There are plenty of high-quality fonts available online, both free and paid, that can be used in any design project. However, there are times when you need a custom font to really make the design stand out.
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Sep 30, 2016 Here are 10 great and free tools to create your own fonts. FontArk is a browser-based font creator that lets you draw letters to make your own font. The most practical feature is the Outline Generator which automatically creates an outline around your drawing. You can later tweak it to change the thickness and roundness of letters. Looking for Mac fonts? Click to find the best 66 free fonts in the Mac style. Every font is free to download! May 19, 2016 Boasting over 4.5 million downloads to date, FontCreator is a popular font editor among creatives. Native to Windows, FontCreator's feature set makes it suitable for professionals, with a straightforward interface making it accessible to users at any skill level. Import SVG Fonts or outlines - Use your favorite vector editing program to create vector outlines, then import them to glyphs via SVG. Or open a whole SVG Font at once. Unicode-a-palooza - Easily select some common Unicode character ranges to design, or input arbitrary ranges - up to U+FFFF. That's 65k glyphs of excitement. Discover a collection of graphic and design apps for Mac. Whether you are a web designer, illustrator, or graphic artist wrangling raster and vector graphics, these tools will help you improvise and create the highly-intriguing visuals. Find the best graphic design apps for the job here.
If that's the case, you're probably wondering if there are any tools available that will help you create your own font. Or maybe, you'd just like to try your hand at designing a custom font as a fun side project.
No matter what your situation is, the good news is that there are quite a few tools geared towards helping you create a custom font. We've rounded up the best of them in this post so without further ado, let's jump in and check them out.
FontLab Studio
The first tool on the list, FontLab Studio is a premium font creation software aimed at professionals that want to create and edit their own typefaces. It works on both Mac and Windows and supports all major font outline formats.
FontForge
FontForge is an open-source application that can be used on Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. With this program, you can create and edit PostScript, TrueType, OpenType, SVG, and bitmap fonts as well as convert fonts from one format to another.
FontCreator
FontCreator is a Windows-only font editor. It has an advanced set of features that make it suitable for professional font designers and an easy to use interface that's beginner-friendly. You can create and edit high-quality TrueType and OpenType fonts as well as convert scanned vector graphics into glyphs.
Fontographer
Fontographer lets you create new fonts from scratch or customize the existing ones. You can modify and design Type 1, TrueType, OpenType, Type 3 fonts. Special features include the ability to fine-tune spacing and kerning Fontographer is available for Windows and Mac systems.
FontStruct
FontStruct is a free online tool for designing your own fonts. This tool let you easily create your own fonts by using geometric shapes. When you're done, FontStruct then generates TrueType fonts, ready to download and use in any application.
Fontifier
If you ever wanted to make a font out of your own handwriting, Fontifier is the tool you need. It's an online app that lets you upload a scanned image of your handwriting and turns it into a TrueType handwritten font that you can use in your word processor or graphics program.
BirdFont
BirdFont is another free tool for designing your own fonts and it has advanced features that will satisfy even the hard-core font designers. The tool has detailed documentation and allows you to create fonts by drawing on a grid or importing images from other programs. It's available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
iFontMaker
If you rely on your iPad as your primary design tool, iFontMaker will come in handy. It's an iPad app that lets you design your 'handmade' typeface in less than 5 minutes using just your fingers. You can then install the font on your computers and also on your iPad & iPhone.
Pentacom's Bit Font Maker
Love pixel-style fonts? Then check out Pentacom's BitFont Maker. This tool lets you create your own pixel fonts, which are reminiscent of old video games. The tool has a neat gallery where you can other fonts created with the app or you can immediately dive into the editor and start creating your font.
TTFEdit
A TrueType font editor, this tool lets you edit and modify existing TTF fonts or create new ones from templates. TTFEdit is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux and is free to download.
Glyphr
Free Font Creator Software Mac
Glyphr is a web-based font design tool that touts itself as being free and easy to use for font design enthusiasts. You can easily design your own font, ligatures, and adjust kerning and tracking.
Cutepdf writer mac download. Just click Print and select CutePDF Writer as your printer. It's that simple. Select a file in any application that prints and open it. Choose 'File' 'Print'.; Choose 'CutePDF Writer' as the printer in the print dialog box, and click 'Print'. (Do Not select 'Print to File' option.)Enter.
Conclusion
FontCreator is a Windows-only font editor. It has an advanced set of features that make it suitable for professional font designers and an easy to use interface that's beginner-friendly. You can create and edit high-quality TrueType and OpenType fonts as well as convert scanned vector graphics into glyphs.
Fontographer
Fontographer lets you create new fonts from scratch or customize the existing ones. You can modify and design Type 1, TrueType, OpenType, Type 3 fonts. Special features include the ability to fine-tune spacing and kerning Fontographer is available for Windows and Mac systems.
