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So I have been an ad student for thje last 4.5 years and have an o.k. sense of knowledge when it comes to fonts, however I feel that I should be more knowledgeable when it comes to making good use with fonts.
So my questions to you are:
1.Since I have a kagillion fonts, what would be the best way to browse them to make the right choice? A font reference book, web site, etc???
2.How can I stay on top of the newset great fonts that are available?
and last question...
3. What should I do to be a better font user?? Please reccomend anything that comes to mind.
Thanks and sorry for the newbie type questions.
doubting_thomas
10-02-2006, 05:27 PM
Are you using a Mac or PC?
capezio
10-02-2006, 05:30 PM
you have just posed the question I have been forming in my tiny brain.
It started because I received a poster enclosed in last months edition of Creative Review. It is 'Klang' the font map from FontFonts. I think it is quite good and you can see them all bunched together in 'clouds' of like fonts demonstrated by the world klang which is supposed to represent all the bowls, ascenders decenders etc.
As for all the others I am at a loss when all you have is the long list of names and no idea what they look like. If you open them through font book it takes forever if they are not in the library. If I use linotype explorer to look at them they install first before they open and I don't want that either.
If I'm doing a job I have an idea of how I would like the font to look but.... how to find it is the question. :confused:
Your're not alone RION
BJMRGTIVR6
10-02-2006, 05:42 PM
This site:
http://www.stcassociates.com/lab/fontbrowser.html
will allow you to look at your installed/activated fonts.
But you don't want to use more than asy 5 typefaces/fonts in a given piece anyway.
Like asked earlier: Mac or PC
also, stay alert about fonts be browsing the web, bookstores, advertisements and anything else the media throws at you.
PersonasBinar
10-02-2006, 06:11 PM
Comic Sans for all your design needs. *runs away giggling*
capezio
10-02-2006, 07:58 PM
Comic Sans for all your design needs. *runs away giggling*
Yeah right! :)
PersonasBinar
10-02-2006, 08:14 PM
I am of course joking. I've created binders of font prints as I get them. I know I've absorbed so many over the years that I can't remember them all. I flip through my books every once and awhile as well as grouping them in the font manager into scripts, fun, etc etc. Good call from above to keep an eye on ads signs and such for current font trends, it really does behave cyclically.
capezio
10-02-2006, 09:11 PM
I am of course joking. I've created binders of font prints as I get them. .
I've started doing that with fonts that I like when I'm looking and also fonts that have been identified on this forum
budafist
10-02-2006, 10:34 PM
When I was in Uni there was a cd of fonts going around that had all the fonts inside set up in folders: western, script, pixel fonts etc.
I wouldn't like to do this to a massive list though from scratch. Maybe just put them into style folders as you use require them. IE. when you are working on a script font design (wedding invitation), then start up a folder with suitable script fonts - each time you find another script font, chuck into that folder.
I also have them in alphabetical order and when I download new fonts I try and put them into their style folders.
I have a printed font book but that was printed about 4 years ago so is not up to date at all. When searching for that perfect font for a job, I browse online first as I can search with keywords and then check if I have the font/s that turn up in research.
mojoprime
10-02-2006, 11:03 PM
that's a great idea about the font book. i bet it would be a massive binder.
i think i've absorbed one too many; one my favorite drinking games is watching TV and picking out the fonts. Serpentine = car ads. i actually saw hobo on a commercial the other day. i couldn't believe it.
urstwile
10-03-2006, 12:02 AM
This has been a great resource for my workgroup when we're trying to look at fonts that we either might not have or don't have actively installed: Fontbook (http://www.fontshop.com/products/fontbook.cfm). Also, myfonts.com is a good way to check out fonts that you don't necessarily have but might want, or that you have but are unsure of what they look like. U&lc (http://www.itcfonts.com/Ulc/4012/) is also a good resource.
budafist
10-03-2006, 01:16 AM
I wish I had font geek friends to play font drinking games with...
urstwile
10-03-2006, 01:20 AM
LOL, Buda, me too! I'm the onlyest font geek in my general vicinity. :rolleyes:
budafist
10-03-2006, 01:22 AM
...do you drink when you guess it or do you drink if you lose?
budafist
10-03-2006, 01:24 AM
Ahuh. I fail to impress my boyfriend when I point out fonts I recognise in my day to day life... :p
urstwile
10-03-2006, 01:25 AM
It's a cryin' shame I tells-ya! :rolleyes:
Jackimalyn
10-03-2006, 01:58 AM
Ahuh. I fail to impress my boyfriend when I point out fonts I recognise in my day to day life... :p
me too... and man!! font drinking game!! Im way too excited about that!!!
mojoprime
10-03-2006, 02:00 AM
it's really scary. ok, my wife thinks its scary. i knew you guys would accept me... :)
drink when you miss one. keep a computer close by, and link to linotype, adobe and some of the big houses. the worst thing are all the new grunge fonts that come from smaller houses. great fonts, hard to remember the names. plus, if you miss a few... ;)
damn text fonts...
capezio
10-03-2006, 07:08 AM
<wishes she had someone to drink with let alone font drink with> :(
urstwile
10-03-2006, 07:13 AM
Bodoni on the rocks for the little lady! :D
Red Kittie Kat
10-03-2006, 07:25 AM
Did someone say fonts and drinking in the same thread???
......... Heaven ... I'm in heaven ... And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak ...... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/RedKittieKat/smilies/wub.gif
urstwile
10-03-2006, 07:34 AM
Would you like a White Russian Sans, or perhaps a fine Berkeley Oldstyle? Rocks or straight up?
