Custom Font script (spawned from Wallace's PhotoFont topic).

trandoductin · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2016 10:07 pm **(#1)**

this topic/script is spawned from this topic -> Need Help with PhotoFont Plugin

Click --> Detailed instructions on how to use these already created fonts on gimplearn forum

here's he idea, you create png files that are named like A.png, B.png, C.png...
a.png, b.png, c.png... and cover all the alphabet and numbers and symbols (i might have to add custom symbols since some symbols can not be used as filenames, this would be very easy to add but i'll add them as we discover them)

(Note: version 10 and onward you don't open the .xcf file but you select it as part of the script options when running script)
Then open a gimp file and open all these created files as layers so the layers are named the same "A.png" "B.png" "C.png" .... and maybe save this file as an .xcf file, and consider it your custom font file kind'a idea.
While having this .xcf file active with many layers indicating your font ... run the below script

Attachment:

custom_font.scm [3.58 KiB]
Downloaded 635 times

(It'll be available under Script-Fu/Create New/Custom Font...)

Note: Version 10 and later, you don't have the .xcf opened but you select the .xcf as a script option when prompted.

version 2 of script
(Justify, Letter and Line spacing added)

version 3 of script
("FILLED" Justify added)

version 4 of script
(named layers properly if merge layers is not selected, if merge layers is selected it'll autocrop image)

version 5 of script
(use lowercase letters if uppercase isn't defined,
use uppercase letters if lowercase isn't defined,
use 'space.png' if ' .png' isn't defined)

version 6 of script
(does not report warning when finding newline character ('\n'))

version 7 of script
(use paths/vectors of the same name to define where actual character is located and character's width...if no vectors aren't found, it assumes that center of layer is where character is located and width of layer is width of character)
more details on this

version 8 of script
(fixed a bug, use image width to calculate offsets when vectors/paths are defined for characters because paths are relative to image coordinates and not layer coordinates.)

version 9 of script
(fixed a bug, use layer's width and layer's offsets and path's position relative to layer's offsets to calculate offset to move by).

version 10 of script
prompts for .xcf font file name instead of having to have .xcf font file opened.

version 11 of script
Added border space around text, and cleaned up debug messages (by Graechan).

version 12 of script
Put back a debug code to message user that a certain layer cannot be found when it's not defined.

version 13 of script
Specify font size (in pixels) (by Graechan).

version 14 of script
Set final-height based on new-image's aspect ratio to keep aspect ratio of the create text

version 15 of script
With optional kerning vectors for example AT.png, AW.png, WA.png...which define how wide the character should take place before the 2nd letter starts.

version 16 of script
If character(s) not found, just message user but continue with script so that we always get a result even if it meant ignoring not found characters.

And enter a text string, make sure all your characters in your text are defined in the above .xcf, otherwise you'll get some error complaining that some layers aren't found when it looks for the specific characters.

Here's a sample folder of my files defined for characters/letters found in "Gimp Chat" (including a space named as "space.png")

Attachment:

test.zip [9.46 KiB]
Downloaded 526 times

Here's a sample .xcf file that opened the above .png files in the sample zip above as layers (script is to be ran while this file is opened and active)

Attachment:

GimpChatTest.xcf [24.22 KiB]
Downloaded 551 times

here's a sample of what it generated when i created characters for the string Gimp Chat

-------------------- FONT CONTRIBUTIONS --------------------

animistic_alphabet.7z (composed into .xcf by lylejk source: http://windnstorm.deviantart.com/art/Animistic-Alphabet-330661610)

purple polygon font.xcf (by Wallace)

googlemapfont.xcf (composed into .xcf by Tin source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/picture-galleries/5757548/The-Google-Maps-alphabet-UK-an-A-to-Z-of-the-British-Isles.html)

googlemapfont.xcf (composed into .xcf by lylejk source: http://nelde.deviantart.com/art/Google-Earth-Alphabet-120408103)

cherub-alphabet.xcf.gz (by rich2005)

stitch_font.xcf (by lylejk)

RGBSpheres.xcf (by Tin with the help of script found here called custom_font_composition.scm)

pipedream.xcf -> Free for personal use. Please link to here -> http://illustratorg.deviantart.com/art/Steampunk-FONT-V3-298587681

rodsSteamPunk.xcf (composed into .xcf by Tin source: (by Rod I think) http://gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=11158&p=150105&hilit=steampunk+font#p150001)

