the essential guide to creating your first typeface
By James Wilkins
Publisher Stuff Copyright things Dates Etc.
Contents Typography? Your Style
Understanding Rough Start
Smoothing it Out Digitize
Font Ready
Typography? From a descriptive and simplistic point-of-view, typography is the art and technique of arranging type. Most people never think about typography. They don’t understand the psychological effect it has in relation to conveying a message. The first thing you have to do in order to choose a typeface is form a strong impression in your mind about how you want your audience to react to the text. This is your goal, and it will guide the process. You might provide this impression,
or it might be dictated to you by your client, or it may be determined by your audience. It’s imperative that you understand how typography is structured before you start designing characters. The incipient design phase requires knowledge of terms like baseline and x-height.
The choice of typeface can affect how a piece is understood.
IMPACT ON PRIVATE EQUITY
Secerempe maio cores nonseque nis qui cusda dentios tibus, sitation prat ullacia pa quaecto experio eturepuda sed undioss equati aut eliquia delecero eum landa comnimi nullatum elest pel intis as si undunt evelique nam.
Sub Heading
Secerempe maio cores nonseque nis qui cusda dentios tibus, sitation prat ullacia pa quaecto experio eturepuda sed undioss equati aut eliquia delecero eum landa comnimi nullatum elest pel intis as si undunt evelique nam.
Most people would automatically choose the example on the left. The font size and type elicits a
Consider these two examples below. Which is more appropriate considering the title of the article?
Impact On Private Equity
Secerempe maio cores nonseque nis qui cusda dentios tibus, sitation prat ullacia pa quaecto experio eturepuda sed undioss equati aut eliquia delecero eum landa comnimi nullatum elest pel intis as si undunt evelique nam.
Sub Heading
Secerempe maio cores nonseque nis qui cusda dentios tibus, sitation prat ullacia pa quaecto experio eturepuda sed undioss equati aut eliquia delecero eum landa comnimi nullatum elest pel intis as si undunt evelique nam.
feeling of power, seriousness and importance; while the example on the right is fun, light and playful.
Your Styl e Get inspired. Look at the legends. What kind of type do you like?
Or are you looking to use it as text in a book?
Decide what kind of typeface you want to create. Ask yourself what you want to do with the typeface you’re creating‌ Do you want to create a typeface from your handwriting?
Having a general idea of what your end goal is, will help to make a lot of the decisions throughout the process of creating a typeface.
Do you want to use it for big bold, headline type?
There are a number of early choices you need to consider. Will it be a serif or sans serif typeface? Will it be Decorative or Script?
Will it be based on a writing implement or be more geometric?
Sans Serif
Serif
Slab Serif
Script
Blackletter
Hand
Understanding Before you begin to work on your typeface, you must first understand the anatomy of type. There are many features of a typeface that affect its overall look and style. The way in which these elements are designed can completely change the way the typeface is perceived.
Rough Start Before you open google and start researching different typefaces, pick up a pen and a piece of paper and start sketching letters. Wether you have an idea in your head of what look you are going for or not, just start rough and inspire yourself. By doing this you will be getting yourself comfortable with drawing letters, and you will also be able to further understand your style. It’s also a good idea to do this before you start working on
your typeface. It will help steady your hands and get you in the right state of mind. Many designers have their own preferred methods, so it may take a little while to find what works best for you.
Use this example below to get started. The first two letters have been placed for you to sketch over them.
If you are new to typography, this will help you get a feel for sketching type and make it easier to create your own.