How can I create new Symbol fonts ?

AT
Posted By
Andreas_Theo
Nov 9, 2003
Views
551
Replies
13
Status
Closed
I have been using Photoshop-4 Type tool with the Symbol Fonts on a win-95 , 98 for my work of creating web-pages of poetry on the Internet for some time now, but I need to make some new Symbols of the accents that I created to be used on the keyboard. So I need the help of someone who knows how to make fonts from psd drawings and understands the Greek Language.

I prefer email communication :

Andreas Theo

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DM
Don_McCahill
Nov 9, 2003
You can make new fonts with a program from fontlab.com. It is not cheap, and definitely not easy to learn. Expect to spend a few hundred hours to make an acceptable font.

However, the font you make will not be generally accessible on web pages, since all your viewers will need to get a copy, and install it. The only way around this would be to make graphic images of your poetry, and this is really against the spirit of the web, since it means your work can not be indexed and made searchable.
RH
r_harvey
Nov 9, 2003
Or create a PDF that uses the font, embed the font in the PDF, and post the file.

To get a feel for how creating a font works, try making individual symbols in Adobe Illustrator, then using them in the PDF. When you’re happy with the results, export the Illustrator files to your font editor.
AT
Andreas_Theo
Nov 9, 2003
Thanks for your comments.I know its not easy but there may be someone to get in with me on this.
AT
Andreas_Theo
Nov 9, 2003
I have made them in photoshop and have been using them for 6-7 years now but I have to do something to simplify the way I work with them.

Thanks for your comments
DM
Don_McCahill
Nov 9, 2003
Andreas

After my initial answer I realized I should have also pointed you to the typography forum elsewhere here at Adobe. Someone there (who doesn’t visit this forum … some Mac people, for instance) might have some good ideas for you.

So now you might be interested in posting your original message there.
AT
Andreas_Theo
Nov 10, 2003
Is there anybody with the Adobe-photoshop corp who might be in charge of the quality of the symbol-fonts? So as to make them better for the future, according to my oppinion.
DM
Don_McCahill
Nov 10, 2003
Thomas Phinney, who is here occasionally and in the typography forum almost daily, is probably the person you need to speak to. If not, he will be able to steer you in the right direction.
GH
Gernot_Hoffmann
Nov 10, 2003
Math Type by Design Science is an equation editor which can use Greek fonts. TT Symbol, Type1 Symbol, Euclid Symbol. Math Type can build GIFs for HTML Websites. Creating a new font is (excuse me) nonsense.

We have already more Symbols than necessary (a major source of confusion).

Why this ? Windows TT Symbol, TT MT Symbol, Type 1 MT Symbol … MT means MonoType, a manufacturer.

Best regards –Gernot Hoffmann
P
Phosphor
Nov 10, 2003
Andreas…

Just as a point of order, here.

Email communication in order to solve a problem runs counter to the way these forums are designed to work, that is: Problems and solutions—when collected into a public thread here—can then be accessed by all visitors. Someone may come along later with the same questions; they can either search the forum for the answer or be directed to it through links provided by other visitors.

As for your question: If you upgrade Photoshop you’ll be able to create what are known as "Custom Shapes." These are resolution-independent vector objects, much the same as fonts, and can be then be reused at any size with perfect crispness and clarity.

Creating fonts can be done, but it requires special software. There’s Macromedia’s Fontographer, which hasn’t been updated since about 1997, and there are a couple apps authored by Pyrus… TypeTool, about US$99 <http://www.fontlab.com/html/typetool.html>, and the professional-level font creation tool FontLab, about US$550 <http://www.fontlab.com/html/fontlab.html>.

I could do it…for a fee, of course.
AT
Andreas_Theo
Nov 10, 2003
Thanks, you wouldn’t have an email handy?
AT
Andreas_Theo
Nov 11, 2003
I have also Photoshop 6. But I don’t like the fonts or the way of the type-tool. But anyway do these "Custom shapes" once created be included in the font family that I am using? or they will be just object-pictures and have to be copied every time like I am doing presently?
SC
Steve_Coates
Nov 11, 2003
Andreas:

You should have a look at <http://www.high-logic.com/> and their Font Creator program, its inexpensive and fairly easy to use.

Steve
AT
Andreas_Theo
Nov 11, 2003
I have down-loaded the test version and i am experimenting with it, but it is too early to decide between that and the FontLab type-tool 2 for beginers. Also before I get into the absolute mood of recreating the font that suits me for my work I must learn a lot from the other designers and programers of Adobe-photoshop because that is where I will be using it.

Thanks for your suggestion

How to Master Sharpening in Photoshop

Give your photos a professional finish with sharpening in Photoshop. Learn to enhance details, create contrast, and prepare your images for print, web, and social media.

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