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joe
07-04-2013, 08:50 PM
Greetings on this 4th of July

Letters, Letters, and More Letters

All of us are collecting more letter styles which causes us to spend more time pouring through them to find just the right selection. There's no way I can remember all those on my computer. Even if I had a didactic memory, each letter style has, at least, one of two interesting characters that sets it apart. I often search for these little jewels. Even if they are a Lower Case, sometimes I'll use them as a capitol.

If you are scrolling down the font registry for just the right letter style, you're wasting time. And time is the most important thing you have. To assist, there are loads of software programs that let you view a title, as it would appear on the sign. I have even printed all my fonts out on paper, placed them in a binder, to short cut the search.

On previous posts I've stressed understanding the architecture and personality of fonts. For example you wouldn't want a Hot Dog letter style for a church. In the same way you wouldn't want a jack booted German font for a beauty shop.

Another little trick is to have groupings like, Scripts, Western, San Serif, Fancy, Old Style, etc.
You can make up your own headings but the point is most businesses can be described by a topic heading. That will save lots of time and make for better signs.

If you don't have enough, go to "DaFonts". Last I checked the have two bizzilion for free.

Joe

kurt_rose
07-05-2013, 09:08 AM
I use DaFont all the time now. Not always as clean as Letterhead fonts but it's a cool place to send a customer to get them involved in the process. While I have you Joe. Would you mind telling me the name of the font on the Hemingway sign? Always love that one and would love to add it to my arsenal.

joe
07-05-2013, 08:35 PM
Kurt,

Good news, bad news about the Hemmingways. Good news you only have to get a #2 pencil. Bad news you only have to get the pencil. That's not a letter style. I love using a Stabillo drawing pen when doing script fonts. It does a beautiful job.

Remind me if you're going to the workshop. I'll bring one along. Still it takes a little time when building a custom logo. And they demand a little money.

Joe