FontStruct
FontStruct is a free online tool for designing your own fonts. This tool let you easily create your own fonts by using geometric shapes. When you're done, FontStruct then generates TrueType fonts, ready to download and use in any application.
Fontifier
If you ever wanted to make a font out of your own handwriting, Fontifier is the tool you need. It's an online app that lets you upload a scanned image of your handwriting and turns it into a TrueType handwritten font that you can use in your word processor or graphics program.
BirdFont
BirdFont is another free tool for designing your own fonts and it has advanced features that will satisfy even the hard-core font designers. The tool has detailed documentation and allows you to create fonts by drawing on a grid or importing images from other programs. It's available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
iFontMaker
If you rely on your iPad as your primary design tool, iFontMaker will come in handy. It's an iPad app that lets you design your 'handmade' typeface in less than 5 minutes using just your fingers. You can then install the font on your computers and also on your iPad & iPhone.
Pentacom's Bit Font Maker
Love pixel-style fonts? Then check out Pentacom's BitFont Maker. This tool lets you create your own pixel fonts, which are reminiscent of old video games. The tool has a neat gallery where you can other fonts created with the app or you can immediately dive into the editor and start creating your font.
TTFEdit
A TrueType font editor, this tool lets you edit and modify existing TTF fonts or create new ones from templates. TTFEdit is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux and is free to download.
Glyphr
Free Font Creator Software Mac
Glyphr is a web-based font design tool that touts itself as being free and easy to use for font design enthusiasts. You can easily design your own font, ligatures, and adjust kerning and tracking.
Cutepdf writer mac download. Just click Print and select CutePDF Writer as your printer. It's that simple. Select a file in any application that prints and open it. Choose 'File' 'Print'.; Choose 'CutePDF Writer' as the printer in the print dialog box, and click 'Print'. (Do Not select 'Print to File' option.)Enter.
Conclusion
Designing your own font is a great way to add a custom touch to your design project. It's also a nice way to earn extra income if you discover you have a knack for creating fonts and enjoy doing it. With these tools, you'll be able to create your own font quickly so be sure to check them out and give them a try.
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I'm going to preface this article by saying that I was a loyal user of Extensis Suitcase Fusion font management software since 2008. For the longest time, I was spoiled by its smart filters, customizable collections, and auto-activation capabilities. However, in the last couple of years I got tired of needing to keep this bloated beast on my system. The upgrades were expensive and each time they updated their software, the changes seemed to make my system run harder. Worst of all, it was starting to offer no real benefit to my workflow.
After a recent update to MacOS Sierra, my version of Suitcase Fusion decided that it wanted to die. Auto-activation no longer worked with Adobe Creative Cloud 2017. Even though I could get it to eventually load and manage my fonts, it required that I ‘OK' my way through a long series of error messages, installer warnings, and finally login with my administrator password—which is just kind of bullshit.
Time to hunt for a new font management system!
The first thing I did when looking for a new system was decide what was really important. After all, you can't find something if you don't know what you're looking for! So I sat down and thought about how I intend to use my fonts, what I liked (or didn't like) about management systems I have already used, and how I could make improvements to my current workflow.
First of all, I had a few things that I knew I didn't need.
I work in a small team. Because it's just me and my husband, I had no need for font server technology or bulk pricing on software licenses. I speak English natively and work primarily on English projects. This means that I don't need my software to be bloated with multiple language translations. Both of us work in Mac (and Linux) operating systems, so support for Windows is not wanted or required. Windows is a terrible operating system.
When it comes to what I did need, my requirements were pretty simple.
I want to be able to get quick and customizable previews of my library of fonts. It would be great to have the ability to quickly filter and search for fonts. Saving these selections into collections labeled by type classification, foundry, feeling, or by client is imperative. Also, auto-activation with Adobe Creative Cloud has to be available because I am lazy—I mean, because I am efficient.
Finally, I am really sensitive about my file organization system. I want my file system to either remain untouched or to be organized nicely in a way that I can find what I need later on. This is where I have always had problems in the past. Most font management systems drop copies of installed fonts into a single subdirectory in the user's /Library/ folder—which in my opinion is the ugliest method of storage imaginable. It seriously gives me the shivers.
Why not pick the free option?
Font Book, which ships free with Macs, bothers the crap out of me. Yes, it's fast and yes, it's free. But it doesn't offer the features I find to be most important in my workflow. The file system is mushed together into a large ugly directory that you can (optionally) manually maintain—but that's a timesink for me. And while they do have a decent collection system, their preview system is on a font-by-font basis. Sometimes I need that palette of font previews right in my face to get my creative juices flowing. Sifting through thousand of fonts one by one is a no go.
What about the most ‘professional' options?
