FAQs
- Top Questions!
- Commercial use
-
Commercial use
May I use this font for commercial purposes?
Yes, however, conditions apply. All of my licenses cover the terms for both personal and commercial uses. Please carefully review our license agreement to be sure you are purchasing the correct license that applies to your intended use.
- Logos
-
Logos
May I use these fonts in a logo?
Yes! And I would love to see the finished design :)
- Where are the fancy letters? Using swashes, alternates, and ornaments
-
Where are the fancy letters? Using swashes, alternates, and ornaments
How do I find and use the swashes/alternates/ornaments?
All operating systems have a utility program that can access the swashes, alternates, and ornaments in my fonts. In addition, some programs have an OpenType®, Glyph, or Symbol panel or menu that can be used to find and insert swashes, alternates, and symbols directly into your document.
Operating system’s utility programs include Character Map (Windows), Character Viewer (Mac OS versions prior to 10.9), or Font Book (Mac OS 10.9 and later).
You can also use NexusFont, a free download (Windows only), or purchase a software program such as PopChar® by Ergonis© or Ultra Character Map. PopChar is a standalone glyphs palette that makes it easy to select and copy the glyph you want and paste it into almost any document/program (Photoshop, Word, Publisher, etc.). If you have, or are planning to purchase one of my fonts, Contact me with a copy of your receipt for a 30% discount code on PopChar.
Below are links to instructional PDFs, along with a how-to video for Mac Users (10.6-10.8):
Character Map (Windows) • Video | NexusFont (Windows) • Video
Mac OS 10.6-10.8 • Video | Mac OS 10.9 • Video
Some programs such as Adobe Illustrator® and InDesign® (CS versions), Quark Xpress 7.0® (and above), CorelDRAW X6® (and above) have OpenType and Glyphs palettes, Click here to download an instructional PDF for Adobe Illustrator® and InDesign®. Click here to view written instructions on using OpenType in CorelDRAW® or watch this video.
With Microsoft Word® and Powerpoint®, you can access the swashes using the Insert menu. First, select the font from the font menu. Then, go to the Main menu, click on the Insert tab, and then click Symbols. (In Word, you will also click on More Symbols at the bottom of the drop-down menu.) The menu arrangement may be a little different depending on what version you are using, but generally it will be found as Insert>>Symbol (More Symbols) somewhere in the menu items. In the pop-up Symbol window, double-click on a letter or click on Insert to insert the swash. With Microsoft Word 2010® or later versions, you may access some OpenType features in the application as well. Magpie Paperworks has an excellent tutorial here.
For die-cutting programs such as Silhouette®, Sure Cuts A Lot®, Make the Cut™, or Cricut®, access the swashes and alternates by using one of the methods mentioned above and copy/pasting into your document. For additional resources and how-to videos and information, take a look at Kay Hall’s blog.
Videos
- Licensing
- Commercial use
-
Commercial use
May I use this font for commercial purposes?
Yes, however, conditions apply. All of my licenses cover the terms for both personal and commercial uses. Please carefully review our license agreement to be sure you are purchasing the correct license that applies to your intended use.
- Logos
-
Logos
May I use these fonts in a logo?
Yes! And I would love to see the finished design :)
- EULA (End User License Agreement)
-
EULA (End User License Agreement)
What are the details of the EULA?
A font license is a binding agreement that gives you the right to use the font in a specific manner. There are three types of user licenses: A one-user, multi-user, and an extended license. A one-user license covers ONE person with up to FIVE workstations (such as a laptop, desktop computer) connected to ONE printer or output device. A multi-user license is for more than one person and/or more than five workstations. Click here for details. If you need to purchase more than five users, contact me for special pricing. An extended license is required if you will be using the typeface for live text such as on a website, app, or video or for uses not allowed or covered under the Standard License Agreement. Extended licenses are offered and priced on a case by case basis. Contact me for details. For more detailed information on what your license covers, please consult the EULA.
Note: If you have purchased a font through one of the following distributors, their EULA is the governing contract:
Creative Market • GraphicRiver • FontBundles • FontBrothers
- Font use for client’s projects
-
Font use for client’s projects
May I use your fonts in my projects on behalf of my clients?
Yes! However, if your client wants to use the font, they will need to purchase their own license.
- Modifying the font
-
Modifying the font
May I modify your fonts (or have someone else do it)?
