program called Typetool. Typetool is one of the more basic (and cheap) font creation programs but by using it with Illustrator I found it to be more than efficient.



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