Some would argue that you mean Extensis Suitcase Fusion. Others would say you mean Monotype's FontExplorer X. Both are essentially the same heavy software that is so feature-rich that the software gets slow and hard to use. Both of these options let you preview and auto-activate your fonts, but they dump installed font files into their own proprietary libraries. They offer smart collections, filter, categories, font meta information… all the bells and whistles a professional designer thinks they need.
Free Font Creation Software For Mac Operating System
But I just don't need all of that. I want something lightweight, fast, and minimal. Something that won't get in my way when I'm trying to do something quickly, but is powerful enough to give me the info I'm looking for when I want it.
Reviews of Font Management Software for Mac
FontAgent by Insider Software
$99 for a Single-User License (30-day Trial)
FontAgent's interface is a dead ringer for a Suitcase Fusion or a FontExplorer X clone. If you're already comfortable with this layout and like it, chances are you will like FontAgent as well. On the surface this software seems to deliver everything I was looking for. They have auto-activation for Creative Cloud, extensive filtering and smart collections, as well as custom collections. Their file system, however, is handled just like all of the rest. They store copies of the font files in one large directory inside of a proprietary directory in the user library. Yuck.
This might have been forgivable if the software itself was not also slow and sluggish. As I was scrolling through just a portion of the system fonts, the preview chugged along and very slowly caught up with me. I was not impressed by this. Even though they have a 30-day free trial available—which is great—I didn't need more than 30 minutes to realize that my princess was in another castle.
RightFont by Markly Team
$50 For a Single-User License
Upfront, there is a lot to like about RightFont. It looks great. The interface is clean and simple with a single window that lists all of your fonts. There is an option to quickly get to the app right from your menu bar. The filter and search options are diverse as are the preview options. Auto-activation works flawlessly and you can even scroll through active fonts to watch the changes automatically applied inside your Adobe software. It comes with a plethora of icon sets pre-installed as well as offers immediate in-app connectivity to Google Fonts and Adobe Typekit
It's super easy to import new fonts. When you do, it copies each font into it's own alphabetized directory. (Yay!) However, it leaves dead directories whenever you move a font to the trash. If you don't want to use their file system, you can create 'Live Lists' which allows you to access and activate fonts stored elsewhere on your system—like in a Dropbox folder.
There are two huge downsides to their software. The first is that there is no way to view the entire character set for a font. What this means is if you want to preview individual glyphs, you're basically S.O.L. The second downside is that you're asked to take a $50 leap of faith because there is no free trial period. It's not a deal breaker—there is a 15-day money back guarantee—but it is cause for a major pause.
Typeface by Criminalbird
$10 For a Family-Share License via the App Store
I want to love this font management app. I really do. First of all, it's extremely fast, lightweight, and beautifully designed. You can quickly view all of the installed fonts on your system with a nice customizable palette of previews. The filtering system is fast, intuitive, and has a solid range of selections. You can choose to invert the colors and a recent update even gave users the ability to export a PDF of your font selections to present to clients.
My favorite part though is their addition of font comparison, outlines, and a markup options. These allow you see the the design differences between two fonts and get a better idea of the structure of each font. If you're into studying typography, this is a super cool and very unique feature that makes it worth getting the app all by itself.
However, there is no integration with Google Fonts or Adobe Typekit. There is also no auto-activation in Creative Cloud. You can choose to preview fonts in any directory, but Typeface does not handle font installation and it really sucks at activation and deactivation. This part of the their software piggybacks off of Font Book, Mac's free font management software. The big-picture means that all—yes all—of your fonts need to be installed on your system. Additionally, when you deactivate one of these installed fonts, it disappears into oblivion and can't be reactivated later. The only way to get it back is to reinstall it in Font Book. Bummer, right?
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On the upside, the developers seem to really give a damn about making a good product and I like that. You can see that they are listening to their customers by comparing the app reviews with the changes made in subsequent updates. That kind of support is priceless and it makes me think that even if I don't love it now, one day I might.
Which Font Management Software Did I Choose?
All in all, I spent a lot of time reading user reviews, playing with each application, and testing all of my key workflow processes in various configurations. It was not an easy decision to make, but what I decided was:
Use RightFont as my primary font management system alongsideTypeface which will act as my font analysis software.
I really liked how RightFont handled activating and deactivating fonts, their organized file system, their star and collection system, and the fact that it played well with other apps and online font services. Other than those dang zombie directories it leaves, it's seemingly perfect for all my needs. However, I really hate how it handles analysis. Typeface, hands down, works the best on that font. It quickly give me all the information I need and lets me compare and contrasts two fonts without batting an eyelash.
Once you activate a font with RightFont, you can then access it with Typeface! This was a pleasant surprise and the deciding factor on my new hybrid font management system.
