The Art of Font Creation in EmbroideryStudio
Wilcom’s Alphabet Creator tool in EmbroideryStudio allows you to create beautiful, professional ESA fonts that precisely match a logo type or are tailored to your unique needs.
Recently, Justin and Jeff from The Embroidery Nerd brought the tool into the spotlight through a two-part live stream, sharing expert insights on font creation. This blog post not only covers their tips but also offers an exclusive FREE download of the fonts used in the videos—perfect for experimenting with your own projects.
Font Creation Essentials:
Key Tips from The Embroidery Nerd
Find out more about Alphabet Creator
1. Save Your Font Settings
It might sound simple, but the first step to successful font creation is saving all font settings and information in your master file. Note the font’s ‘base name’ and ‘reference size’ to make any future adjustments smooth and straightforward.
2. Different Approaches for Different Font Styles
When digitizing fonts, block styles and script styles have unique requirements. For block fonts, consistent spacing is key, while for script fonts, you want no spacing between letters.
Click on the OBJECT tab, then ‘Create Letter…’
A good rule of thumb for Block Fonts is to use 10% spacing to achieve balanced readability.
(This is where the space between the letters is calculated by using 10% of the height of the font)
3. Script Fonts: Master the Spacing
Script fonts need tight spacing to achieve balanced readability. Manually adjust each letter to connect as if it’s written in one continuous motion. Imagine how each letter would flow if you wrote it by hand to keep overlaps and gaps looking natural.
4. Create Smooth Connections with the ‘Tail’ Method
For script fonts, copy the “tail” of each letter to establish a consistent entry point. This helps guide the flow of each letter into the next, keeping the script cohesive and enhancing readability.
5. Guiding Points for Consistency
Use guidelines to mark entry and exit points on each letter. This saves time and maintains consistency when you’re ready to save each character, ensuring a seamless, polished result.
TIP:
It is easier to do this as you do each letter than to come back and mark them all.
Be consistent: Handle junctions in letters the same way, it will help your font flow and result in a more professional result.
6. Color Code for Progress
To keep track of your progress, assign each letter a uniform color when saving it to the font file. Changing colors as you digitize letters helps you know what’s completed and prevents any omissions.
7. Align Every Letter to a Flat Baseline
Set up a single line of text to digitize all letters along the same baseline. Use hotkeys to align each letter to that baseline, creating a font that sits uniformly.
TIP:
Ensure you set up your artwork all in ONE single line of text so you can digitize all of the letters using the same baseline.
8. Testing is Key
Once your font is digitized, test it! Use a pangram—a sentence that includes every letter of the alphabet (like “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”)—to spot-check each character. You may catch minor tweaks needed for certain letters to perfect the font’s flow and that it’s perfectly aligned on the baseline.
9. Edit Letters with Ease
If you discover any errors in spacing or shape, fear not! Simply click “OK” on the prompt, adjust your baseline, and save the new letter. The process is quick and easy!
10. Perfect the Pairs
Not only are you looking for mistakes – but look at how letters pair up. Kerning, or adjusting space between letters, can vary based on character shape. Use common letter pairs to see if additional adjustments are needed for smooth, natural spacing.
TIP:
Some letters don’t kern appropriately due to their shape or size. Adding or subtracting the spacing of the start/end points can help counteract the odd spacing.
Usually, a letter sits within an invisible square, often called its “bounding box.” The shape of the neighboring letter then influences the space between 2 letters.
For instance, letters with curves or overhangs, like “O” or “T,” may require closer spacing to avoid gaps, while letters with straight edges, like “H” or “N,” can allow a bit more room. Adjusting these spaces, known as kerning, ensures each pair of letters flows smoothly across the text.
11. Keep Your Master Files Safe
Finally, don’t toss your master font files once you’re done. They’re invaluable for future tweaks, style updates, or even new design projects. Keeping them on hand ensures you have a reliable foundation to build from, in the future.
Whether you’re creating fonts for business logos, personal projects, or creative exploration, Wilcom’s Alphabet Creator makes it easy!
See The Embroidery Nerd in Action!
Watch the 2-part video
Be sure to check out both parts of the Embroidery Nerd Font Creator live stream for more in-depth tips and demonstrations:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Try it for Yourself:
Download JAPAN & BEATSVILLE Fonts
Now that you have the essentials for creating your fonts, take the opportunity to download the two fonts created by Justin and Jeff in their live streams.
For Further Embroidery Training Follow Embroidery Nerd on YouTube
Or find them at https://links.embnerd.com/
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