You may modify the vector outlines of a font you’ve licensed using an editing program such as Adobe Illustrator® or CorelDRAW® for your personal or internal business use only. You may not modify an LW font to resell, alter, or add letterforms. Please be sure to review the full EULA, or contact us to ensure the intended use is within license terms.
- Posting the font or SVG cutting files on a website/forum – file sharing
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Posting the font or SVG cutting files on a website/forum – file sharing
May I put a copy of your font or SVG cutting files on my website or forum for others to download?
No. These fonts are sold by licensed retailers only, and not to be shared elsewhere. You may not post or share SVG, vector or raster format cutting files created with Laura Worthington fonts.
- Printed pieces & digital download files
-
Printed pieces & digital download files
I design printed pieces and digital download files (such as invitations, greeting cards, templates) for resale. May I use your fonts in my designs?
Yes! However, fonts used in digital download artwork must be provided to the end user as a static image (e.g., jpg, gif, tif) or as a vector file such as EPS with the fonts outlined. This does not include individual, modified or unmodified glyphs, such as letters, numerals, catchwords, symbols, ornaments or alphabets. Distribution of these in any format are prohibited. You may not provide the font file as part of the design or download.
- Individual letters, numbers, symbols and ornaments
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Individual letters, numbers, symbols and ornaments
I want to make individual letterform products for resale (such as rubber stamps, stickers, wall decals, embroidery appliqués, digital files.) May I use your fonts for this purpose?
Individual glyphs (ie; letters, swashes, ornaments, numerals, etc.) may not be resold in any format.
- Word or phrase products
-
Word or phrase products
I make word and/or phrase products for resale (such as rubber stamps, stickers, wall decals, embroidery appliqués, digital files.) May I use your fonts for this purpose?
Yes, you may! This does not include individual, modified or unmodified glyphs, such as letters, numerals, catchwords, symbols, ornaments or alphabets. Distribution of these in any format are prohibited.
- Embroidery
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Embroidery
I would like to turn your typefaces into an embroidery format to resell, may I buy a license for this?
Sorry! I do not offer licenses for this purpose.
- SVG and digital files
-
SVG and digital files
May I design and resell SVG files?
Yes! You may resell word art in the SVG format. This allowance does NOT include the resale of individual, modified or unmodified glyphs, such as letters, numerals, catchwords, symbols, ornaments or alphabets.
- Apps
-
Apps
May I use your fonts in an App?
With the purchase of an extended license, yes. Contact me for details or you may purchase a license from any one of the following authorized distributors.
MyFonts, FontSpring, YouWorkForThem, Fonts.com, FontShop.com, or FontHaus.com.
- Film and Broadcast
-
Film and Broadcast
May I use your fonts in a Film or Broadcast?
With the purchase of an extended license, yes. Contact me for details.
- Authorized Distributors
-
Authorized Distributors
What sites are authorized to sell Laura Worthington fonts?
- How do I…?
- Where are the fancy letters? Using swashes, alternates, and ornaments
-
Where are the fancy letters? Using swashes, alternates, and ornaments
How do I find and use the swashes/alternates/ornaments?
All operating systems have a utility program that can access the swashes, alternates, and ornaments in my fonts. In addition, some programs have an OpenType®, Glyph, or Symbol panel or menu that can be used to find and insert swashes, alternates, and symbols directly into your document.
Operating system’s utility programs include Character Map (Windows), Character Viewer (Mac OS versions prior to 10.9), or Font Book (Mac OS 10.9 and later).
You can also use NexusFont, a free download (Windows only), or purchase a software program such as PopChar® by Ergonis© or Ultra Character Map. PopChar is a standalone glyphs palette that makes it easy to select and copy the glyph you want and paste it into almost any document/program (Photoshop, Word, Publisher, etc.). If you have, or are planning to purchase one of my fonts, Contact me with a copy of your receipt for a 30% discount code on PopChar.
Below are links to instructional PDFs, along with a how-to video for Mac Users (10.6-10.8):
Character Map (Windows) • Video | NexusFont (Windows) • Video
Mac OS 10.6-10.8 • Video | Mac OS 10.9 • Video
Some programs such as Adobe Illustrator® and InDesign® (CS versions), Quark Xpress 7.0® (and above), CorelDRAW X6® (and above) have OpenType and Glyphs palettes, Click here to download an instructional PDF for Adobe Illustrator® and InDesign®. Click here to view written instructions on using OpenType in CorelDRAW® or watch this video.
