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Create Custom Typography with Affinity Designer

Education

Introduction

In this tutorial, we'll explore how to utilize Affinity Designer to create personalized typography featuring rounded letters that intersect in unique ways. This approach provides a one-of-a-kind appearance that diverges from standard fonts. If you're interested in mastering Affinity Designer, consider checking out my master class, which comprises over 80 videos detailing all tools and features of the software, alongside a supportive private community for ongoing help.

Getting Started with Affinity Designer

Creating a New Document

  1. Open Affinity Designer and press Command + N to create a new document.
  2. In the template search box, type "QFHD" to find dimensions of 3840 by 2160 pixels. This size offers ample space for our typography.
  3. Click "Create."

Activating the Grid

  1. Ensure the grid is visible by navigating to View > Show Grid.
  2. To modify the grid settings, go to View > Grid and Axis > Basic. Change the default spacing from 64 pixels to 50 pixels.
  3. Zoom in to 100% with Command + 1 or Control + 1.
  4. Activate snapping by enabling the magnet icon.
  5. Ensure "Snap to Guides" and "Snap to Grid" options are enabled.

Creating and Adjusting Circles

  1. Select the Circle Tool and create a circle by snapping to the intersection of two guides, holding Shift and Command (or Shift and Control on Windows) to maintain a perfect circle.
  2. Set the stroke to 25 points in the Stroke tab, and remove the gray fill by selecting the red slash icon.
  3. Duplicate the circle, increasing its size by snapping to the next grid line, continuing this process until you have a total of five circles.

Converting Circles to Curves

  1. Select all five circles and convert them to curves via the “Convert to Curves” button.
  2. Use the Direct Selection Tool to select all anchor points, and then click “Break Curves” to individualize each curve segment.
  3. Adjust the opacity of the lines to better visualize the shapes.

Constructing the Letters

  1. Letter D: Move the circles to the top-left corner. Create straight lines using the Pen Tool to form the D's structure.
  2. Letter E: Duplicate the previous lines, placing them adjacent and overlapping the first letter.
  3. Letter S: Repeat the duplication process, ensuring that the letters intersect appropriately.
  4. Letter I and G: Continue to construct these letters, maintaining consistent design techniques.
  5. Letter N: Assemble the elements accordingly, ensuring smooth intersections with previous letters.

Finalizing the Design

  1. Use the Shape Builder Tool to refine intersections between the letters.
  2. Clean up unwanted segments carefully.
  3. Optionally, add rounded caps to the ends of the letters using the Circle Tool.

Merging the Typography

  1. Once all letters are complete, turn off snapping, select everything, and merge curves via Layer > Geometry > Merge Curves.
  2. Enable the “Scale with Object” option in the Stroke panel to maintain consistent stroke size upon resizing.

Final Touches

  1. Feel free to adjust stroke colors and thickness to your liking. Experiment with different designs to create a custom look.

Keyword

Affinity Designer, Custom Typography, Create, Rounded Letters, Shape Builder Tool, Merging Curves, Design Techniques, Pen Tool, Grid Setup, Curves to Shapes.

FAQ

Q1: What tools do I need to use in Affinity Designer for custom typography?
A1: You'll mainly use the Circle Tool, Pen Tool, Selection Tool, Direct Selection Tool, and Shape Builder Tool.

Q2: How can I adjust the size of the typography after creation?
A2: After merging the curves, enable the "Scale with Object" option in the Stroke panel to ensure the stroke scales appropriately with the typography.

Q3: Is it possible to change the color of the typography?
A3: Yes, you can change the stroke color through the Color tab after merging the curves.

Q4: What is the benefit of using snapping with guides?
A4: Snapping with guides ensures precision in aligning elements, making it easier to create a cohesive design.

Q5: Can I create any word using this method?
A5: Absolutely! This method can be applied to construct any letters or words; just visualize how to create each letter using the circle quadrants.