{"id":5313,"date":"2021-05-26T14:27:24","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T11:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/?p=5313"},"modified":"2026-05-15T10:19:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T07:19:35","slug":"font-customization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/blog\/font-customization\/","title":{"rendered":"Font customization"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Customization<\/a> is an instrument solving a large array of design tasks and helping corporate brand establishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It often happens that existing fonts do not correspond to the needs of a certain project. But font is not a static instrument that functions only the way it was created. To convey the company\u2019s individual style, the font can and should be adapted and customized to one\u2019s needs that may range from simple changes like diminishing the character composition to complex design changes in all glyphs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article we will try to cover all types of font customization and tasks that can be solved with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technical customization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Changing font parameters to match a reference font
<\/strong>
Let us start with a fairly common example, the proportional alteration of font size. For example, you use a system font on your website, but at some point, you decided to change it and buy a font<\/a> that matches the specifics of your work better. But there is a problem: you change the system font to the new one and the layout goes completely wrong such that you need to make a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There may be different reasons for this happening, and one of them is that the physical sizes of the two fonts are significantly different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In such a case, a custom-made font can be created, in which we can match the font size or other metrics to the required measurements of the reference font to make the transfer from one to another as simple as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Changing TT\u00a0Commons<\/a> to\u00a0parameters to\u00a0match a\u00a0reference font<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Switching off or customizing OpenType features<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contemporary fonts are universal products and their files always have more characters and features that an average designer needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By default, OpenType features like ligatures created for characters that merge in a set in order to make it more uniform are included in fonts. In our experience, clients often do not need them, and if that is the case we can turn them off in the font code and transfer the file to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Turning off or customizing OpenType features<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Changing spacing in the font<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spacing is the distance between the letters. Depending on the task we can make the set more condensed or, on the contrary, more dispersed. We were surprised when we realized that not all designers know about this type of customization and spend a lot of time correcting for this manually. We would like to change that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us have a look at an interesting example. For one of our IT clients, we did some research and developed a system to change font density depending on the size of the font. As a result, we created 8 fonts with different spacing such that in larger size the font is denser and in smaller size it is sparser. This way, our client\u2019s work is easier: there is no longer the need to code spacing manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Changing font spacing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Downsizing the character composition of the font<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us keep on discussing the sizes and proceed to the physical parameters of font files, which is especially important in contemporary web design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the ways to control the size of the font file is diminishing the font character composition. Let\u2019s say you need the font files to be of a small size and that you know what languages, figures and punctuation marks you need. In this case, it is possible to create a custom version of the font with a reduced number of characters leaving in only those that are really needed for work. This significantly decreases the size of the font file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Downsizing the font character composition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of the size of the font file, let us also think of variability. If you plan to use on your website more than three upright faces from the same font family, a variable font file can be developed and used for these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s not all. If downsizing the number of characters has not helped, we can also proceed to advanced customization: for instance, we can gradually omit hinting, kerning and find a couple of kB hidden in font info until we reach the needed size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Customizing the mean line, interline spacing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graphic editors used by designers have different interfaces that vary not only in terms of content, but also in terms of how elements are aligned within the blocks. Because of this, fonts may be displayed incorrectly, and a designer might have to manually adjust the parameters, which takes a lot of time that could otherwise be dedicated to solving more important problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great example of this could be an abstract object, \u00abButton\u00bb, in which a designer places the text line. For it to be centrally aligned in different interfaces, it is necessary to manually set up the ascender and descender parameters in the font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Customizing the mean line<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A similar problem often arises with interline spacing. Customization allows for setting up any space that you need between any two lines next to each other in order to not do it manually every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Customizing interline spacing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We customize<\/a> our fonts for all popular designer software. What\u2019s more, based on our clients\u2019 feedback, we constantly adapt them to software settings such that these problems do not arise in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graphic customization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Adding a logotype to the font<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It often happens that the clients needs the logo of the company to be added into the font, for instance, in order to use the glyph on the site and not to mess around with a separate image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Adding a logotype to the font<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We can also alter the font such that it looks better together with the logo \u2014 for instance, the logo might have round full stops and the font has square ones. This is fairly easy to correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Changing the shapes of characters or separate elements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your branding materials we can change the shape of one, several, or even all font characters.We were once contacted by a company that wanted to use our TT Commons<\/a>\u2122 font as its corporate font. They had especially liked the rounding of the letter t<\/em>, and so they had asked us to add similar rounding into letters a <\/em>and d<\/em>. We analyzed their logotype and corporate style to offer a harmonized solution for the rest of the letters. As a results, we created a customized version of TT Commons\u2122 that solves the client\u2019s task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Changing shapes of characters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Individualizing the font visuals by changing the characters in a stylistic set<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to make the font more personalized but do not have enough time and resources, an easy way out is to work with the characters already present in the font. For instance, you could set the letters hidden in stylistic sets to be a part of the main set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Changing the characters in\u00a0a\u00a0stylistic set TT\u00a0Firs Neue<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you type large text arrays, you would probably like to mostly use minuscule figures instead of majuscule ones. In this case, you could set old style figures as default figures. Or, if you often set tables, you could set as default tabular figures and currency signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Creating an intermediate face<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing the stroke weight in a font is another frequent designer request. If you haven\u2019t found an ideal weight in a font family \u2014 for instance, Regular looks too thin and Medium is too massive \u2014 an intermediate weight can be created and precisely customized for a specific task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Creating an intermediate face<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For one of our clients we have changed the width of TT Norms<\/a>\u2019s Medium face. The axis position was at 500 but the client wanted it to be 475. It seems to be a very minute change but a designer knows very well what would look better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Adding an alphabet or a language<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of our clients produces goods for different countries and the packaging has to feature the language of the distribution country. They have chosen a suitable font but before purchase realized it didn\u2019t have Vietnamese. We have then created Vietnamese for this client specifically with the needed character composition, punctuation list and features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Adding an alphabet or a language<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Custom licensing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to visual and technical aspects, a custom font might be an alternative to traditional licensing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. For companies that have subsidiaries or affiliates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can specify in the license a possibility to expand the right to use the font within the whole holding, beyond a specific entity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Custom license for companies that have subsidiaries or affiliates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. For companies that outsource design<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a company purchases a license but employs no designers, in the individual license we specify that it can transfer the font file to its contractors fro the period of working on the projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Custom license for companies that outsource design work<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We are flexible in our approach to changing standard licenses depending on the requirements of your legal department and are ready to personalize a font by changing its name for your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, with the purchase of a license<\/a>, we most often offer customization<\/a> for free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of a conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes customization may be very advanced \u2014 such that a new font emerges as a result. But that is a different story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customizing a font to one\u2019s task is possible and even advised! Customization instruments enable solving almost any issues. In this article we have tried to shed light on some tasks that customization tackles, but that\u2019s only the top of an iceberg. Let us be honest \u2014 we are always keen on working with interesting cases and finding optimal solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you have any questions on customization or a task that needs to be solved, just contact us<\/a> wherever is most convenient for you. We will make sure to respond and solve your font problem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u00a0often happens that existing fonts do\u00a0not correspond to\u00a0the needs of\u00a0a\u00a0certain project. But font is\u00a0not a\u00a0static instrument that functions only the way it\u00a0was created. To\u00a0convey the company\u2019s individual style, the font can and should be\u00a0adapted and customized to\u00a0one\u2019s needs that may range from simple changes like diminishing the character composition to\u00a0complex design changes in\u00a0all glyphs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[187,188],"class_list":["post-5313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-font-custom","tag-work-with-fonts"],"acf":{"show_sidebar":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5313"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51119,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5313\/revisions\/51119"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}