With Microsoft Word® and Powerpoint®, you can access the swashes using the Insert menu. First, select the font from the font menu. Then, go to the Main menu, click on the Insert tab, and then click Symbols. (In Word, you will also click on More Symbols at the bottom of the drop-down menu.) The menu arrangement may be a little different depending on what version you are using, but generally it will be found as Insert>>Symbol (More Symbols) somewhere in the menu items. In the pop-up Symbol window, double-click on a letter or click on Insert to insert the swash. With Microsoft Word 2010® or later versions, you may access some OpenType features in the application as well. Magpie Paperworks has an excellent tutorial here.
For die-cutting programs such as Silhouette®, Sure Cuts A Lot®, Make the Cut™, or Cricut®, access the swashes and alternates by using one of the methods mentioned above and copy/pasting into your document. For additional resources and how-to videos and information, take a look at Kay Hall’s blog.
Videos
- Installing fonts
-
Installing fonts
How do I install my fonts?
You will receive your files as a zipped folder.
To unzip the folder on a Windows® computer, right-click on the folder and select Extract All. A window will pop up showing the location where the unzipped folder will be placed. By default, this location is the same as the zipped folder, but can be changed if necessary. Click Extract.
To unzip the folder on a Mac® computer, double-click on the folder and it will be unzipped to the same location as the zipped folder.
Windows:
Right click on the font file and select Install from the pop-up menu. –OR– Double-click on the font file, and click on “Install” in the pop-up window. –OR– Drag and drop the font files into C:WindowsFonts.Visit How to Install Fonts in Windows 7 by howtechpc.
Visit How to Install Fonts in Windows 8 by HowTech.
Visit How to install fonts in windows 10 (2 simple methods) by Iviewgle.Mac OS:
Double-click the font file and Font Book will launch with a window displaying the font. In the lower right corner of the window, click Install Font.Visit How to Install Fonts on a Mac (SIMPLEST WAY) by How to Cinemas.
Note: Purchasing a font management program is recommended.
Is the font that I purchased the most recent one?
If you have purchased your font within the last two years, then you font is up to date. If you can’t find the swashes, check out the Where are the Fancy Letters section of the FAQ. If you are using Samantha with Cricut®, please Contact me and I will send you a special version of Samantha designed specifically for Cricut.
Videos
- File Formats
-
File Formats
Which file format (.ttf or .otf) should I install?
Your font is available in two formats: TrueType Font file (.ttf) and OpenType Font file (.otf). If you have a Mac® or newer Windows® computer, install the .otf file(s). If you have an older Windows computer, install the .ttf files.
I’ve written a visual guide/article explaining in more details what the differences are between .otf and .ttf, some of the included features are, how I’ve used them to enhance my typefaces, and why, when, and how to use them.
Save a copy of the .otf and .ttf files to a convenient folder such as the documents folder to act as a backup just in case you need to re-install the font after buying a new computer, or upgrading your operating system.
- Using Font Book, Character Map, or PopChar®
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Using Font Book, Character Map, or PopChar®
Tips for using Font Book, Character Map, or PopChar®
Selecting swashes in Font Book
If you are using Font Book, select the font you are interested in from the list, and change the View to Repertoire (View>>Repertoire).
Font Book Video [for Mac] by Laura Worthington
Finding swashes in Character Map
In Character Map, Windows sometimes switches the font to a default font for some strange reason, so double-check that your font is chosen from the drop down menu. Click the Advanced View checkbox at the bottom of the Character Map window and select Character set “Unicode” then select Group by “All” to see everything in the font, or Group by “Unicode subrange” then select "Private Use” from the pop-up box to see just the special characters.
Character Map Video [for Windows] by Laura Worthington
Tips for using PopChar®
Find the alternates in the Private Use Area tab. Make the glyphs larger by clicking on the gear button in the upper left corner of the pane. Select Preferences, then View & Insert. There is a slider at the top of that pane that will allow you to control the size of the glyphs.
Videos
- Adobe Illustrator® & InDesign®
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Adobe Illustrator® & InDesign®
Tips for using Adobe's glyphs palette
Click here to download an instructional PDF for Adobe Illustrator® and InDesign®
Samantha Font - video: accessing special characters by Scrappy DIVA
How do I enlarge the glyphs in Illustrator?
