GeekSugar

Website of the Day: Font Capture

GeekSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:20:56 -0700

I love experimenting with different fonts on my computer, especially if I'm creating a special invitation. Unfortunately, there's only so many times I can pass off Comic Sans as handwriting. (Guilty!) While I think it's the closest preloaded font to my handwriting, it's already too recognizable to pass off as my own.

Luckily, I just found a new option. Font Capture. It's so easy to use: download a PDF of the font template, fill in each block with the appropriate letter, scan the sheet, and upload it as a .jpg or .png file. Then, submit the file and Font Capture will deliver your own custom font. The best part is, it's completely free! Plus, fonts work on both Mac and PC, and the site also contains installation instructions.

Have an interesting website you want to share? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click "New Post" under the website of the day tab at the top of the page.
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Type "Technology and Gadgets" in the Categories box
Add keyword(s) in the tag field with relevant tags (for example mine for this story was "Website of the Day").
Choose whether you want the post to be private or public.
Click "Create Post" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the GeekSugar homepage!

Ikea Customers Outraged About Font Change

GeekSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

My favorite Swedish furniture retail chain Ikea (did you pick up your back to school items?) has just changed its well known futura font to verdana. But why the sudden typeface change? An Ikea spokeswoman said that the change allows Ikea to use the same font in all countries and with many alphabets therefore making it "more efficient and cost-effective." With customers noticing the change in the new 2010 catalog, thousands took to Twitter to air their frustrations with many saying that they feel betrayed because Ikea is emulating other big box corporations which have ugly, basic fonts.

To keep reading, and to see the font differences closer up, just read more.

What's interesting to note is that Verdana was never intended to be used in print, as Microsoft created it as an easily readable font for the web. What do you think? Do you think Ikea's integrity as a design company is being questioned with this new font change? Do you like the change? Personally, Ikea in Verdana is going to take some getting used to - Futura just suits Ikea and its style. Oh, and if you want to check out the 2010 catalog, you can access it in its entirety online here.

Geek Tip: Get Free, Pretty Fonts From Font Squirrel

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:04:15 -0700

What do I love more than fonts? Free fonts.

I have a few favorite destinations when I need to download something gratis for a project, and now I have another new one: Font Squirrel.

The best thing about Font Squirrel, besides its free-ness? The offered fonts are stunning. Really, there are tons of beautiful typefaces that are perfect for design-driven work. Plus, it's also fun to peruse and make up new projects just to use a pretty font.

Font Geeks Unite: TypeNuts' Designy iPhone Wallpapers

GeekSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:05:14 -0700

Free iPhone wallpapers are rarely outrageously beautiful, so when I find a collection of them that are, I go nuts with them.

Whereas before my best resource was Poolga, I now have a second option.

TypeNuts also has a reserve of gorgeous, rich, high-res images, and like Poolga, they're totally free.

But that's not even my favorite part: the wallpapers on TypeNuts all share a theme of using type and font-based designs.

I'm an addict, and this only my latest fix.

Daily Tech: The Online Video Editing Site Jumpcut to Close

GeekSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:15:36 -0700

On June 15, Yahoo will be closing its Jumpcut video service site. - TechCrunch
Twitter popularity is only going to increase after Oprah's live show on Friday where Evan Williams, the chief executive of Twitter, and Twitter expert Ashton Kutcher made appearances. - The New York Times
Apple gives Microsoft some competition with four new commercials. - Boing Boing Gadgets
A new study shows that people are inclined to stay at more tech-friendly hotels than those that don't offer services like the Internet or business services. - Switched
Learn about the fascinating history of the Comic Sans font. - The Wall Street Journal

How to Identify Fonts - Even Easier

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:30:54 -0800

This isn't the first time I've told you how to identify fonts - What the Font can usually do the trick, but this way is even easier, and more accurate, too. Identifont is a website that identifies fonts - especially the really wily ones, and it's a pretty low-tech approach.

You "describe" what certain letters look like in a font, with their prompts of course, and then Identifont figures out what it is and tells you. You all already know of my love for fonts, so this will just increase my knowledge.

Geek Obsession: Fonts

GeekSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:30:43 -0800

Why the love for fonts? For me, it's equal part geekiness and a love for design. I have my rotating faves (right now it's Georgia), and an appreciation for the classics - as well as a dislike for a few (ahem, Comic Sans). Check out my slideshow for some of my favorite websites and products all revolving around a love for typefaces.

View Slideshow ›

The Font Clock, For the (Rich) Font Lover in You

GeekSugar — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:05:02 -0700

The love for fonts goes deep here at geeksugar, whether it's for the freebies or the eager identification.

Now you can express it (albeit steeply) with the Font Clock ($450), which has twelve different classic fonts inside of it.

You get the retro design of a classic flip clock (also beloved here), with the satisfaction of identifying what design is used to tell you it's half past midnight.

Geek Tip: Identify Fonts With What the Font

GeekSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:36:50 -0700

Even with my vast knowledge of fonts, there are just too many (and so many more created each day) to know what each and every one is. Sometimes you're either curious about what a font you see is, or you want to actually use it.

The website My Font is your new aid; they have a webapp called What the Font, which allows you to upload a JPG or enter a URL with the font, and it will try its hardest to identify it.

If the font you selected is not a known font (like the custom one created for Blueprint magazine, seen here), it will suggest a few different fonts that are close. Fontabulous!

Sans-Serif Font Tee: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:03:21 -0700

You can't get much geekier than being a font lover - and you know who you are. If you know what sans-serif means, you're definitely one, and you're probably inclined to love this Sans-Serif Type Tee from Target ($20).

Displayed on this shirt, you'll find "all your favorite sans-serif typefaces" - I gotta check this baby out in person to see if they have all mine! What do you think of it?