/r/typedesign

Photograph via snooOG

A subreddit for the art and craft of type design. Welcome are all who appreciate the beauty and functionality of letterforms and typefaces.

Learn the process of creating fonts from scratch, post work in progress files for critique and discussion advertise your completed fonts. Share inspiring content on type design, lettering, specimens, typography, type foundries and type designers. Discuss any technical or artistic aspects of designing typefaces.

A subreddit for the art and craft of type design.

Absolute beginners, advanced and expert type designers are all welcome here.

Do you want to learn how to design a font, but just have no idea where to begin? Do you feel overwhelmed by type design software? Are you looking to get feedback on fonts you are working on, or do you just want to share a beautiful letterform or font you have discovered? This might be the place for you!

Please do post

  • Work in progress of typefaces for critique or discussion
  • Finished typefaces you have designed
  • Examples of interesting or beautiful letterforms, type specimens and fonts
  • Any content concerning type designers and type foundries (interviews, lectures, articles etc)
  • Guides, tutorials and walkthroughs
  • Questions or troubles with type design software
  • Discussions on technical or artistic aspects

Please do not post

  • Typeface identification requests (Please visit /r/identifythisfont)
  • Designs which concern themselves with the arrangement of type rather than the design of the letterforms (try /r/typography for that)
  • Repeated plugs of your own typefaces without contributing to the community (you are welcome to post typefaces you are selling, but try to bring something to the community by describing how you created the font or answering questions)

/r/typedesign

3,420 Subscribers

8

Lexica Ultralegible – A Typeface Built for Accessibility in Typography

Lexica Ultralegible is a modern typeface designed specifically to enhance readability for low-vision readers by increasing character recognition with unique letter shapes. Building on the foundation of the Atkinson Hyperlegible typeface, we have improved it with more features.

https://preview.redd.it/bwa7qcsz02vd1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43fff8c5105e246a66924a8c300cbcead567aa6d

We aim to continue the mission of the original typeface by maintaining the core values of legibility and readability while introducing a fresh identity. By honoring the original design while evolving its character, Lexica Ultralegible stands as a testament to the importance of accessibility in typography.

  • Four Fonts: Includes regular, italic, bold, and bold italic weights.
  • Expanded Glyph Set: An additional 222 glyphs, supporting 102 languages and 340 orthographies based on Hyperglot analysis.
  • Massive Glyph Count: A total of 2,356 glyphs across all fonts, with 589 glyphs per font.
  • Improved Kerning: Optimized kerning for visual harmony, ensuring smoother text flow and better readability.
  • Ligatures and Alternatives: Includes standard ligatures (fi, ff, ffi, fl, ffl) and an alternative reversed number zero (0) for enhanced distinction.
  • Accessibility-Focused: Designed to improve legibility for low-vision readers, while still maintaining aesthetic versatility.

Links

Get Involved

  • Try it out! Download the font, test it, and let me know your thoughts.
  • Spread the word by sharing this typeface with designers, developers, and accessibility advocates.
  • Contribute on GitHub: If you’re into typography or accessibility, feel free to contribute to the project or suggest improvements.

Thanks for checking it out, and I hope you find Lexica Ultralegible as useful as I do! 💬 I’m happy to answer any questions or receive feedback.

2 Comments
2024/10/16
05:40 UTC

2

Made this font called Gross

Wanted to share it with y’all. The download link is bit.ly/grossfont

1 Comment
2024/10/15
17:51 UTC

2

Multi-Script (Latin&Arabic) FontLab File Export Failing to Show Latin Glyphs.

https://preview.redd.it/huypfrnj4wud1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=d7f72e9b99510d7b5a367102ecd5ae0f0766e866

I am working on a Latin/Arabic font on FontLab8. The latin glyphs are not showing when typing using the exported OTF file.

I started by using MS Windows 1256 Arabic glyphs set, and added the .init .medi .fina glyphs along the way. The OpenType features are working properly for Arabic, but Latin characters seem to not be registering when typing on Adobe Illustrator/inDesign for example.

I made sure that the Codepages is for Latin and Arabic, the language system the font supports is Latin and Arabic, and that all unicodes are correct.

Does anyone know what I could do? this is my first time working on a multi-script font.

Thank you.

3 Comments
2024/10/15
09:48 UTC

1

Putting a character in the 'space' and related problems

Years ago I discovered this font "Justinian" (https://www.iconian.com/fontimages/just.gif) by Iconian fonts; the second version has a dot in the place of empty space.

