How to Make your own Font:

Making Your Own Fonts

You might be surprised that you can actually make your own fonts if you have the needed tools. An updated program called Fontographer 4.1 is a great program to start with. There are earlier versions of this program but the process for font making remains the same. Photoshop is another program which you will use a lot when you really get into font making. You may also be required to draw so if you don't have a good hand for this you may not get very far.

In Photoshop you can open a new document then set the height width ratio to about 1.25 to 1. The image should be grayscale but quite possibly you can get away with black and white. You can draw your letters directly into Photoshop using a drawing tablet. The first thing you want to do is to get your basic form on the screen. From this point you will be able to manipulate the form the way you want. If you do not have a drawing tablet you can always scan letters that have been hand drawn but this is not the best way. If this is the route you choose to take you will need to scan each letter individually and this could be very time consuming. Once you get your image on your screen you will still have the same basic editing options.

If you have Fontographer you will be able to start from scratch and this is often the best way to do it. This program does take a little getting used to and as always, practice makes perfect. Just remember when using Fontographer, you will need to exercise patience.

You can also go on the web http://my.break.com and you will get an online tutorial about how to make your own fonts. This tutorial shows you about programs that you have in Windows that most people don't even know about. Just follow a few simple instructions and you are on your way to developing fonts you can use for web pages or just for fun.

Fontifier is a program that takes your own handwriting and putting it on your computer in your very own personal font. This allows you to add your personal touch to letters, emails, and even scrapbooking. Imagine keeping a sample of your child's first attempt at handwriting. You will cherish it for years and then you can pass it on to your grandchildren who will cherish it also. There is a small charge of $9.00 for this program but it is well worth it. You can download it from the internet and don’t have to worry about installing software.

There are other programs available that allow you to make your own fonts but these are some of the more prominent ones. Finding the right program is a process of elimination. You must determine what you want to use your personal fonts for and how much time are you willing to devote to the project. Photoshop is certainly a great program but it does require a certain degree of skill. There are a lot of elements in Photoshop which will allow you to enhance photos and add your own fonts to your photos. With a little skill and practice, you will be able to produce some spectacular work.

If you just want to put a little effort into your project, Fontifier is a good route to take. It is not difficult to use and can produce some fairly dramatic effects. The possibilities out there are endless; it is up to you what you want to do with them.