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FontStruct Creates Typefaces Brick-by-Brick
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 11:00 AM on May 12, 2008
For certain projects, even the gargantuan list of pre-installed fonts on your system just won't do. When you want to create your own font but don't want to learn the archaic process for doing so, you want free font designer webapp FontStruct. FontStruct provides simple tools to colour in integrated blocks. You can fill out just one key letter or a whole font, distribute your creation freely or with rights reserved, and offer it up as an easy-to-install TrueType font. Using FontStruct's tools requires a free sign-up—or you could just browse FontStruct's library of original fonts for download.
Tags: design | diy | fonts | project | web application | web applications
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
swttfam3
Posted 11:46 AM 12/5/08
Absolutely a fabulous gem!
This is something that I have been wanting for YEARS! This will be extremely useful--- As a lifehacker, I like to be in control of what I use, how I use it, and what I do with it. Making a font will be the perfect solution for me as I write a lot and sport an artistic side in graphical elements ;)
This font making addition will be the perfect tool to have around--- I'm going to investigate this immediately!
THANKS LIFEHACKER!!!
swttfam3
malnourish
Posted 11:46 AM 12/5/08
Sweet. Thanks.
malnourish
koalasthewise
Posted 11:16 AM 12/5/08
Wow! That looks wonderful! This is gonna be fun...
koalasthewise
kureshii
Posted 12:14 PM 12/5/08
Amazing. Making movie fonts, or movie-inspired fonts, etc will be so much easier now. Thanks LH!
kureshii
nestorius
Posted 12:22 PM 12/5/08
Unfortunately this is very limited in its application. Better off finding one of the millions of fonts available or commissioning your own.
nestorius
samhealer42
Posted 4:07 PM 12/5/08
*sniff* But, but I submitted this to the tips page *sniff*
Nah, nice to see it covered.
@nestorius: Not as far as I can see. There are plenty of blocks and plenty of combinations. Sure, you can't make fancy fonts, but it admits that. Show me a free place to create fancy & difficult fonts, and I'll concede.
samhealer42
Seth
Posted 9:22 PM 12/5/08
I think you mean arcane, not archaic.
Seth
gover57
Posted 10:42 PM 12/5/08
@Seth: nope, i think they meant archaic since it is an old and dated process. "arcane" might work there, but it makes more sense with archaic.
gover57
nemoorange
Posted 11:21 PM 12/5/08
@nestorius: It's only as limited as your imagination. Just look through the first couple pages of the Top Picks and you'll see plenty of examples of artists using the simplest of shapes to create wonderful typography. FontStruct is easily my favorite web app. I've been addicted for weeks.
nemoorange
TrevorJ
Posted 12:55 AM 13/5/08
This is a great tool, I included a keyboard shortcut cheat sheet with the review I did over on [borderlinetheory.com]
TrevorJ
RickyC
Posted 3:57 AM 13/5/08
Brick by brick,
Tock by tick,
No matter how thin,
No matter how thick
Papa told Mama,
And Laura told Nick,
You can move a mountain
If you do it brick by brick!
(from Lego Island, really old game for Windows 98 :-D )
RickyC
Dan
Posted 3:10 PM 13/5/08
"but don't want to learn the archaic process for doing so", ahem, "the artistic process for doing so".
Typemaking is an art, as programming and design.
:)
Dan