Everyone wants to create a unique project. There comes the time when your project needs that extra edge when you need your design to stand out from the rest. Here is where creating your custom fonts comes in handy. It can give you that unique reach you’re looking for.
To create custom fonts, you’re going to need font creation software. The good news is that there are quite a lot of good ones out there. Here we rounded up some of the top font creation software for you to choose from.
1. FontArk
Let’s start with one of the most accessible font creation software. Fontark is not only free but also it’s browser-based. That means you don’t have to download it on your pc. Just go online and directly create custom fonts.
FontArk has most of the features you would need in your font creation software. FontArk also boasts a huge number of tutorials and video guides for beginners to learn the steps to create a font. Thus, it’s easy to learn and easy to use.
A practical feature of FontArk is the outline generator. It automatically creates an outline around your drawing. For special font types, FontArk has Logotype and Icon modes. There are also plenty of templates that you can use to make something completely new.
2. FontLab Studio
Unlike Fontark, FontLab studio is a premium font creation tool. It is aimed at the professionals. It supports both Mac and Windows systems.
FontLab allows complete edition of fonts in many different writing formats like Unicode, Latin, Greek, etc. It also allows us to create custom fonts throughout writings from different sources and drawings. With Fontlab, you could work on vectors and pixels and such making some unique fonts.
It also supports 65,535 glyphs and can correctly insert metric and kerning for each glyph.
3. Fontographer
Fontographer is a cheaper alternative from the creators of FontLab.
Fontographer is an easier option perfect for smaller projects. It has an intuitive interface and automated processes. It can import and export fonts up to 32000 glyphs and has a wide range of font formats. It’s also available on both Windows and Mac.
4. FontForge
FontForge is an open-source font creation tool. It’s available on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. FontForge supports Postscript, TrueType, OpenType, SVG and bitmap fonts. You can also convert fonts from one font to the other. It can extract fonts from PDF files.
In FontForge, letters are drawn using curves. Photoshop or Gimp users will find it familiar.
Due to the source code being free, the software ranges various levels of creative opportunity to those who can use it.
5. FontCreator
With 4.5 million downloads and more, FontCreator is a very popular tool amongst its users. FontCreator is a native Windows tool. FontCreator is a great tool for both beginners and professionals. Many of its features are suitable for professionals. Its straightforward interface is accessible to even the ones who are just starting.
FontCreator has a free demo. So it’s giving you a chance to try it out before you buy it. It has two editions depending on which features you want.
6. FontStruct
With this font creation software, you will be able to build fonts by combining geometrical shapes called bricks. With the help of its expert mode, you can compose your bricks and their outlines. It has the most straightforward features you will need. With expert mode, you can get some extra experienced features.
FontStruct is completely free and works on all browsers. Signup is required and it needs Flash to work properly.
7. RoboFont
RoboFont is an expensive font creation software for most users out there but an excellent one at that. It retails at 400 Euro.
RoboFont is a scalable tool. It’s built on Python and it has a very dedicated community. This dedicated community regularly pumps out many intuitive extra features, and there is already a huge collection of them.
It has full scripting access to objects and interfaces. You can also build additional tools to contribute to the community with its base.
RoboFont is only available on the Mac.
8. Fontastic
Fontastic is primarily made for icon fonts. Icon fonts are fonts that contain symbols and glyphs instead of letters. It provides a unique touch in many documents but looks especially good on websites.
It has a short guide for those who are new. Existing icons can be uploaded as SVG files and converted with Fontastic. Fontastic can modify every character with CSS. Icons of your font will be scaled according to the device being used. So, it looks exactly the way it was meant to be.
Fontastic is browser-based.
9. BitFontMaker
BitfontMaker is a special tool that lets you create pixel fonts. With its editor, you can draw each letter by selecting the table on the right and painting squares. It’s a really easy and fun way to make your fonts.
You can also upload TTF or OTF fonts and paint them.
10. Gylphr Studio
Gylphr studio is a powerful and practical tool that is available in portable forms. It runs as an HTML file. Outlines can be imported from Inkscape. Illustrator or SVG files can be imported in their entirety.
With its test drive option, you can live preview your fonts as you are making them. With two screen modes, you can work across multiple monitors. Gylphr Studio best works on Chrome and the best part is, it’s completely free.
There you have it. Some amazing font creation software for you to ponder upon. Hope this article will help you chose what suits you best. To learn more about fonts, check out more of our articles on our website.