Gimp Custom Fonts - Abstract Font Face Creation

[Skinnyhouse]

Rather than clog up the Gimp Custom Fonts thread with other resources, I thought that I would begin a new thread to post the resources that I create or come across to use for making Abstract-themed Custom Fonts. Other people are more than welcome to contribute. I think this is the right place for the thread.

People can then use the resources to make a version of their own custom font at a reasonable size – hopefully equivalent to about 500 points – the file layer height and width will vary according to how the mother font was originally created of course.

For newcomers I will include my own plug-ins that I use for automating the process, together with the one I use for placing the custom fonts along an existing path, into a single zip file.

CustomFontResources.zip

(37.7 KiB) Downloaded 237 times

With the plug-ins in the zipped folder you will be able to:
Add a new font-face to an existing custom font (with Custom Font Labels).
Add an outline or shine or chisel to an existing custom font (with Custom Font Outlines).
Use a custom font along an existing font (with Font Slab).

(For tips on using the filters please search for them by name.)

Download the folder and install the unzipped files into your user folder.

To convert an existing font into a custom font, you will need to install MareroQ’s Font-to-layers script-fu plug-in. Link below:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14045

For the sake of convenience I have repeated the instructions for making a new font-face for an existing custom font file in Gimp 2.10 here.

Open the Custom font file and the file that you wish to use as the new font-face.

Edit>>Copy (or Edit>>Copy Visible if the image file has more than one layer that you wish to use) the image and then make the custom font the active image.

Add your copy as a layer to the font with Edit>>Paste as>>New layer in place

Make all of the pasted layer visible with Image>>Fit Canvas to layers

Now use the Custom Font Labels filter with Filters>>Custom Font Labels v1.04 and set option 5 to 'Yes' (Create new letter faces from visible layers) and click Ok.

When that has done its work delete the new copied pasted layer from the custom font layers stack and resize the layers once more with Image>>Fit Canvas to layers.

Now use the Custom Font Outlines filter (Filters>>Custom Font Outlines v0.03) with the following options set if you wish to add a shine to each character:

Layer width to zero
Merge outline with its letter layer to Yes
Use shine when merging to Yes

Click the Ok button and let the filter do its work for a few minutes.

Name and save your new custom font.

Here are two zipped plain white custom font files that you can download and use to decorate your own abstract designs with.

Well_Rounded_Heavy_White_Base_500.7z

(276.6 KiB) Downloaded 219 times

Drop_Dead_Gorgeous_White_Base.7z

(641.76 KiB) Downloaded 233 times

[Skinnyhouse]

And here is an incomplete custom font file that I use to see how good a font will turn out before committing it to the full custom font - which can take a little time.

Part_Well_Rounded_Heavy_White_Base.xcf

(168.7 KiB) Downloaded 212 times

And at last a couple of resources to start decorating the custom font using the Custom Font Label filter with the Well-Rounded-Heavy font:

GlowLinesRed.jpg (384.75 KiB) Viewed 5283 times

GlowLines_ROY.jpg (295.15 KiB) Viewed 5283 times

If you want to use them with the Drop_Dead_Gorgeous Custom Font you will need to re-scale them so that the height of the files match the custom font file.

[Skinnyhouse]

And last for now - some more abstract images that I have used recently.

Earthy.jpg (797.48 KiB) Viewed 5276 times

Splats_BluesGreen.jpg (652.6 KiB) Viewed 5276 times

Bokeh.jpg (824.8 KiB) Viewed 5276 times

[Skinnyhouse]

A couple more images to use for copying onto letter faces...

Colourful.jpg (711.22 KiB) Viewed 5223 times

Mondrian_1_Clean.jpg (118.48 KiB) Viewed 5223 times

Mondrian_2_Clean.jpg (119.7 KiB) Viewed 5223 times

[trandoductin]

I really like the many abstract images.

[Pat625]

I agree, Tin. Skinnyhouse, you are very creative.

[Skinnyhouse]

Thanks guys - I think I got the creative gene instead of the artistic gene...

[Skinnyhouse]

Working on adding layer mode effects with new font faces from an image in Custom Font Labels. Not sure yet how to show them in the dialog - but the idea works fine.

CustomLabelModeEffect.jpg (982.6 KiB) Viewed 5187 times

[Skinnyhouse]

And a test with Racer X's Chrome Racer custom font using the earthy image from above.

Normal - Chroma - Hard light and Soft light modes:

CustomFontLabelModes.png (716.81 KiB) Viewed 5173 times

[Pat625]

All very nice, Skinnyhouse! Be proud!!

[Skinnyhouse]

Thanks Pat.

Three random splatter bases for creating font faces...

Splatter_Warm.jpg (1.14 MiB) Viewed 866 times

Splatter_Rainbow.jpg (814.67 KiB) Viewed 866 times

Splatter_Cool.jpg (744.67 KiB) Viewed 866 times

[Skinnyhouse]

More images for using to create abstract font faces:

StringVest.jpg (1000.69 KiB) Viewed 856 times

LinesOnBlue.jpg (579.69 KiB) Viewed 856 times

ThreeColours.jpg (236.17 KiB) Viewed 856 times

[Skinnyhouse]

And examples of the style of font face created from the images...

stringvest_abc.png (370.48 KiB) Viewed 856 times

Blue_with_Lines.jpg (159.55 KiB) Viewed 856 times

ThreeColours_abc.png (189.7 KiB) Viewed 856 times