In the Glyphs panel, click on the icon that looks like two mountains in the bottom right corner. (See picture below.)
Videos
- CorelDRAW®
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CorelDRAW®
Tips for using swashes/alternates/ornaments in CorelDRAW®
Samantha Font - video: special characters by Scrappy DIVA
Videos
- Microsoft Word®
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Microsoft Word®
Tips for using swashes/alternates/ornaments in Microsoft Word®
Microsoft Word®
Video: using Microsoft Word by Laura Worthington
Activating kerning, ligatures and contextual alternates
Microsoft Word® does NOT have kerning, ligatures or contextual alternates activated by default; these features must be enabled by the user and are vital to making fonts look their best.
Here's how: In the menu bar, click on FORMAT>> FONT. Click on the ADVANCED tab in the dialog box and check the boxes for kerning and contextual alternates. From the drop down menu for ligatures, select ALL.
Accessing Swashes & Alternates
With Microsoft Word® and Powerpoint®, you can access the swashes using the Insert menu. First, make sure that the font you want is selected from the font menu. Then, go to the Main menu, and click on the Insert tab and then Symbols. (In Word, you will also click on More Symbols at the bottom of the drop-down menu.) The menu arrangement may be little different depending on what version you are using, but generally it will be found as Insert>>Symbol (More Symbols) somewhere in the menu items. In the pop-up Symbol window, double-click on a letter or click on Insert to insert the swash. With Microsoft Word 2010® or later versions, you may access some OpenType features in the application as well. Magpie Paperworks has an excellent tutorial here.
Videos
- Silhouette Studio®
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Silhouette Studio®
Tips for using swashes/alternates/ornaments in Silhouette Studio®
Video: Using Laura Worthington fonts with Silhouette Studio by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday and other helpful tips as well.
Video: How To Access Special Characters In The Samantha Font In Your Silhouette Studio Software (On A Mac) by Nikki, In Stitches
Video: Laura Worthington Fonts in Silhouette Studio Mavericks by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday
Q: I’ve pasted a letter into Silhouette®, but it showed up as a rectangle or other weird symbol.
In Silhouette, if your cursor isn’t in a text block, the swash or ornament will be pasted somewhere in the middle of the document and will usually just look like a rectangle. While the rectangle is selected (or while the text is selected), choose the font that you want to use, e.g., Samantha Upright, from the text style panel (the letter A at the top of the menu will open the panel). Or, depending on which version of Silhouette you have, you can place your cursor in a text block or in a word that is already formatted in the Samantha font and paste the swash in.
Videos
- Cricut®
-
Cricut®
Tips for using swashes/alternates/ornaments in Cricut®
Video: Using Samantha in Mac Cricut Design Space by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday
Video: Samantha Script being used in Cricut Design Space on Windows by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday
Video: Fancy Fonts with Cricut Design Space by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday
Video: Using Samantha in Fontlab to Cricut
Q: I’m using Samantha Script with Cricut® and am having trouble with the bold and/or italic
Cricut® will sometimes have issues with Samantha because while many fonts only have a couple hundred characters, Samantha has a couple thousand. Please Contact me and I will send you a special version of Samantha designed specifically for Cricut.
Videos
- Sure Cuts A Lot® (SCAL)
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Sure Cuts A Lot® (SCAL)
Tips for using swashes/alternates/ornaments in Sure Cuts A Lot® (SCAL)
Video: How to use Samantha in SCAL4 by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday
Videos
- Make the Cut™
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Make the Cut™
Tips for using swashes/alternates/ornaments in Make the Cut™
Make the Cut™
Video: Intro to the Samantha Font by Julie Flanagan
Video: Samantha Font by Julie Flanagan
Videos
- Windows 10
-
Windows 10
Tips for Windows 10
I upgraded to Windows 10 and can’t find my font
First, check to see if the font is still installed. An easy way to check this is to open Microsoft Word or another word processing program and see if your font is in the font list. You can also check by going to the fonts folder or opening Character Map. If the font is not installed, then it will need to be re-installed. If the font is installed, but not working, then there may have been a glitch during the upgrade. Locate the font file and re-install the font.
I can’t find Character Map in Windows 10
Character Map is located in Windows Accessories in All Apps.