Red Kittie Kat
10-03-2006, 07:45 AM
Well..... I was hoping for a Papyrus with a sprig of mint. I just love those ancient type drinks ..... but I will be more than happy with the White Russian Sans...... they are delish!!
:D
capezio
10-03-2006, 07:53 AM
I'll try them all...once lol
budafist
10-03-2006, 09:03 AM
Comic sans ice. Straight up! :p
PersonasBinar
10-03-2006, 01:47 PM
Those snippy Prada wearin', Eurostyle drinkin'......
Jackimalyn
10-03-2006, 01:57 PM
order me a lucida on the rocks.
BJMRGTIVR6
10-03-2006, 02:05 PM
Thank goodness some other designers and I are going to a Helvetica Happy Hour tonight and having some 25 cent Bauhaus Wings.
mojoprime
10-03-2006, 03:30 PM
for me, a goudy stout. har har.
(gra-ph!c-D'sig-nah)
10-03-2006, 03:40 PM
WOW....I think I love you guys....what a great thread. This is just as good as the blank comics thread. I will have a Swifty shaken!
BJMRGTIVR6
10-03-2006, 03:59 PM
A Mojo Mojito would be good in the summer.
capezio
10-03-2006, 04:02 PM
It's been a busy old day so I think I'll get myself a long cold Bacardi Springer and lots of ice and if I smoked which I don't I'd have a Kastellar to go with it.
budafist
10-03-2006, 10:04 PM
Is a Mequite Mule a cowboys drink or a lady's drink?
Virgo Nightingale
10-03-2006, 10:27 PM
I'd like a Clarendon Pale Ale myself....
urstwile
10-03-2006, 11:55 PM
Hmmm. A Guiness Extra Stout sounds good right about now.
budafist
10-04-2006, 12:03 AM
I'll have a good old lemon, linotype and bitters then :D
urstwile
10-04-2006, 12:05 AM
Heehee. I was thinking of following the Guiness with a Stone Sans Pale Ale.
morea
10-04-2006, 12:05 AM
Hmmm. A Guiness Extra Stout sounds good right about now.
*drool*
urstwile
10-04-2006, 12:14 AM
Here you go Morea. http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6207/picture1xl0.jpg http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/6250/images21bs8.jpg
morea
10-04-2006, 12:21 AM
right click...
save as...
drink...
reload....
drink...
reload...
drink...
Are you using a Mac or PC?
I am a MAC user.
you have just posed the question I have been forming in my tiny brain.
It started because I received a poster enclosed in last months edition of Creative Review. It is 'Klang' the font map from FontFonts. I think it is quite good and you can see them all bunched together in 'clouds' of like fonts demonstrated by the world klang which is supposed to represent all the bowls, ascenders decenders etc.
As for all the others I am at a loss when all you have is the long list of names and no idea what they look like. If you open them through font book it takes forever if they are not in the library. If I use linotype explorer to look at them they install first before they open and I don't want that either.
If I'm doing a job I have an idea of how I would like the font to look but.... how to find it is the question. :confused:
Your're not alone RION
Thanks, I am glad I am not the only one. I think what I will do is buy the most recent font book and use that for reference, I can't think of a better way to find that perfect font out of all the fonts I own.
urstwile
10-04-2006, 02:31 AM
Just keep a sense of perspective about it, Rion, and you'll be fine. Buy a good, comprehensive font book, like the one I recommended. Face the fact that possibly hundreds of new fonts come out a year (and that could be a conservative estimate), so your book will go out of date (in terms of showing the newest fonts anyway) fairly rapidly, and use online sources when you're looking for something different that might not be in your book.
We've had our font book for at least 8 years, and haven't even touched the tip of that iceberg. Fonts aren't necessarily about fashion, they're about context, and what's appropriate for what you're trying to do.
capezio
10-04-2006, 08:17 AM
Just keep a sense of perspective about it. . Fonts aren't necessarily about fashion, they're about context, and what's appropriate for what you're trying to do.
Definately.
errrrmmmm now what is a good font/fonts for a small company selling and installing solar energy systems that I am doing a logo for? <scratches head and prepares to trawl>
Just keep a sense of perspective about it, Rion, and you'll be fine. Buy a good, comprehensive font book, like the one I recommended. Face the fact that possibly hundreds of new fonts come out a year (and that could be a conservative estimate), so your book will go out of date (in terms of showing the newest fonts anyway) fairly rapidly, and use online sources when you're looking for something different that might not be in your book.
We've had our font book for at least 8 years, and haven't even touched the tip of that iceberg. Fonts aren't necessarily about fashion, they're about context, and what's appropriate for what you're trying to do.
Yeah, I need to come to th realization that fonts will come out every year. It's that there are so many, and some that are so cool, that I wanna know them all... which seems like it would not be possible. I will buy that fornt book that you suggested and hopefully my love and fear for fonts will be tamed.
urstwile
10-05-2006, 01:04 AM
Yeah, I need to come to th realization that fonts will come out every year. It's that there are so many, and some that are so cool, that I wanna know them all... which seems like it would not be possible. I will buy that fornt book that you suggested and hopefully my love and fear for fonts will be tamed.
Love of fonts is a good thing. But just like so many pieces of art (which I believe well designed and constructed fonts are) you can't possibly know all of the great ones. I think you're approaching your obsession in exactly the right way. Yay fonts! :)
Red Kittie Kat
10-05-2006, 01:13 AM
FONTS RULE MAN!!!
:D