Font identifying software - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

frogza · 11-08-2004, 08:34 AM

I'm a graphic designer and as such I get people wanting me to recreate logos, signs etc. that use specific fonts. Usually they only have their current design as a gif or some other file format that doesn't lend itself to printing or making bigger or smaller. Now I'm familiar with a lot of fonts but there is no way for anyone to be able to know all the fonts out there. On my computer alone I have over 200, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Is there some software out there that could identify a font from a scanned in image?

SiN · 11-08-2004, 09:01 AM

there may be a program, and that would be cool, maybe someone else knows..

what I do when I need a font ID, is use a website:

www.whatthefont.com

you can upload an image, or simply use a url of an image.

SiN loves fonts

tropple · 11-08-2004, 10:39 AM

I wish there was an automatic program.

The only way I know of is to classify the face by its characteristics and wade through a font encylopeadia looking. Adobe used to have a nice face library where you could search for fonts by characteristic.

sashime76 · 11-10-2004, 10:31 AM

Have you guys tried this?

http://www.bitstorm.org/fontlist/

It's totally free as far as I know. Installed it, ran it and it displayed all my fonts in html pages that I could print out. Give it a try.

tropple · 11-10-2004, 04:09 PM

Yes, it does do a list of the font on your system, but it won't help much for someone trying to find a particular font just going on a someone' else's description. Back in the day when I actually sent out camera ready and postscript to get books printed, I'd marvel at the lengths to which my editor and the senior writers would dsicuss/argue the merits of one face over another for a particular use. Then someone would grab the damned font books off the shelf and things would get loud.

Now that many docs are distributed in PDF or in html/help formats, the only thing that's changed is that now the software makes it easier to change the faces. There are still massive arguements ;-)

Finding fonts, especially display faces can be damned hard.

11-08-2004, 08:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
frogza Registered User Location: Right Here	Font identifying software I'm a graphic designer and as such I get people wanting me to recreate logos, signs etc. that use specific fonts. Usually they only have their current design as a gif or some other file format that doesn't lend itself to printing or making bigger or smaller. Now I'm familiar with a lot of fonts but there is no way for anyone to be able to know all the fonts out there. On my computer alone I have over 200, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Is there some software out there that could identify a font from a scanned in image?

11-08-2004, 09:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
SiN strangelove Location: ...more here than there...	there may be a program, and that would be cool, maybe someone else knows.. what I do when I need a font ID, is use a website: www.whatthefont.com you can upload an image, or simply use a url of an image. SiN loves fonts __________________ - + - ° GiRLie GeeK ° - + - ° 01110010011011110110111101110100001000000110110101100101 Therell be days/When Ill stray/I may appear to be/Constantly out of reach/I give in to sin/Because I like to practise what I preach

11-08-2004, 10:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
tropple Junkie	I wish there was an automatic program. The only way I know of is to classify the face by its characteristics and wade through a font encylopeadia looking. Adobe used to have a nice face library where you could search for fonts by characteristic. __________________ +++++++++++Boom!

11-10-2004, 04:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
tropple Junkie	Yes, it does do a list of the font on your system, but it won't help much for someone trying to find a particular font just going on a someone' else's description. Back in the day when I actually sent out camera ready and postscript to get books printed, I'd marvel at the lengths to which my editor and the senior writers would dsicuss/argue the merits of one face over another for a particular use. Then someone would grab the damned font books off the shelf and things would get loud. Now that many docs are distributed in PDF or in html/help formats, the only thing that's changed is that now the software makes it easier to change the faces. There are still massive arguements ;-) Finding fonts, especially display faces can be damned hard. __________________ +++++++++++Boom!

11-10-2004, 10:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
sashime76 Addict Location: Hoosier State	Have you guys tried this? http://www.bitstorm.org/fontlist/ It's totally free as far as I know. Installed it, ran it and it displayed all my fonts in html pages that I could print out. Give it a try.