Now, I'm making a font with same feature but when I try it on Microsoft Word it shows the dot at the end of every line and in the void line between paragraphs.

Justinian II has the same behaviour.

https://preview.redd.it/wj0svf58spsd1.png?width=323&format=png&auto=webp&s=12f12fbbd352ea797df099dc8a5a5d0e3d7d949f

Is there a way to have the dot (or any character in general) in the space but without it being shown elsewhere? (I tried it only on MS Word, don't know if it behaves in this way also on other software)

I'm using Fontbird, but I don't think it makes any difference since Justinian came out more than 20 years ago.

2 Comments
2024/10/04
10:11 UTC

1

Font with visually centered numbers

I'm making a webapp which needs to display numbers centered in a box. I've run into an issue that I've tried a few solutions to. Most of the fonts I've tried the 1 has appeared offset to the right (even now). While a monospace font would solve this, it doesn't fit the look so I'd like to find a font where the numbers are centered about their apparent visual center. Tahoma does a decent job with the 1 as far as I could tell, but it had issues with the vertical alignment, being lower than center. Any help would be appreciated.

3 Comments
2024/10/03
22:49 UTC

6

Why do people hate FontLab that much?

I can't speak regarding other font making software since I've only used FontCreator and then tried out Fontlab, which I loved. I think it's got to do a lot with how I make my fonts, which is using illustrator and then I just paste the vectors into FontLab, which it immediately recognizes and editing them is so easy. basically it has the same commands and key shortcuts as illustrator, that's why I love it so much, and it's super intuitive. Also, making ligatures, kerning pairs, setting up transformation values, italics, and other opentype features has never been easier for me. Usually hell on FontCreator. People complain that it's really buggy but to be honest, in this font I am working on now for the past two weeks, I've had like 2 or 3 bugs only. For the other 3 fonts I've worked on... none. What are your thoughts? I use windows, btw.

7 Comments
2024/09/29
20:09 UTC

16

Type Design Resources

Here’s some useful content for learning and continuing practice.

**History of Latin Alphabet**

*Excellent for understanding why letterforms are constructed the way they are.*

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcNA74tz9QNL45RbC3iKtcQKXg1bi_EAE&si=px9xv7MlKEmda-8t

**The Stroke: Theory of Writing by Gerrit Noordzij**

*It’s free on the Internet Archive, but it’s in Spanish - so you‘ll have to translate it. However, it’s not very long and you can see what he’s trying to say even with the illustrations.*

https://archive.org/details/ElTrazoTeoriaDeLaEscrituraGerritNoordzij

**Hand Lettering: Sketching Type**

*A short but sweet video on sketching type inspired by Gerrit Noordzij.*

https://youtu.be/hkjpa5BMITg?si=haCfvff9IFJnbcGt

**The Golden Secrets of Lettering by Martina Flor**

*Great free book on the Internet Archive for insight into hand lettering which has crossing processes for type designers.*

https://archive.org/details/goldensecretsofl0000flor

**Optical Compensation by Lynne Yun**

*Such important and fundamental knowledge that you need to be aware of.*

https://youtu.be/NSwEe-vMfP4?si=rfNtNXEu31vG_yRA

**Type Design Class**

*Amazing insights on their Instagram posts - be sure to follow and scroll to the bottom. They also host good classes too.*

https://www.instagram.com/typedesignclass?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

That’s it for now, I will post more if I find any. I hope someone finds this useful.

1 Comment
2024/09/23
14:29 UTC

0

UPDATES: What you do prefer????!

0 Comments
2024/09/16
19:41 UTC

6

Just for fun: my experiment with automatic contextual alternates

2 Comments
2024/09/11
07:37 UTC

10

Which software should I use to make fonts like this?

5 Comments
2024/09/07
09:02 UTC

0

What font is this?

0 Comments
2024/09/02
03:43 UTC

9

I just released the Type Designer portfolio template

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on a type designer portfolio template for a while. I’ve designed an affordable Framer template that type designers can use to showcase their typefaces. Previously, I worked on a more detailed project for typografische.com, and I’ve taken a similar approach with this template. You can check out the demo at https://typefoundry.framer.website I think you’ll find it interesting.

For a limited time, the template is 15% off. You can purchase it using this code: "G5NZEXOQ"

https://preview.redd.it/fuufi0hxatld1.png?width=2800&format=png&auto=webp&s=083e57611dd7c8bf72b67f185ca84a363c55fe66

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.

