Add the ultimate personal touch to any document: turn your handwriting into a font and use that. There’s a lot of creative potential here, and it’s a lot easier to do than you’d think thanks to MyScriptFont.
Friends don’t let friends use Comic Sans. It’s just a bad idea. If you want a font that looks handwritten, don’t mess around: create a custom handwriting font with your own writing and use that.
Once you do so the possibilities are endless. You can easily use your own handwriting for that comic you’re working on. You can add “hand-written” notes to your favorite photo. Or you could just type notes and print them, because you’re too lazy to actually write a letter but want to pretend you did.
It’s entirely up to you, and with MyScriptFont the process to create a handwriting font couldn’t be simpler. Download and print a PDF, then fill in the squares with your own handwritten letters. Scan that, upload and the site will do the rest. Let’s work through the process together right now.
Making Your Handwriting Font
To get started head to MyScriptFont.com. You’ll see the following straightforward instructions:
Download the PDF and print it out. Use a black, felt-tipped pen and fill in all of the letters. Yes: you have to use an actual pen and paper. Accented characters, which you’ll find at the bottom of the page, are optional but recommended. When you’re done, scan your printed document in grey-scale.
Save your scanned file as an image and you’re ready to upload. Head back to MyScriptFont.com and upload your filled in form. You’ll need to wait a while; the processing can take a while.
When it’s done you’ll see a preview of your new font, and be able to download it. My handwriting is terrible, so my font kind of sucks:
Happily my wife Kathy has legible handwriting, so her font works quite well. Check it out:
These handwriting fonta are great for adding a personal touch to documents, so use your imagination. Your handwriting reflects your personality, so this font will as well. Sure, it’s not as flexible or emotive as your actual handwriting, but it’s a great way to quickly add a personal touch to a presentation or document.
Not sure how to install this font on your computer? Don’t worry; it’s easy. Tina outlined how to install fonts on Windows, Mac and Linux, so check that out if you’re not sure what to do with your new font file. On most systems you can simply open the font and click the “Install” button, but the above directions can help if you’re not sure what to do.
Conclusion
Of course, this isn’t the only way to make your own handwriting font: we’ve outlined tools for making your very own fonts before. If you want to try your hand at typography those tools are worth checking out, at least to start with.
Found a font on a piece of paper or online image, but aren’t sure what font it is? Rather than designing it yourself you should check out WhatFont, a site that can identify almost any font. You won’t be disappointed.
How are you going to use your custom font? Let me know in the comments below, along with links to your creations if you’re so inclined to share with the world.
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I am definitely going to give this a try. Will really come in handy when I have assignments and the lecturer says “No typing allowed, handwritten assignments only!”
Teachers still say that? That’s amazing, I assumed that ended five years ago…
Best of luck to you, then. I hope this fools them…
haha – yes of course, it is personal! but, I’ve done both, and trust me, if you like this idea, you’ll love the iPad app. You can write it on the iPad with your finger, make it bigger, fatter, smoother, it really is amazing. With this paper idea, you write it, and then if you don’t like it, it’s almost impossible to edit.
If you like this idea, you’ll love the App, it is a bumma its $7.50, but I can’t find a comparison atm so I figure they have a bit of a monolopy!
And yes, if you find an android equivalent, I’d love to hear about that too, I’m a bit over the Apple Apps atm (sore point – don’t ask!)
:) Kate
Did some research…Interesting…
http://font2go.co/
Guess I’ve got one of my articles for the next couple of weeks worked out :) I’ll let you all know how it is.
Yeah, really? It’s the exact opposite for me. “No handwritten assignments allowed, only typed.”
Wish I had your lecturers. Yeah mine still want to “kick it oldschool.” Don’t think this will fool them for long, when they actually have to read the assignment, but I might get away with it once or twice.
Good luck!
Definitely not. We still do a lot of assignments manually, though there are some teachers who prefer typed assignments since they wouldn’t have to deal with illegible handwriting.
By the way, Your teacher will be able to tell that it isn’t real handwriting. It’ll be too uniform, too neat, and looks like printed ink.
OMG this is so old school, you’ve got to get the iPad APP iFontMaker $7.50 on APP store – it is amazing – it makes this look sad, AND it has way too many features to list, did i mention it makes it super easy!!! Go check that one out…
:) Kate
Ha, well some of us like to use good old fashioned paper when you’re designing a digital version of our hand writing. It’s personal, okay?
And seriously: I will look into this. Wonder if there’s an Android equivalent?
You think a fine point Sharpie marker would work well? I don’t know the last time I have had a felt pen.
Should work fine, I’d think. Try it out.
Just did it. It turned out pretty. An ultrafine sharpie would have been better for the lowercase letters, especially e,g, and k. Thanks for the link.
Glad to hear it worked! Feel free to share your font, if you’re feeling brave.
Can you please share your font?
Pretty cool. I will have to give this a try in my best penmanship. And then maybe a scribbly version.
You can share the result here. I’m collecting ‘handwritten’ fonts.
LONG LIVE COMIC SANS!!! (runs at a windmill)
Great comment, or the greatest comment? I’m going to go with “Greatest”.
Looks fantastic! What a good idea.
This is just great! Exactly what I wanted. Thanks, Justin! You made my day.
No I’m not going to try. I have hard to read my own handwriting and I do not think it will be better in this way :)
Know your limits, right? :)
Great. thanks! but with this way, we can also make the handwritings”.png” file with graphic tablet for better quality if you have, ive not try it but good idea also to give it a try :)
I am stoked to try this- I remember spending an entire three-hour flight filling out a ‘turn your handwriting into a font’ form in a SkyMall catalogue circa 1993 only to be devastated when my father balked at dropping a cool C-note for his third grader to get personalized typography… Guess that 20 year wait was worth it!
This is a great idea. That means I can type my own unique handwriting. Being ambidextrous, I have 2 sets of handwriting so it will be fun to create 2 sets of fonts. I am gonna give this a try and see what happens.
This has to be one of the neatest ideas ever imagined. Not only do you have a unique font but I must mention, as an educator, this would encourage any child to learn to keyboard. While actual printing is important, this program would allow children to see instantly what they could write if they practiced. The font could also be used on publisher for a number of ways, not limited to, invitations, letters to santa, crafts, and even unique lettering for a child’s room. Definitely an asset to any family, young and old!
I’ll try it out. Might be another nice way to personalize my automated reminders. Thanks Justin.
wow.. im gonna popularize my handwriting :D