Typography Task 3A
04.05.2021 - 11.05.2021 (Week 8 - Week 10)
Hussain Waheed (0344802)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 3: Type Design and communication
LECTURES
Week 6 / Understanding letterforms
For the beginning of task 2, we were provided the week 6 pre-recorded lecture delivered by Mr.Vinod who talks about the understanding of letterforms. Some of the important points are noted below:
INSTRUCTIONS
Task 3: Type Design and communication
For our Task 3, we were instructed to learn how to create our own typefaces. For this task we were required to research and learn more about existing typefaces, learn how they were constructed and then by referring to such fonts, sketch our own and digitise them to create a personal typeface. For this module we were only required to make a few letters.
So I did some research at first, and since I have been very inspired by Blackletter lately, I was thinking of making my typeface inspired by Blackletter. And hence based my research mostly on blackletter and gothic typefaces.
Figure 1.0.0: Aviarte font created by TypeAliens - 25th May 2021
Figure 1.0.1: Variations in different typefaces - 25th May 2021
The most important thing I learned from so many typefaces and type designers is that a beautiful typeface has to look beautiful as a whole, not individually. Mr.Vinod also said that many times and suggested that fonts has to look minimal and clean in order to preserve it's function.
For our Task 3, we were instructed to learn how to create our own typefaces. For this task we were required to research and learn more about existing typefaces, learn how they were constructed and then by referring to such fonts, sketch our own and digitise them to create a personal typeface. For this module we were only required to make a few letters.
So I did some research at first, and since I have been very inspired by Blackletter lately, I was thinking of making my typeface inspired by Blackletter. And hence based my research mostly on blackletter and gothic typefaces.
Figure 1.0.0: Aviarte font created by TypeAliens - 25th May 2021
Figure 1.0.1: Variations in different typefaces - 25th May 2021
The most important thing I learned from so many typefaces and type designers is that a beautiful typeface has to look beautiful as a whole, not individually. Mr.Vinod also said that many times and suggested that fonts has to look minimal and clean in order to preserve it's function.
Figure 1.0.2: A construction process of a Roman font - 25th May 2021
Practical: RECONSTRUCTING LETTERS
Before creating our font, we were told by Mr.Vinod to reconstruct 3 letters from an existing typeface to further understand the process of creating type. So I typed 3 letters in an Adobe Illustrator artboard, locked them in the back and drew the lines, curves and circles that build up the typeface.
Figure 1.0.3: Reconstructing a font- 25th May 2021
The font I used is Janson Text LT Std and the letters used are A, I and P.
Here is my FINAL Reconstruction of the letters.
Here is my FINAL Reconstruction of the letters.
Figure 1.0.4: Final reconstruction - 25th May 2021
FINAL RECONSTRUCTION:
Sketching type:
I have previously tried doing typography for single words or small sentences but they were mainly digitised sketches instead of attempting to make fonts. Here are some of my previous related works:
Figure 1.0.5: Some previous calligraphy works - 25th May 2021
Figure 1.0.6: This was an actual font sketch that I began but hadn’t continued - 25th May 2021
I did some calligraphic strokes and sketched letters on a canvas paper at first to get an idea of what I wanted to do. Here is my sketch:
From the sketch book, the bottom two is the first sketch that I wrote. After writing those two, I worked on illustrator to construct a letter during the class feedback-break. I showed my sketch to the lecturers before the break and Mr.Vinod said that he can see my calligraphic background and said that calligraphic blackletter is a very general and broad field so my design has to somehow has a uniqueness from the general blackletter look. So I was thinking about it and sketching ideas in my head and then did more exploration in Adobe illustrator.
Figure 1.0.8: Illustrator letterform- 25th May 2021
Firstly I made the brush flat and in a 45 degree angle to create a few strokes because that is the angle I used to write the letters on the sketch. I drew an a using 3 strokes for the two sides and the leg. After that I created additional strokes in the middle of the main strokes because the current one was looking too typical without any blackletter look. I didn't know what they were called but many calligraphers use it when writing and it gives a wholesome look to the whole text. Mr.Vinod later said they were called spurs when giving me feedback.
Figure 1.0.9: first letter letter - 25th May 2021
After setting the direction for my letter form, I locked the strokes and began constructing the guides and curves needed for the letter. I only used vertical lines, 45 degree diagonal lines and circles to mimic the diagonal strokes but in a simplified way. That way, the thickness in some places wasn’t accurate but the wholesome look was seemingly consistent.
Figure 1.1.0: Making more letters- 25th May 2021
It is always the first letter that take up the hardest work. After that, creating the rest of the letters seem easier as they all share the same structure and I just had to duplicate the guides from first letter and add/remove some circles or lines to create the next letter. So I continued on to make the rest of the letters.
