{"id":13835,"date":"2015-07-02T10:55:58","date_gmt":"2015-07-02T16:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.signs.com\/blog\/?p=13835"},"modified":"2021-11-11T10:11:01","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T17:11:01","slug":"fonts-signage-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.signs.com\/blog\/fonts-signage-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Fonts – Signage 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sometimes creating signage can be stressful. At Signs.com, we want to make the process as hassle-free as possible. Font issues can be one of the most common sources of headaches when designing signage. If fonts aren\u2019t created correctly, you can end up with a sign that doesn\u2019t look anything like what you pictured. With this Signage 101<\/a> post, we will be simplifying the confusing world of fonts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

WHY DO FONTS MATTER?  <\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A font <\/i>is an electronic file containing characters, glyphs, and\/or symbols. Each computer is equipped with a certain set of fonts, stored on the hard drive of the computer. Technically, they are stored as either TrueType<\/a> files or OpenType<\/a> files, readable by the computer as a static line of dots on a page. Fonts can be resized proportionally by changing the font size on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Examples<\/a>
Fonts can be scaled in proportion to the size they were created.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

However, fonts can vary from computer to computer. When a file gets opened on a new computer, the computer searches for the corresponding font. If the new computer doesn\u2019t have that particular font, it attempts to find similar font to use as a substitute. Often, this leads to issues with spacing and placement of the letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Example<\/a>
This is an example of a computer substituted font. The replaced font has issues
with spacing and the placement of the letters.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

HOW CAN I AVOID FONT ISSUES? <\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fonts can be fickle. The best way to ensure your fonts come out looking great is to convert them from fonts into \u201coutlines\u201d. Outlining the fonts changes the fonts from, well, fonts<\/i>, into drawings. We\u2019ll spare you the mathematical details<\/a>, but outlining the fonts makes the file universally readable on any computer, whether or not the computer has the font used. Instead of reading the font as sets of dots that make up a letter, the computer reads the file as a group of dots based on a mathematical algorithm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The text in an outlined font can\u2019t be edited because it is no longer a font. Therefore, before you outline your fonts, be sure the text is exactly as you\u2019d like it to be. Alternatively, save two files – one that is still editable and one that is ready for printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>HOW DO I OUTLINE FONTS?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fonts can be easily outlined in any Adobe Suite program. It is also possible to outline fonts in Microsoft Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outlining Fonts in Adobe Illustrator<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are working in Adobe Illustrator, follow these simple steps to outline your fonts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Select your font using the selection tool. Depending on your version of Adobe Illustrator, you can select more than one line of text at a time.<\/li>
  2. In the menu bar, select \u201cType\u201d then select \u201cCreate Outlines\u201d. The computer will then turn everything you have selected into an outline.<\/li>
  3. Follow these steps for each line of your text. The computer denotes outlined fonts with dots around the edges of the letters. Dots only denote the edge of each of the lines on the computer and will not be printed.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    For more information, watch our short video regarding outlining fonts in Adobe Illustrator.<\/p>\n\n\n