Blue Metallic Font.xcf (by Wallace)

tiles.xcf (by Tin)

Chiseled Stone Block with Vines Lowercase, "W" changed(by Wallace)

cut_gimpchatbanners.xcf to be used with custom_cut_font.scm (more details on custom cut font)

Old Lashed Wood Font (By Wallace)

Bone Chocolate Chip Cookie Font Download

Mahvins Christmas Lights Font Download

M&M's zipped .xcf font file

------------------------- TOOL TO FACILITATE YOU IN DESIGNING YOUR OWN FONT -------------------------
by MareroQ
this tool will generate all (well not all, the default is missing w,W and some other characters use the below string instead)

Code: Select all

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890-=`[];'\,./~!@#$%^&*()_+{}:"|<>?

the letters and other characters in their layers with proper layer names
Font-to-layers.zip

Wallace · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2016 10:19 pm **(#2)**

trandoductin wrote:

this topic/script is spawned from this topic -> Need Help with PhotoFont Plugin

Okay so here's he idea, you create png files that are named like A.png, B.png, C.png...
a.png, b.png, c.png... and cover all the alphabet and numbers and symbols (i might have to add custom symbols since some symbols can not be used as filenames, this would be very easy to add but i'll add them as we discover them)

Then open a gimp file and open all these created files as layers so the layers are named the same "A.png" "B.png" "C.png" .... and maybe save this file as an .xcf file, and consider it your custom font file kind'a idea.
While having this .xcf file active with many layers indicating your font ... run the below script

Attachment:

custom_font.scm

(It'll be available under Script-Fu/Create New/Custom Font...)
And enter a text string, make sure all your characters in your text are defined in the above .xcf, otherwise you'll get some error complaining that some layers aren't found when it looks for the specific characters.

Here's a sample folder of my files defined for characters/letters found in "Gimp Chat" (including a space named as "space.png")

Attachment:

test.zip

Here's a sample .xcf file that opened the above .png files in the sample zip above as layers (script is to be ran while this file is opened and active)

Attachment:

GimpChatTest.xcf

here's a sample of what it generated when i created characters for the string Gimp Chat
[ Image ]

I have some images in mind for this.
It'll take a little time to create all the letters, but should be able to test it soon.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2016 10:22 pm **(#3)**

cool

right now i only have one special character defined ..and that's the space.png so if you type space it'll look for space.png layer.
As you run into other characters where you can't name them as .png let me know and we'll create special names for them and i can add it to the script (it's really easy to add i just add an if check and set a layer-name to look for) let me know.

Wallace · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2016 11:49 pm **(#4)**

trandoductin wrote:

cool

right now i only have one special character defined ..and that's the space.png so if you type space it'll look for space.png layer.
As you run into other characters where you can't name them as .png let me know and we'll create special names for them and i can add it to the script (it's really easy to add i just add an if check and set a layer-name to look for) let me know.

This is what I'm working on.
I named it Purple Polygon Font.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 12:22 am **(#5)**

Polygon is one of my favorite things if you remember the polygon art thread(s).
Great can't wait to see some sample

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 12:25 am **(#6)**

if you create the .xcf that has all your letters opened you should share it so that other people can help popularize this Purple Polygon Font of yours

Wallace · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 12:41 am **(#7)**

trandoductin wrote:

if you create the .xcf that has all your letters opened you should share it so that other people can help popularize this Purple Polygon Font of yours

In my opinion, it still need quite a bit of work, but I'll try to finish it.

oldmangrumpy · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 5:22 am **(#8)**

Just had a quick test before going to sleep :roll:

Only done ABC so far but this script looks like fun Trandoductin :tyspin

... in glass of course.

MareroQ · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 11:10 am **(#9)**

Hi Tin Tran.

Your idea is better than PhotoFont. :yes

To facilitate the design: of small plugin (Filters-> Text-> Font to layers ...)

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 11:29 am **(#10)**

MareroQ wrote:

Hi Tin Tran.

Your idea is better than PhotoFont. :yes

To facilitate the design: of small plugin (Filters-> Text-> Font to layers ...)