Figure 1.1.1: Making more letters- 28th May 2021
Here are the complete set of letters I created after some adjustments. I feel like there is still some improvements that can be made but I am happy with my font.
Here are the complete set of letters I created after some adjustments. I feel like there is still some improvements that can be made but I am happy with my font.
Figure 1.1.2: Making more letters- 28th May 2021
Even though the letters above are the requirement, I felt like I wanted to try more and explore deeper into the font construction so I went along and completed the remaining lowercase letters. I felt very happy about the font so I made some additional art-boards to see how the font would practically look.
Figure 1.1.3: Making the rest of the font- 28th May 2021
Figure 1.1.4: Experimenting with the rest of the font- 28th May 2021
So after exploring with the letters, I downloaded FontLab 7 and imported the letters Mr.Vinod asked us to export.
Figure 1.1.3: Importing to Fontlab- 28th May 2021
Figure 1.1.4: Adjustments done in Fontlab- 28th May 2021
In FontLab, I created my font and manually put the values for kerning per every letter combination which was a time consuming process but with the few letters to choose from, it was easier.
Figure 1.1.5: More adjustments- 28th May 2021
Finally after lengthy adjustments, I exported my very first font as a TTF and installed it to explore the font in illustrator. Turns out the font seems cool but there are still some improvements I could bring to the font in terms of kerning. But I am happy with my overall font.
Figure 1.1.6: Installing my font- 28th May 2021
Figure 1.1.7: Testing the font- 28th May 2021
FINAL LETTERS SUBMISSION:
FONT POSTER:
The next task we were assigned on week 10 was to create a poster using the letters. Mr.Vinod suggested we use the phrase "I am a type god, obey me" since it has the letters that we created. He said we are allowed to use any phrasing of the letters made but I used the same phrasing.
I tried a few options but felt like my particular font somehow looks slightly off with the phrase provided. I find that happens when typing some words using some other typefaces as well. Some words just look weird in some fonts but looks good collectively in large amounts of texts. Anyways, here are some of the tryouts:
I tried a few options but felt like my particular font somehow looks slightly off with the phrase provided. I find that happens when typing some words using some other typefaces as well. Some words just look weird in some fonts but looks good collectively in large amounts of texts. Anyways, here are some of the tryouts:
I showed these to Mr.Vinod and he told me that it was too oversaturated with elements and so I removed the grey type layers behind. And tried some more. He also said the whole phrase must be in the same point size.
Figure 1.1.7: Testing the font- 28th May 2021
I like the circular text. Blackletter looks really good in circular shapes but that was just an experimental fun. The poster was supposed to highlight only the font "in all it's glory" as Mr.Vinod said. So I went with the one on the right but inverted the colours.
Figure 1.1.7: Testing the font- 28th May 2021
FINAL POSTER SUBMISSION:
FONT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AKWZcMrPZMT7but6FXK4eTxuSNujYQg9/view?usp=sharing
FEEDBACK
Week 8:
Independent learning week for sketching and digitising typeface
Week 9:
Specific Feedback: Mr.Vinod and Mr.Sam evaluated my digitising process and appreciated my work and acknowledged about my background information on calligraphy and blackletter. They both suggested me to refine the edges and finish letters with leg-serifs to a two point edge rather than a one-pointer. They also gave feedback on my e-portfolio and noted my name along with other students who did a notably good work.
General Feedback: "Good fonts look plain and the smallest details matter". Compare your font to an existing font to refer the thickness and individual details on strokes and type.
Week 10: Specific Feedback: Mr.Vinod and Mr.Sam commented on the font and said it looks consistent and professional. However they noted that the poster had some issues such as varying point sizes and compositional issues.
General Feedback: Fonts or any type needs to be plain and easily recognisable for the particular situation it is being used on.
REFLECTIONS
Experience: This was my favourite task in this module as it was something I've always wanted to do. I really enjoyed the process of sketching and digitising the letters and experimenting with them as a font in FontLab. It was a very informative exercise that gave so many new perspectives and knowledge to learn and experiment with.
Observation: Throughout task 3, I observed the many phases involved in creating typefaces and how important each phase is from beginning to end. It can turn out to be a lengthy process but to make a fine looking font it requires a lot of patience and practice.
Findings: I found that a lot of minor details in terms of design or placement is required to make a font that gives a good impression. A simple and good looking font is not an easy thing to make. It all comes down to the details and construction process. I also found that a bunch of really beautiful letters could still make up a nasty font due to the consistency, arrangement, kerning and various other reasons.
FURTHER READING
Week 9:
https://designtemplateplace.com/product/aviorte-87538
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