Creating a font

[Derfie]

I have a client who wants me to create a font, not a traditional one....

Here's the deal, He has non-english "Characters" that he has hand drawn and assigned "Keybord keys". He would like a "Font" that appears in M.S. word that he can type his characters into the program. (kind of like Dingbats)

Obviously I don't think I need to worry about the kerning/ligatures ect... as this is a very specific application. Here is my question, as I have not created a font before:

I am assuming that I will draw out the individual characters as vector art in illustrator. Which font building program would be best so that I can assign the individual illustrator drawings to different keys (Including Shift, and Option/ctrl + keys). I am working on a Mac, but I need to make sure that any font I create is PC compatible. I am looking to keep any new software invesment to a minimum (under $200) since this is a special circumstance, and this is not a service I plan to offer in the future. I need to be able to draw the individual characters, but I don't believe I need super advance software features.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Mynock]

Dunno, sounds like alot of work, hope you're getting paid a whole lot. This belongs in the typography section, ah hem mods over here :)

[Derfie]

Sorry, wasn't sure if it was a strictly typeography post. Please move if it's better suited in the typeography section.

I am billing a decent hourly rate, and I have an idea of how to approach the whole project, just not sure of the best program to use. I am a fairly fast learner, so I am hoping I can pick up on technical part pretty easily.

[Mynock]

Mac or PC?

[Mynock]

Fontographer is the only one I know. It's mainly Mac, or only really updated on the Mac side, nor really on the PC side. I dunno. It's been a while since I looked into it.

[Derfie]

I'm building on a Mac, but will need the final font to work on a PC in MS word.

[Red Kittie Kat]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/RedKittieKat/GDF/movingtruck.jpg


Moved to Typography ;)

[Mynock]

http://desktoppub.about.com/od/fonteditors/Font_Software_for_Creating_Fonts.htm
http://desktoppub.about.com/od/makefonts/How_to_Make_Fonts_Tutorials_to_Create_Fonts.htm

There you go.

[Mynock]

Maybe FontLab's TypeTool is what you want to go with only $99.

[matthewb1985]

the best thing is to draw the characters individually in illustrator as individual files and then you import into fontographer or the like to make it work.

[Derfie]

I was just looking at it. Fontlab has a plugin that goes with type tool that lets you drop in EPS vector art into the program and assign keys. Looks like you can get Type Tool and the Scanfont plugin bundled for $199. that's right on my budget and it looks like it does what I need. Thanks! Still interested to know if anyone else has done something similiar.

[Derfie]

Has anyone used FontForge? It's free and My husband installed on our laptop, and has it up and running (apparently there are known issues with installing). Just curious if anyone has used it. I haven't had a chance to play with it yet.

[Mynock]

I dunno, but you get what you pay for most of the time.

[Derfie]

That's my philosophy, which is why I will more than likely pay for legitimate software