[HonorableICE]

is there any font Off limits to t-shirt designing?

and how do you make your own font?

or a typography?

i would like to put my own font on a shirt and i would like the steps to do so. can someone help?

 

[binki]

here is a good place to start: Newsletter Archives « MyFonts

 

[Ezra4ever]

You can design your own font and just scan it to your computer....import it onto Adobe programs and trace it to vector format.

At least, that's what I'm planning to do, once I finish my logo.

 

[Enrique]

You need a special program to create font files, like Fontographer or FontLab, you can either import your type or create it right in the program, and then output a TrueType or OpenType font file.

You will need to have an understanding of baselines, kerning/tracking, spacing, etc. to create a good looking, usable font.

 

[idonaldson]

No font is off-limits. The issue becomes some fonts are better suited for certain product steps. For instance, I do vinyl transfers. The issue with narrow fonts is that due to them being smaller there is not enough media to hold them to the carrier so there is a lot of placing back into position. that process is very annoying.

 

[Enrique]

Well, TECHNICALLY some fonts are off-limits, there are some out there that specifically require a commercial license. But as with any other font, they never check and there is no enforcement...

 

[HonorableICE]

You need a special program to create font files, like Fontographer or FontLab, you can either import your type or create it right in the program, and then output a TrueType or OpenType font file.

You will need to have an understanding of baselines, kerning/tracking, spacing, etc. to create a good looking, usable font.

are any of those programs free or affordable?

 

[HonorableICE]

Well, TECHNICALLY some fonts are off-limits, there are some out there that specifically require a commercial license. But as with any other font, they never check and there is no enforcement...

whats a commercial license? give me a few examples of fonts that are off limits so i can have a idea?

 

[Enrique]

A commercial license is exactly what it says... a license that allows you to use something commercially (i.e. to sell it). MOST fonts have commercial licenses, just some make you pay for them and some don't. Next time to download from dafont.com, for instance, pay attention to what it says right above the "Download" button; not all of them are free. Sometimes when you download a font in a ZIP file and there's some TXT file in there, chances are that's the license file. Not that it stops anyone from using how they see fit, though...

KEEP IN MIND that some fonts have FREE commercial licenses... they're allowing you to use the font to make money off it without asking for permission or paying a fee.

 

[Fenrir]

Basically fonts are subject to sale and copyright just like a song or a book. Many fonts are not free for any use. Many more fonts are free for personal use, but not for commercial use. If you find a font for download on a website it doesn't mean that it's legal even for personal use. Since there is no megaconglomerate font industry like the RIAA, there is less power to crack down on sites sharing fonts that are not free. A good font that doesn't require major kerning and re-alignment takes a lot of hard work.

A lot of free font sites also come with a free virus.

daFont is a good general purpose font site. It has free for personal use, as well as some free for commercial use, but also has paid fonts mixed in with it.

Font Squirrel has the largest collection of free for commercial use fonts. Since it's self-policed, you should always read the actual license that comes with the font you download to make sure that it really is free for all uses.

Exljbris and The League Of Movable Type are two font foundries that produce professional quality royalty free fonts. You will find other foundries when you search through Font Squirrel - if you find one you like you should hunt down their website to make sure you have the latest version and also to find others.

 

[s2ksaad]

Most fonts can be used with your logo... But you cannot sell or market the font to others... It might be a bit tough to also copyright a logo with a font you pulled off the net... But most fonts can be used to make a design for a shirt you sell if noted otherwise in the user agreement. When you download it, the file should have a term of use... Read it and respect another artist rules since he created it!

Happy designing!!!

 

[kimura-mma]

It might be a bit tough to also copyright a logo with a font you pulled off the net...

Logos are eligible for trademark, not copyright.

Examining attorneys do not take font copyright into consideration when examining logos for trademark registration. Unless the typeface is obviously similar to an existing logo, it's fine to use fonts off the web for logos. It's still a good idea to use fonts that allow commercial use, though.

 

[Fenrir]

Your trademark registration may not take the font legality into account, but if you start growing, the font foundry will quite likely send you a cease and desist, and if you've printed 1000 shirts with your logo on them, you now have enough shop rags to open a car detailing business after you recover from bankruptcy (not from a lawsuit - at least as long as you cease and desist - but from having to throw out everything with your logo on it)

Or, you know, if the sign shop down the road that just spent $2500 on one typeface family decides to report you to the font owners when they see you're becoming viable competition.

 

[kimura-mma]

Typefaces cannot be owned as any form of intellectual property. So they cannot be protected through legal action.

The font file can be protected from illegal distribution. But once the font is converted to outlines and manipulated in a graphic program and produced on a shirt, it is very difficult to prove the artwork originated from that exact font file.

 

[s2ksaad]

Wait!!!! What about my logo... I pulled the phone from illustrator. :-/

 

[Hegemone]

If the font or typeface came with a program you purchased like windows or illustrator you have no issues in using it. Downloaded typefaces/fonts can be owned and must be appropriately licensed so make sure you have a copy of the license available if you are going to include it in your logo or product. Almost all fonts downloaded for a fee may not be resold or edited in electronic format (.ttf for example or in a zip) you can use the file you can send it to people or burger the font and resell it as your own font file. .

A font is a collection of images and each of those images was made by an artist. You should treat fonts like you would treat photographs and vectors. If you didn't make it or purchase and it isnt part of the public domain then you are stealing from the artist.

Do your research and give credit where credit is due.

This is an excellent topic.

 

[kimura-mma]

The law has created a distinction between fonts and typefaces.

A font represents the actual file that is installed onto a computer. This computer file can be owned as copyrighted material and the distribution of it can be controlled and protected.

A typeface represents the create elements of the visual font. This aesthetic cannot be owned as intellectual property.

I don't advocate stealing fonts or using them commercially when a license clearly states it is only for personal use. While it is very difficult to take legal action to protect the creative elements of a font, we should respect the work of our peers. Pay for the commercial rights to fonts or simply just use fonts that are free for commercial use.

 

[Hegemone]

Excellent clarification.

 

[Hegemone]

The problem lies in the fact that type, font, typeface are all predigital terms that are having a hard time being translated to digital terminology. You can no more trace some ones specific design whether its for letters or other graphic elements. The collections of images contained with in a digital file that is used to display characters is copy written and the design elements that make up those elements is copyrightable. And though the US law may have said that a typeface is not IP many other countries do protect them. Design elements are design elements that were created by someone so it's always better to err on the conservative side and make sure your ducks are in a row.

 

[kimura-mma]

The problem lies in the fact that type, font, typeface are all predigital terms that are having a hard time being translated to digital terminology.

Agreed. The use of terminology can be very confusing. But based on my research on this topic, it can be summed up like this...

The computer file can be copyrighted. The creative elements can not be copyrighted.

The collections of images contained with in a digital file that is used to display characters is copy written and the design elements that make up those elements is copyrightable.

Sorry, but this just isn't true.

Here is one link that explains some good detail. Read the original post as well as the answers below: Legal issues with using fonts? | Typophile

Design elements are design elements that were created by someone so it's always better to err on the conservative side and make sure your ducks are in a row.

Agreed. Regardless of the letter of the law, people's work should be respected.