- Video demonstrations
-
Video demonstrations
Links to how-to videos
Many of these videos were produced independently by various wonderful people and the links may change any time. The videos and the content are the sole property of their owners.
Programs for accessing swashes, alternates, and ornaments.
Character Map [for Windows] by Laura Worthington
Nexus Font [for Windows] by Laura Worthington
Font Book [for Mac] by Laura Worthington
Character Viewer [for Mac] by Laura Worthington
Accessing OpenType Options with Mac apps you already have by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday
How to Access Alternate Characters in LW Fonts Using Inkscape & the LW Type Tester
Videos
- Videos about specific fonts
-
Videos about specific fonts
See my fonts and their features in action!
Video: Using Laura Worthington's Frame Fonts by Laura Worthington
Video: Adorn Smooth Collection by Laura Worthington
Video: Spumante by Laura Worthington
Video: Voltage Font Download by Fakri Ginanji
Video: Boucherie Font Download by Selma Kamanda
Videos
- OpenType Features
-
OpenType Features
What are some of the OpenType® features you’ve mentioned in your descriptions?
Take a look at this visual guide/article that I’ve written explaining what some of these features are, how I’ve used them to enhance my typefaces, and why, when and how to use them. Adobe TypeKit has an excellent guide as well.
Also, watch this video by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday.
Videos
- Ordering
- Payment Options
-
Payment Options
What are my payment options?
You may pay with a credit card or with PayPal. Although all payments are processed through PayPal, you are not required to have a PayPal account to purchase an item using your credit card.
- Volume Discounts
-
Volume Discounts
If I want to buy a few of your fonts, can I get a discounted price on my purchase?
Yes! Here’s my volume discount table:
2 items – 5%
3-5 items – 10%
6-9 items – 15%
10-15 items – 20%
16-20 items – 25%
21 or more items – 30%After I’ve placed my order, when and how will I receive the font?
You will receive an email confirming your order, a receipt for your records, and a link to download the file. Clicking the link will launch a browser window and either ask you to save the file (PC), or it will automatically download it to your downloads folder (Mac).
- Your Download
-
Your Download
What is included in my download?
You will receive the font file in both .otf and .ttf formats, and the User’s Guide if available.
- Resources
- Using swashes, alternates, and ornaments
-
Using swashes, alternates, and ornaments
How do I find and use the swashes, alternates, and ornaments?
All operating systems have a utility program that can access the swashes, alternates, and ornaments in my fonts. In addition, some programs have an OpenType®, Glyph, or Symbol panel or menu that can be used to find and insert swashes, alternates, and symbols directly into your document.
Operating system’s utility programs include Character Map (Windows), Character Viewer (Mac OS versions prior to 10.9), or Font Book (Mac OS 10.9 and later).
You can also use NexusFont, a free download (Windows only), or purchase a software program such as PopChar® by Ergonis© or Ultra Character Map. PopChar is a standalone glyphs palette that makes it easy to select and copy the glyph you want and paste it into almost any document/program (Photoshop, Word, Publisher, etc.). If you have, or are planning to purchase one of my fonts, Contact me with a copy of your receipt for a 30% discount code on PopChar.
Below are links to instructional PDFs, along with a how-to video for Mac Users (10.6-10.8):
Character Map (Windows) • Video | NexusFont (Windows) • Video
Mac OS 10.6-10.8 • Video | Mac OS 10.9 • Video
Some programs such as Adobe Illustrator® and InDesign® (CS versions), Quark Xpress 7.0® (and above), CorelDRAW X6® (and above) have OpenType and Glyphs palettes, Click here to download an instructional PDF for Adobe Illustrator® and InDesign®. Click here to view written instructions on using OpenType in CorelDRAW® or watch this video.
With Microsoft Word® and Powerpoint®, you can access the swashes using the Insert menu. First, select the font from the font menu. Then, go to the Main menu, click on the Insert tab, and then click Symbols. (In Word, you will also click on More Symbols at the bottom of the drop-down menu.) The menu arrangement may be a little different depending on what version you are using, but generally it will be found as Insert>>Symbol (More Symbols) somewhere in the menu items. In the pop-up Symbol window, double-click on a letter or click on Insert to insert the swash. With Microsoft Word 2010® or later versions, you may access some OpenType features in the application as well. Magpie Paperworks has an excellent tutorial here.
