Lettering / Font design software? Whatcha use'n?

[SandyEggoJake]

Looking to make a run at the unique sign lettering style used on the SD&A.  Called Egyptian as it had a square serif, but even as the SD&A was an Espee associated line it looks nothing like what the SP apparently called Egyptian (which is actually a gothic face) or anything else I've so far found from the likely sources. 

Also thinking I will finally take a stab at correcting a few of the waaaaay off letters in the Charlie Givens SP Roman set.

Question:

Any recommendations for software?    I'm not looking to go pro here, so freeware is a big plus.  Otherwise, my BATNA is Fontographer 5.2 ($399) ... or hiring someone (cheap!) to do it for me.

-Jake

 

[parkrrrr]

It's not quite as easy-to-use as Fontographer, and its Unix roots are pretty obvious, but FontForge (https://fontforge.github.io/en-US/) is worth checking out.

[peteski]

I got Font Creator and dabbled in creating a font, but there are other freeware apps too.  Actually I think that Corel Draw's Symbol creating functionality can also create glyphs and save them as TrueType font, but even though I have been using it for couple of decades I have never tried that functionality.

BTW, I got your PM - I'll respond soon.

[SandyEggoJake]

Thx. 

And @peteski no rush on that PM reply.  I'm looking into the OKI 941/942 used by Circus City as an ALPS alt for simple <2" N scale lettering.  Would love to see you do your side by side review.

-J

[learmoia]

I got Font Creator and dabbled in creating a font, but there are other freeware apps too.  Actually I think that Corel Draw's Symbol creating functionality can also create glyphs and save them as TrueType font, but even though I have been using it for couple of decades I have never tried that functionality.

BTW, I got your PM - I'll respond soon.

I'll second font creator!.. very easy to use, and worth the money over the freeware stuff.. (I've tried several).. best part is you can import image files (rr logos / ect) to creat fonts.. (I'm sure you can do the same type of things in Corell Draw or Adobe whatever but I've never tried it.)