The idea is however spawned from PhotoFont :hehe

Great job on facilitating the design. :hi5

but i just tried it and i don't know why i am getting this when i try to run it on a new image
GIMP Error
Calling error for procedure 'gimp-floating-sel-anchor':
Procedure 'gimp-floating-sel-anchor' has been called with an invalid ID for argument 'floating-sel'. Most likely a plug-in is trying to work on a layer that doesn't exist any longer.

Your tool looks great because then i don't have define custom symbols at all, it'll just work because I tried naming my layer as "?.png" and it lets me so if we use your tool we won't be restricted by external filenames
i might have to delete my if check that looks for "space.png" when it finds a space in my script because with your tool it'll just look for " .png" which should work just fine.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 11:36 am **(#11)**

oldmangrumpy wrote:

Just had a quick test before going to sleep :roll:

Only done ABC so far but this script looks like fun Trandoductin :tyspin

[ Image ]

... in glass of course.

nice.
I am glad we don't have to pay hundreds of dollars now to create something that is similar/reusable like PhotoFont

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 12:46 pm **(#12)**

So i had a chat with my cousin about this and she thinks she can use something like this since she might want to design fonts for her future clients and it's reusable so she thinks it's a great idea.

She also thought I should market this idea... :hehe

I told her nah, for free, for free. Plus i wouldn't know how to market this idea since it's so simple and anyone can just use it.

However, i told her that she can try and market her created font, if it took her a lot of time and that she should be compensated for.

So that's the idea. Some people can try selling their amazing created fonts using this idea/platform or share it for free to the world.

Personally ..i think the designing the font part is the hardest part and most time consuming and if you spent a lot of time on it, you should get something for it if people wanted to use your fonts.

Maybe like a site of downloadable fonts (as .xcf files) where people can donate...

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12516

Not really a font guy (and am too lazy to make my own), but looks like some wonderful work, Tran. You may have even made PhotoFont obsolete.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 1:10 pm **(#14)**

lylejk wrote:

Not really a font guy (and am too lazy to make my own), but looks like some wonderful work, Tran. You may have even made PhotoFont obsolete.

hehehe, then maybe i'll turn them into custom font creators instead :hehe

MareroQ · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 1:27 pm **(#15)**

Trandoductin wrote:
Your tool looks great because then i don't have define custom symbols at all, it'll just work because I tried naming my layer as "?.png" and it lets me so if we use your tool we won't be restricted by external filenames
i might have to delete my if check that looks for "space.png" when it finds a space in my script because with your tool it'll just look for " .png" which should work just fine.

You're a very good programmer - do it.
I'm learning only on examples (my method: think - copy - paste).
Maybe option:
"Justify", "Letter Spacing", "Line Spacing"?

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 1:41 pm **(#16)**

MareroQ wrote:

Trandoductin wrote:
Your tool looks great because then i don't have define custom symbols at all, it'll just work because I tried naming my layer as "?.png" and it lets me so if we use your tool we won't be restricted by external filenames
i might have to delete my if check that looks for "space.png" when it finds a space in my script because with your tool it'll just look for " .png" which should work just fine.

You're a very good programmer - do it.
I'm learning only on examples (my method: think - copy - paste).
Maybe option:
"Justify", "Letter Spacing", "Line Spacing"?

your method is the same as mine
Right now i don't know how to enter multiple lines of text so line spacing and justify are not in scope right now. I guess Letter spacing could be an option. I was hoping to see more custom fonts designed before i do anything more with it

rich2005 · **Joined:** Mar 04, 2011 **Posts:** 2419

I can see great fun with this one. There are one or two 'bespoke' alphabets around that can be relatively easily utilised.

Attachment:

gc.jpg [ 106.01 KiB | Viewed 2642 times ]

and the alphabet attached

MareroQ · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 2:45 pm **(#18)**

Not as nice as Rich- but fast (with GMIC).

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 2:48 pm **(#19)**

that's a fun font.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2016 5:01 pm **(#20)**

Okay so i figured how to do multi-line text.
So the Justification, Letter spacing and Line spacing is now in scope

Attachment:

custom_font.scm [6.03 KiB]
Downloaded 380 times

Available under Script-Fu/Create New/Custom Font...

some samples

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