3 Comments
2024/08/30
14:32 UTC

1

Which line has a more neutral font?

12 Comments
2024/08/30
01:15 UTC

2

Type designers pain points

what have been your pains regarding type designing lately? from what i can see around, it seems that type designers pains generally revolve around marketing and the greedy marketplaces.

4 Comments
2024/08/21
07:47 UTC

1

Identifying an old font (or finding closest modern version)

Hi all, I am trying to figure out which font this could be, especially the numbers, does anyone have an idea? https://flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire/1361915984/in/album-72157601953944525

1 Comment
2024/08/15
09:40 UTC

14

Beginner question : from paper to software

Hi type folks. After months of kindling my interest for type design and gathering ressources and knowledge before getting started, I finally got to drawing my first glyphs on paper, and am so thrilled about the process. I have made first drafts for m, n, h, c, o, l, i and a on tracing paper, but i would like now to start combining and resizing them to see how they interact. So I was wondering when one should usually start vectorizing early sketches ? How many glyphs and in what state should they be before it’s considered smart to digitize them ? Should I make cleaner inked versions first, or is it common practice to digitize rather rough pencil sketchs ? Or should i keep to paper for now, create new letters and manually draw new test strings ?

2 Comments
2024/07/26
07:04 UTC

2

Looking for a (very basic) geometric grotesque

Hi there Community,

I’m currently desperately looking for a typeface I’m (obviously) not finding (see screenshot attached). I thought it would be Poppins b/c it also is the main typeface used by the company – but it’s not. I don’t think it’s a special typeface but I’m just unable to find it.

Any help is very much appreciated!!

What typeface is that?

9 Comments
2024/07/25
09:19 UTC

2

Am I the only one feels like The Elements of Typography Style book is heavy..?

Hello everyone, so usually I'm not reading books and never finished one, so I'm talking from my own perspective.

I will mention, I'm not a native English speaker.

I saw alot of recommendations of this book "The Elements of Typography Style", but for some reason it was very hard for me to understand even tho I only read the first 20 pages, I was reading and don't understanding alot of information there, I had to translate everytime.

do you think this book is heavy for first time? or should I stick to it and translate everything I doesn't understand and keep reading it.

8 Comments
2024/07/22
16:04 UTC

4

Looking for a font

Does someone know this font ? Thank you

3 Comments
2024/07/11
15:28 UTC

4

Institutes that offer PhD in Type Design

Hello, everyone. Has anyone here pursued a degree in Type Design here? Does anyone know which are some of the best institutes across the globe that offer a PhD in Type Design, Typography or Graphic Design?

13 Comments
2024/07/07
14:36 UTC

7

DIY Letraset

Is there a way to print your own rub-on Letraset sheets?

2 Comments
2024/06/30
16:41 UTC

3

Looking for examples of variable fonts that switches glyph masters between roman and italic

So this is a little nerdy, but I need to find an example of a typeface that is variable on the slant axis (so, roman to italic) but that also changes the glyph construction of some characters in that process (from a two-storey a to a one-storey a or the same with g, to maintain the classic italic construction of letters). I know it's not really possible to make the same glyph do that transformation but it's possible (in Glpyhs) to say for example "at x slant, swap to displaying x glyph). Does anyone know of a typeface that does that? Thanks!

4 Comments
2024/06/26
06:49 UTC

3

Fonlab display problem

I have a display problem with FontLab 7. When I open the font file, I can't see the glyphs in the preview, as if each glyph is empty. If I double-click on a specific glyph, I can see the outlines I have drawn, but I still can't see the fill. I have already tried using Reverse Contour, but it doesn't change anything. The Fill Tool doesn't work either. What can I do to resolve this issue?

5 Comments
2024/06/11
14:53 UTC

1

Help with making a font from a glyph sheet?

I recently was able to access the fonts from one of my favorite games (20+ years old, the fonts themselves are not copyrighted and extraction tools made by devs). The fonts are stored as single image files showing every glyph in the font. I have been able to use GIMP to separate every glyph individually, but I've been having a lot of trouble trying to find any software/program/etc. I can upload each glyph onto without having to vectorize each glyph or redraw them by hand. I've tried FontForge, and so far I've had no luck.

If anyone can provide some guidance on what I can do, I would really appreciate it! I just want to use the glyph image files I have and upload them as-is to a program, without having to redraw them or vectorize them, if possible.

Thank you, have a lovely morning/day/night/etc.!

9 Comments
2024/06/09
00:34 UTC

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