Tag Archives: FontLab

The key role of Fontographer in the font revolution

Skilled Workman Posted on by

An excerpt from my newest book, due out in late fall of 2011… The world of font design has radically changed in the digital world of graphic design. We no longer make huge careful drawings, reduced to perfection, and exquisitely carved out of metal or exposed onto film. We make mathematically precise, infinitely editable, completely resizable shapes output as code. The software that brought about that change is the focus of my new book: Practical FontDesign for … Continue reading →

Fontographer 5.1 book: proofing release extended

Skilled Workman Posted on by

I’ve decided to extend the proofing release for at least another month until I decide what to do with letterspacing in Fontographer. I want to develop an easy way for font designers (who do it for fun) to letterspace their work. I no longer believe that Fontographer will auto space well enough for pro releases of fonts for sale. Please take a look at the proof and let me know what you believe. http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/practical-font-design-for-graphic-designers-fontographer/17144172 The PDF download … Continue reading →

Why I switched back to Fontographer 5.1

Skilled Workman Posted on by

Personally, I started in Fontographer in the early 1990s and gradually built a little sideline of designing fonts. They were selling a little on Myfonts.When OpenType became viable with the release of InDesign I needed to find something else. My old version of Fontographer would not run in Mac OSX very well. Thomas Phinney, then of Adobe, told me I had no option but to go to FontLab. This transformed my career. I learned how to write … Continue reading →

1st public release: Practical Font Design For Graphic Designers: Fontographer 5.1

Skilled Workman Posted on by

This is a special limited time offer until October 1, 2011 It is a low-priced, comb-bound 6×9 proofing release. I am selling the downloadable PDF for only $2.99 and the printed book for only $11.95. My hope is that you will read it and give me comments and feedback (and even typos) so I can make the full release for $9.99 and $19.95 in October. here’s the back cover copy: Why do you want to use Fontographer? … Continue reading →

20% off any or all of my Lulu titles

Skilled Workman Posted on by

Get a printed version of your download, for much less cash. For the next four days (’til 9/9/11). Go to my Lulu spotlight: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/radiqxpress and get 20% off any purchase up to $500 (up $100 off). This is an excellent opportunity to upgrade to a printed version.   Lulu’s copy: “Enter coupon code SEPTEMBER305 at checkout and receive 20% off your order. The maximum savings for this offer is $100. Sorry, but this offer is only valid in US … Continue reading →

1st Proof: Fontographer: Practical Font Design For Graphic Designers

Skilled Workman Posted on by

This is the new book on Fontographer 5.1. It’s has been great fun to go back to my roots, as it were and relearn the program that started me in font design. Fontographer is the app that started graphic design on the computer. It preceded Illustrator by over a year. It was the core that was developed into FreeHand. This is digital drawing that is fun again! As I got back into the application something remarkable happened. … Continue reading →

Silly me! Found a new shortcut in FontLab

Skilled Workman Posted on by

It really helps production efficiency and speed. Great find! Command+Arrow Key on selected pieces moves 100 units This shows my ignorance of things like this, but I just discovered a great shortcut built into FontLab. As I have mentioned many times, moving selections right or left is a constant thing—especially while building composite glyphs and letterspacing a new font. One of my irritations over the years has been the internal debate over whether it is more efficient … Continue reading →