Monday, April 13, 2009

Free Custom Fonts

One of the problems encountered by propmakers trying to create arcane tomes and scrolls is finding appropriate fonts. There are hundreds of exotic fonts floating around the net, ranging from ancient writing systems to custom alphabets created by conlang enthusiasts, but it can be difficult to overcome the issue of familiarity. Sure, the average person wouldn't recognize a stylized handwritten version of Tolkien's Tengwar, but there's a pretty good chance that the average gamer would. Heck, he might even be able to read it.

One way to get around that limitation is to create your own font using unique glyph designs. Up until now that required either some expertise in using graphic programs or a chunk of cash to pay someone else to do the work for you. Luckily, you can avoid either option by using the free Font Generator. Just download the form, write or draw your font characters, scan the sheet in and then submit it to the website and they'll spit out a brand new, custom font to your specifications.

That, my friends, is an amazing bit of technology. And I imagine some of you are already thinking up ways to use it.

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