For die-cutting programs such as Silhouette®, Sure Cuts A Lot®, Make the Cut™, or Cricut®, access the swashes and alternates by using one of the methods mentioned above and copy/pasting into your document. For additional resources and how-to videos and information, take a look at Kay Hall’s blog.
Videos
- Video demonstrations
-
Video demonstrations
How to use swashes, alternates, ornaments, fonts and their features and more
Many of these video were produced independently by various wonderful people and the links may change any time. The videos and the content are the sole property of their owners.
Programs for accessing swashes, alternates, and ornaments.
Video: Character Map [for Windows] by Laura Worthington
Video: Nexus Font [for Windows] by Laura Worthington
Video: Font Book [for Mac] by Laura Worthington
Video: Character Viewer [for Mac] by Laura Worthington
Video: Accessing OpenType Options with Mac apps you already have by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday
Video: How to Access Alternate Characters in LW Fonts Using Inkscape & the LW Type Tester by Laura Worthington
Video: Using Laura Worthington's Frame Fonts by Laura Worthington
Lettering tips and practice by Laura Worthington
Video: Lettering Tip: How Do You Achieve Consistent Spacing Between Your Letters?
Video: Lettering Tip: Using the Pencil Skeleton
Video: Lettering Tip: Where Do You Put the Thick & Thin Strokes?
Video: Lettering Tip: How to Revise Your Lettering
Video: Lettering Tip: When & Where Is It Best to Flourish Lettering?
Video: Lettering: What's One of My Top Tips?
Video: Lettering Practice with the Alphabet
Video: Brause Rose Nib
Video: Lettering Happy Thanksgiving
Video: Lettering Saturday
Video: Calligraphy: Defining Ductus
Video: FontLab: creating a smooth connection with the letter 'r'
Featuring a Laura Worthington Font
Video: Adorn Smooth Collection by Laura Worthington
Video: Spumante by Laura Worthington
Video: Voltage Font Download by Fakri Ginanji
Video: Boucherie Font Download by Selma Kamanda
Video: Winsome by Laura Worthington
Video: Wedding Invite in Word
Videos
- Character Map
- NexusFont
- Font Book
- Mac Character Viewer
- Accessing OpenType Options with Mac apps you already have
- How to Access Alternate Characters in LW Fonts Using Inkscape & the LW Type Tester
- Using Laura Worthington's Frame Fonts
- Lettering Tip: How Do You Achieve Consistent Spacing Between Your Letters?
- Lettering Tip: Using the Pencil Skeleton
- Lettering Tip: Where Do You Put the Thick & Thin Strokes?
- Lettering Tip: How to Revise Your Lettering
- Lettering Tip: When & Where Is It Best to Flourish Lettering?
- Lettering: What's One of My Top Tips?
- Lettering Practice with the Alphabet
- Brause Rose Nib
- Happy Thanksgiving
- Lettering Saturday
- Calligraphy: Defining Ductus
- FontLab: creating a smooth connection with the letter 'r'
- Adorn Smooth Collection
- Spumante
- Voltage Font Download
- Boucherie Font Download
- Winsome
- Wedding Invite in Word
- OpenType Features
-
OpenType Features
What are the OpenType® features you’ve mentioned in your descriptions and what do they do?
Take a look at this visual guide/article that I’ve written explaining what some of these features are, how I’ve used them to enhance my typefaces, and why, when and how to use them. Adobe TypeKit has an excellent guide as well.
Also, watch this video by Kay Hall of CleverSomeday.
Videos
- Definition of terms used
-
Definition of terms used
Glossary
Definitions
.otf – OpenType file.
.ttf – TrueType file.
Ascender – The portion of a letter that extends above the x-height or mean line of a font. For example, the line of a lowercase b or the top of a lowercase t.
Contextual Alternates - Alternate letters that are substituted depending on what letter comes before or after the targeted letter for substitution. This allows for better script joining behavior, avoiding awkward letter combinations, creating a more natural looking effect, and sometimes for stylistic purposes.
Descender – The portion of a letter that extends below the x-height or baseline of a font. For example, the lower part of a lowercase letter g or p.
Diacritic – A mark added to a letter that changes the pronunciation. Some examples of diacritics are: acute, breve, and cedilla.
Font – A font is a particular style of a typeface. For example, Samantha Upright is a font, while Samantha is the typeface. Font and typeface are sometimes used interchangeably.
