Sara's Handwriting
December 21, 2005
I've always loved my wife's handwriting—and not just for sentimental reasons. It has a fun and sassy kind of look to it that is clearly distinguishable as hers. Ever since I learned about font creation software a few years ago, I've been determined to turn Sara's handwriting into a font of her own. Unfortunately, I never got around to doing it. Anyway, the software programs require more patience than I have and most are too expensive.
But a few days ago I discovered a really cool website (via somebody's blog, but I can't remember whose anymore) called Fontifier that automates most of the work and produces a custom font almost instantaneously.
You just print out a template and fill it out with upper-case and lower-case letters, plus a bunch of symbols. Then you scan it and save it as an image. After that, upload the file to the website, fill out the credit card info, and for 9 dollars, you have your font.
This is what Sara's looks like:
I had Sara fill out one of those templates, and I did the rest. Then, within minutes I presented her with her own font for a little early Christmas present. Not much of a surprise, but it was fun to do, and she seems to like it.
Update: For those of you who think Sara's handwriting looks cool and want to use the font for yourselves, I've made it available for download. Just right-click (control+click on a Mac) on the "download" link and choose "Save Target As..." in the menu that appears. Enjoy!
Comments (12)
I've always liked Sara's screwy handwriting, too, probably because I like most everything about her. Unfortunately, I must tell you that I think something's wrong with the result you achieved. Could it be that the sample reflects her stress in knowing that she was memorializing her handwriting for posterity? Somehow, I think it doesn't quite have its usual flamboyance (sassiness?). Maybe some self-consciousness crept into her delivery, thereby interrupting the normal smooth mind-to-penpoint delivery. Hmmm.
Dec 22, 2005 ; 8:57 AM
Wow! That is very cool. I was suprised by how fast it was able to upload the photo and make the font. I tried mine and it confirmed what I already knew...I have really crappy handwriting.
Dec 22, 2005 ; 11:05 AM
Love it! It should be immediately patented. May I suggest "S Courtney" as a name?
Merry Christmas, Karl and family!
Dec 22, 2005 ; 1:22 PM
What is this world coming to? Now we have computers emmulating our handwriting so that our typed documents have a personal touch? It's a cool idea and I think I'll tell my sister about it. She has a unique writing style. Mine would be called Sloppy DS.
Dec 23, 2005 ; 12:58 PM
Very Cool!! INSTANTLY recognizable. I've saved lots of Sara's letters just because the handwriting is so beautiful (and because she is so dear to me). I even have some vintage stuff from when she was in High School and wrote each paragraph in a different color and added collage to the envelopes.
Dec 23, 2005 ; 1:09 PM
Wait! Karl, you could make some cash off this...I'm a long admirer of Sara's handwriting too. Let us know if you copyright and sell it. And Merry Christmas!
Dec 24, 2005 ; 1:08 AM
Hey Sara H. (and others),
Great idea, but (my) Sara and I would rather give the font away to anyone who would like to use it. So go ahead, download it and use it to your heart's content.
Dec 24, 2005 ; 8:55 AM
I, like all of the others that commented on this entry, think of Sara's handwriting as so inextricably linked to her--like her super-fab cheekbones! In fact, I once practiced all night to try and write my letter "a" like her lower case "a", only to throw in the towel (or the pen, as it were), deciding that learning to emulate another's handwriting was like someone copying your outfit--at first flattering, and then it's just irritating! I have my own suggestion for the font's name-- how about "giggle"?
Love and merry Christmas...
Nicole
Dec 25, 2005 ; 2:52 PM
I think that is so sweet and flattering. Imitation is the best compliment you can give someone. Have a great NEw Years!!! Dot
Dec 31, 2005 ; 7:40 PM
That is so cool. Man, that's cool.
Jan 3, 2006 ; 8:17 PM
O man, o man, o man! Everybody (and I mean EVERYBODY) loves and covets Sara's handwriting, and we always have. And now, we can have it for ourselves. I'm thinking about changing my site's skin so that everything I write is in my words but in Sara's much, much cooler handwriting. Most excellent!
Jan 5, 2006 ; 10:13 PM
how fun! and like you, i love sara's handwriting too. :-)
Dec 22, 2005 ; 6:42 AM