It's the FONT SHOWDOWN!
Added 2023-12-07 18:00:04 +0000 UTCAs mentioned last week, I am speed-dating some new typefaces for Practical Defence. My criticisms for the font I have been using to date are that it lacks some international characters, has no em-dash, and does not offer the fancy features that newer, more sophisticated fonts do, like variable "I" characters and alternate glyphs for repeated letters (like the es in "need").
So I looked at the two major vendors for comic-friendly typefaces — Blambot and Comicraft — and picked four that I thought might work.
I am asking you for your opinion, too, because I am so used to the typeface I've been using — it's what I lettered my first published work in, back in 2006 — I don't trust myself to be objective.
NOTES
In Patreon, I can't add a poll to an image post. It has to be one or the other. So: there's a carousel above (if you want to take a close look) and there will be a second post with the poll in it. Comment wherever you like. I'll figure it out.
Some of the fonts are "trial" versions, so you'll see little "demo" glyphs like this:
Know that I see them and they're not representative of the final treatment. I wish they weren't there but c'est la vie.
That's it! I'll see you in the other post. I'm wildly curious to see what you think, and not in an "Instagram engagement lure" sort of way — I really am curious how this will turn out, and what sort of thoughtful insight you all will have.
Until next week,
I remain,
lacking international character,
TC
Comments
Hi Tony! I'm only having time to go through these now (and I haven't read any comments) but I tend to think C works best for dialogue (very legible--not TOO far off from what I'm used to) But A really suits your text boxes much better. I wonder if you've thought about maybe using both? Or if that might come off confusing. If I had to choose one or the other, I'd say use A since it meshes with your linework/style more. And then tell me what C is so I can test it in my current book. Haha.
Mike Maihack
2023-12-18 15:43:31 +0000 UTCGood eye - if my secret notes are correct, C is actually a different size in all three examples - 10pt, 9.5pt, and 9pt. Not very scientific, but presumably I was just trying to get it to look / feel "right." Thank you for the detailed thoughts! I appreciate it!
Tony Cliff
2023-12-11 19:19:33 +0000 UTCB is better than A, because it is thicker and easier to read. E is the only one I actively dislike. It is interesting, in the first two sets of images (1-10), C looks like the spacing is smaller than B and D. But the in third set of images (11-15), C looks better spaced. Hmmm... I agree with Michal, I think it is between B and D. Thanks for putting the single panel versions. In the full page ones I think I like D better, but when looking at the single panels (16-20), I like B better. It looks better proportioned. But in the end, I think D looks the best in 3 or 4 of the sets, so I would go choose D.
Paul Gesting
2023-12-08 07:11:22 +0000 UTC
