Topic awaiting preservation: freeware for creating fonts?

Anyone know of any decent apps for creating a font?

I don't really know what I want in such a program, as I've never done it before.

Any suggestions or tips appreciated.

(I've done google searches of course, but the results are a little overwhelming and hard to dig through. Still looking, but ........)

Googled first try and found this http://www.download.com/Pixel-Font-Maker/3000-2190-10168880.html

Second try and found this http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2190-1516183.html
And on the same page found this http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2185-5121690.html

Have fun. I'd like to see what kind of fonts your interestingly disturbing mind can come up with.

DL : You were wanting to make True Type Fonts, not image fonts, yes ?

I'm also interested in such a proggie.... have some good samples of my Great G-dads handwriting and thought a font of same would be an interesting challenge.

DB: correct.

Insider- thanks, but those all have some pretty sever limitations, and/or are not available free.

At some point I'd be willing to pay for a good app, but for now I just want to screw around and see what I can do.

I've been using Macromedia Fontographer for years and I highly recommend it, but there isn't a free download or trial version.
But running a close second is Fontlab which I have also used and there is a trial version here

http://www.pyrus.com/Font_Editors/FontLab-4.6/Download-FontLab-4.6/

There probably will be some limmitations to the trial version, but worth checking it out to mess with and there is a manual to download also.

cheers,
Kromaz

I also use Fontographer, I however can't get it to run on my XP pro, system with a gig of ram. Worked fine fine with 512meg, I sure wish Macromedia would at least do a bug upgrade to increase useablitiy with newer systems.


J. Stuart J.

Don't know about XP pro I have been running it exclusively on Mac, but you are right about the upgrade, it has been a while.

How did you make out there DL ?

cheers,



(Edited by kromaZ on 08-23-2004 16:19)

I grabbed the demo of fontlab, but haven't had a chance to play with it yet.

I won't be shelling out $550 any time soon though, so playing is about all I'll be able to do with it.

I haven't found *anything* that's actually free out there, and no demos that aren't crippled. Understandable of course, but I was hoping there'd be *something*.

Here's another link you might want to give a shot.
Never heard of it before but you never know, it may do the trick.
$50 bucks ain't bad if it does what it claims to do.

http://www.high-logic.com/fcp.html
~edit~ direct link to creator's site
and a free trial download.

Check out the additional info at the bottom
left of the site. It seems they even have a Forum
good reviews and support.



(Edited by kromaZ on 08-23-2004 19:04)

Open source, runs from the command line , windows-MAC-linux
Maybe this will suit your needs (or someones)
Just thought I'd throw it in here



http://doubletype.sourceforge.net/

I just did a search on altavista for "font software" and for "font editor" (be sure to include the quotes when you enter the search).

The search for "font software" turned up several shareware programs for creating new fonts. All of them for less than $100.00. The search for "font editors" turned up several programs that are free but most of them are for Linux. Since you didn't specify your operating system, I assume you're using windows.

Also take a look at this page. About half way down the page is a section called Software. You may be able to find an editor in his lists that would work for you.

Let us know what you find.



-- not necessarily stoned... just beautiful.


(Edited by hyperbole on 08-23-2004 19:48)

$50 certainly isn't bad - looks pretty good.

Doubletype looks promising too, but not much info there.

I'll definately check them both out - thanks =)

hey jamie,

not sure if this is the $50 one you were referring to:

http://www.high-logic.com/fcp.html

but it does have a good trial period.

i played with it a couple of years back, and it seemed a tad tedious, but still functional.
good luck, and make sure you show off your results!

reitsma