How To Design Your Own Font 2020

Creating a font may seem like a daunting and tedious task to many designers, and often, they’re right. However, in this guide, I’ll show you how you can design your own typeface using vector data and glyph-editing apps, regardless of your skill level or experience. This process is simplified with the use of a powerful app called Vectornator, which you can download for free through the link in the description below.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Drawing Your Typeface:
- First, you need to draw your typeface. You can start by hand-lettering your characters and converting them into a vector format. For instance, I used a brush pen in Procreate to draft the lowercase font.
- Once you have your sketches, save the image to your device.
Importing to Vectornator:
- Open Vectornator and import your saved image. Adjust the size of the imported image to fit your workspace.
- Decrease the layer opacity for your reference layer and lock it.
Vectorizing Your Font:
- Create a new layer and use Vectornator’s pencil tool with a thin stroke to outline your characters.
- For circular shapes like ‘O’, use the circle tool to ensure consistency. Copy and paste for elements that repeat in other letters, like the ‘d’ and ‘g’.
- Utilize the node tool to adjust anchor points for refining shapes, ensuring each letterform is consistent in style and weight.
Ensuring Consistency:
- Consistency is key in font design. Make sure all your letterforms have the same thickness, angles, and overall design to maintain a unified look.
Combining Shapes:
- Use elements from other letters to create new ones, such as borrowing parts of ‘a’ to build ‘d’ and ‘g’, to maintain uniformity.
- Keep separate parts separate for ease of modification later.
Exporting Your Font:
- Once you’re satisfied with your vectorized typefaces, export your design. You can transfer it to Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or a specialized app called Glyphs.
- In Glyphs, you can trace and refine your letters further.
Font Self Maker:
- To finalize your font, use an extension in Adobe programs called Font Self Maker. Group your letterforms and drag them into the Font Self interface, which helps in smart kerning and additional refinements before exporting.
Testing Your Typeface:
- Test your font by using various words to check consistency and adjust kerning.
Finalizing:
- Export your font file and install it on your computer. You can use Font Book or other similar tools for this purpose.

Creating a typeface can indeed be fun and less stressful with the right tools and methods. Apps like Vectornator make the process efficient, enabling you to craft professional-quality fonts with ease.

Keywords

Vectornator
Font design
Typeface creation
Hand lettering
Procreate
Vector data
Glyph editing
Adobe Illustrator
Photoshop
Glyphs app
Font Self Maker
Kerning

FAQ

Q1: Can I design a font without any prior experience? A1: Yes, you can design a font regardless of your skill level or experience. Tools like Vectornator simplify the process, making it accessible for beginners.

Q2: What app can I use to create my own typeface? A2: You can use Vectornator for designing your typeface. It is a free app available on iPhone, iPad, and iMac. Other helpful apps include Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Glyphs.

Q3: How do I ensure consistency in my font design? A3: Consistency is crucial. Make sure your letterforms have the same thickness, angles, and overall design. Use the same elements across different letters where applicable.

Q4: How can I test my newly created font? A4: After creating your font, use various words to test for consistency and kerning. Adjust as necessary before finalizing your font.

Q5: What tools help with finalizing the font design? A5: Font Self Maker in Adobe programs is useful for smart kerning and final adjustments. You can also use the Glyphs app for more advanced editing and tracing.