Ever wanted to turn your… or someone else’s? (weird)… handwriting into a font? To one that you can use in applications, share with friends and family and eventually with the internet, becoming a famous type designer? Well want no longer! I too have wanted, but now I have found a way to satiate, 3 ways actually, 3 easy and free ways to turn handwriting into a font.

I’ve always really like handwriting, it reminds me of the seldom used letter – non-spam, bills, etc. – in the mail that suggest intimacy and simpler times; every once in a while I get an urge to turn my various handwriting styles into a series of fonts – this time I finally sat down and found a few ways I’d like to share with you on how to do just that.

But first…

A couple cool uses for handwriting font

Digital scrapbooking

A really fun, creative and constructive way to use handwriting fonts – preserve precious family memories through digital scrapbooking. Look how sweet this scrapbook layout called “So Very Thankful” by Staciehall is, mmm-mmmmm!

Don’t know what digital scrapbooking is? Check it out.

For the kids!

Remember those lettersheet exercises? With the dashes… oh the dreaded dashes.

Why not mix it up and add another level to them? Just imagine how excited they would likely be if they’re already interested in art, especially if graphic designish like letters and such (woo! join me later) as they create their own fonts from drawing, to scanning and finally to view it on screen in various applications – it could also be a good way to responsibly introduce children to art and technology simultaneously (or at least introduce one of the creative sides to technology). An increasingly important development as we continue to merge with our devices. Even more than that, technology can teach empowerment and autonomy, enhance critical thinking skills and even bring you closer as a family.

Oh yeah, back to making fonts.

All you have to do is download the template, print it, write your letters, scan back in and upload it to the site and done! Just download it and start using it for digital collages, scrapbooking or whatever. You can even just download the template and draw your letters on the template with almost any of the popular graphic editors like MS Paint, GIMP and Photoshop without any printing! And it’s still the same: simply upload the file back to the site and download your brand new custom font. Here’s my super short guide:

1. Click “Select Character Set/Create Templates” and pick what letters and special characters you want. Easy!

2. Click “Create Template,” print, and fill out the character boxes with a medium pen. Simple!

* You could also just open the template with Photoshop, GIMP or whatever and use a brush to fill out the character boxes.

3. Click “Upload filled out templates” and and upload your filled out template. Effortless!

That’s it! Download and install font.

Here’s the template filling phase. Enjoyable.

Here’s my first font! How elegant.

For a more detailed tutorial on how to use paintfont.com just go here.

Very similar to Paintfont.com, but really thrilling because it’s not an automatic font generator – rather you email them and then they actually make it for you and send it back fresh. Another interesting aspect is that if you use their free basic service they share your font with the community. It’s pretty neat…

Crae

To use fontpanda.com simply:

1. Print template,

2. Fill it out, and scan your beautiful creation

3. Upload it, make a drink and then wait for your nifty new font

Just like fontpanda.com, but you just have to send them a handwriting sample! The fonts are still shared with the community, but there are no templates involved. It’s a really pleasant site run by a really sweet couple (they even have a blog category for their dogs). So go write up a sample, scan it and grab your free font from fonts for peas (the name of the dishy font page)! Here’s a fun one I found there:

Glad I finally took the time (albeit brief) to figure this out and share it. I hope you find a use for one or more of these methods, I know I certainly will. Would be awesome if you share anything you do in the comments. ‘Til next!