posted
I just thought I'd throw this out here as an interesting topic. I'm working on a design in which one of the main words is "downtown". I have never run into this before, but the combination of "WN" twice in the same word makes it really hard to read in some fonts, while not hard at all in others. It seems that the wider the W the harder it is to read. It almost looks like "don't to own" in some instances. I would like to keep it in all caps, but that makes the problem more severe. Its almost like doing all caps in script. has anyone ran into this problem before? Nothing looks right.
-------------------- Dave Utter D-utterguy on chat Sign Designs Beardstown, Il. signdesigns@casscomm.com Posts: 777 | From: beardstown, illinois, usa | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Dave - Assuming you're looking for a digital font either as an end or a starting point, you'll find a shareware product called TypoGraf very useful for situations like this.
Typograf will allow you to type out any phrase you want and then look at it in any font you have available that is either TrueType or PostScript, installed or not installed. We use it several times a day.
You can download this 5 star product at the company's website and use it without cost. If you like it and continue to use it, then you should register it and pay the shareware fee which is $35.
posted
fred, I believe that is similar to Bitstream font navigator that comes with Corel Draw. Thats when it gets confusing. As you scroll down through the different fonts and look at what the word looks like in each font, its mind blowing how many look bad, and how few look good. Kerning is a big issue also. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. I'm always a sucker for new toys on my 'puter.
-------------------- Dave Utter D-utterguy on chat Sign Designs Beardstown, Il. signdesigns@casscomm.com Posts: 777 | From: beardstown, illinois, usa | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Try opening up the letter spacing or double or triple space the letters. You might want to go with a "gaspipe" type of letterstyle ( that would be one where the W's strokes are vertical opposed to slanted. Some letter combinations present spacing problems that require altering a whole line of lettering to get it to look right. The combination LA can give you fits. The old "sand between the letters trick" makes it easy to adjust spacing problems. For folks not familiar with this one, try and picture each word framed in a plexiglass box, open at the top and sealed everywhere else. Ideal spacing will allow the same amount of sand to be poured between each letter. All you do is maneuver the letters around til the amount of sand is equal. Harder to do on the computer , as some of the hand drawn methods take a little longer. The LA combination used to find a lot of guys shortening up the lower leg on the L to get it to snuggle up to the A better.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Heck, I say all uppercase old english.....maybe red letters with a black outline.....maybe that logo company that had the ad going around could help! hehehehe Jane (I hope people realize I'M KIDDING!)
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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I agree with George P. about using a font with vertical strokes on the "W'. Italicizing others way alleviate the appearance of gaps between "w" and "n". "O"'s can snuggle close to the "W" too.
Slightly off topic...I wonder how many different names there are for the old signpainter's standby, the condensed letter with round ends on the strokes, which some call gaspipe, and others (myself included) call stovepipe ? I know there are lotsa variations, but I was just wondering about painter's lingo for the basic, generic style. Does anyone here call it something else?
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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has anyone ran into this problem before? Nothing looks right. ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
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