Glyph – A single character, symbol, punctuation, or ornament within a font.
Leading – The space between lines of type.
License - A font license is an agreement that gives you the right to use the font in a specific manner. There are three types of user licenses: A one-user, multi-user and an extended license.
Ligature - A ligature is two or more letters that are joined as a single glyph. Common examples are æ and œ.
Live type - Text that you can copy and paste, not a picture of text.
OpenType® – OpenType is a format for scalable fonts. In addition to TrueType’s basic structure, OpenType add additional options that enhance the typographic and language support capabilities.
Swash – A typographical flourish on a glyph, sometimes known as “that extra fancy bit.”
Tittle – The dot on the letter “i.” Honest, it’s really called that!
TrueType – TrueType is one of the most commonly used outline font formats.
Typeface – The complete collection of font styles. For example, the Spumante typeface includes the fonts: Spumante, Spumante Bold, Spumante Regular plus Shadow, and Spumante Shadow. Typeface and font are sometimes used interchangeably.
x-height – The height of the letter “x” in a font.
Check out this amazing glossary of type terms from Canva
- What's going on with this font?
-
What's going on with this font?
Answers to your puzzling font questions
I’ve copied a letter from Font Book, Character Map, etc. and when I pasted it into my document, a different letter than what I had selected pasted in…
Make sure that the font you’ve copied from in your utility (e.g., Font Book) is the exact same font that is selected in your document. For example, if you have Samantha Upright chosen in Font Book, but have Samantha Bold Italic selected in your document, it will result an incorrect letter being pasted into your document.
If this didn’t work then there might be a conflict in the font library. If you are using a Mac and have Font Book, try selecting the font, then go to File>>Validate Font and see if anything is flagged or if it self-fixes. Also, try going to Edit>>Look For Enabled Duplicates. If there are duplicates, the computer is probably confusing the two files. If all else fails, try re-starting the computer in safe mode by holding down the shift key as it restarts. This will clear the font cache as well as run some other system checks. When it is done, restart normally.
If you have a Windows computer, look in the font folder for files with duplicate names, or both a .otf and a .ttf file with the same file name. If you have more than one font file with the same name, the computer may be confusing the files. If so, uninstall one of them (or both and re-install one). In general, use .otf files unless you are using an older Windows computer.
Why does my Glyphs/Symbol panel show a hundred different letter A’s?
It may be that in the fonts panel or glyph panel, it is sorting the glyphs to show all the A’s, B’s, C’s, etc. as a group. In that case, for every letter “A” in a certain style, there are six or seven A's in that style with accents. Some font and glyph panels have additional sorting options that may help, though it may take a little experimenting.
The space between the lines of type in some of your fonts is huge – why is this and how can I fix it?
The additional space or leading between the lines of type is due to the overall size of some of the swashes’ ascenders/descenders. If the line spacing were to be shortened, some of these letters may be clipped in some programs. Many programs have a line spacing or leading feature that can be adjusted.
In Microsoft Word®, in the line spacing options, change the spacing from “single" (or “multiple") to “exactly" and then pick a point size that is the same or slightly larger than the font size that you are using. For example, if you are using 36 pt font, change the spacing to exactly 36 pt (or higher). It may take a little experimenting to find spacing that works best for you and to avoid clipping.
The tops and/or bottoms of the letters are clipped or cut off
Clipping of ascenders/descender occurs when there is not enough spacing between the lines. Use paragraph or font options to increase the spacing between the lines to avoid clipping. In Microsoft Word®, line spacing options can be found in the Paragraph section of the Home tab.
I’m using Adorn Trio in Microsoft Word®, but the last letter is turned the wrong way
This usually happens when the ligatures are turned off. To turn the ligatures on in Microsoft Word®, go to the Home tab and click on the bottom right corner of the Font section to open the Font Window (or Ctrl+D on Windows, Cmd+D on Macs). Click on the Advanced Tab and change Ligatures to “All”.
I wanted the Pro version, but my font doesn’t have “Pro” in the name
When I switched from offering both regular and Pro versions of my font due to the high demand for the Pro version and confusion of Pro versus regular versions, I renamed the fonts by dropping the “Pro” from the name, however these are still the “Pro” versions. Some licensed font retailers may continue to have “Pro” in the name or offer more than one purchasing option. If you ordered from Mighty Deals, then you have the Pro version.