Ways to Create Web Fonts Using Programming
Generating new and exciting typography has become a popular domain for programmers who like to experiment with graphics. Programmers combine their knowledge in typography with coding, and the potential to use algorithms to alter the shape of glyphs. The outcome is interesting and innovative ways of creating and using web fonts, not just in terms of legibility, but to explore the possibilities of what a web font can do for an application.
Before delving into the details of creating web fonts, it’s important to understand exactly what they are. Web fonts are fonts specifically created for websites. They’re typically on a web server. So, web fonts are downloaded by the browser while generating the web page. If you need to download the font that you would like to implement on your website you can use this free webfont generator from Creative Fabrica.
So, what is the difference between a desktop font and a web font? A desktop font can be installed on a computer and used in software like Photoshop or Microsoft Word. On the other hand, web fonts are used only when building websites.
Web fonts can be custom created with the use of creative coding. This requires a lot of experience and skill from designers. Businesses that want to stand out online may want to look into enhancing their web pages with custom web fonts. For this, they require the expert knowledge of creative coding by programmers such as Node.js experts.
The Popularity and Capabilities of Creative Coding
It’s tricky to define exactly what ‘creative coding’ really means. Generally, it refers to the creation of something that has expressive qualities rather than having just a practical use. It offers programmers a chance to learn and explore how various different technologies can work together to create impressive art forms.
What form creative coding takes is entirely up to the creator. Anything from image manipulation to data visualization can be considered ‘creative coding’. Some of the most common forms of creative coding include 3D objects, animations, robotics, games, apps, web fonts and more.
But why is creative code so popular and why are increasingly more businesses interested in investing in creative coding practices?
The main reason for this is to enhance digital experiences for application users. Today, consumers want to see new and innovative ideas being used in branding and user experiences. When used correctly, creative code can help businesses stand out and attract larger audiences.
One of the most popular forms of using creative code is developing web fonts.
Ways of Creating Web Fronts Using Programming
The web is a place where thoughts and ideas are shared. Sometimes these views are auditory or visual and conveyed using videos, pictures or audio. Yet, more often, online content takes the form of written text. So, the design of the visual presentation of online text – web typography, or fonts, – is paramount to the success of almost every website.
However, simply using the same fonts for every website is not enough for modern online businesses. To stand out, they have to invest in custom typography or web fonts. But how exactly are these web fonts created? Let’s explore some of the most common ways Node JS programming experts develop custom fonts using coding.
- Using @font-face
Developers can find a custom font they want to use on a website, and then download the font file format (.ttf). Thereafter, they create a web font kit for cross-browsing by uploading a .ttf or .otf file to a web font generator and downloading the web font kit. All font files are then uploaded to a website. The web fonts can be customized in many different ways by adding code to the files. Letter spacing, line heights and general size can all be customized by adding code to the uploaded files.
- Using the Google Fonts API
Google Font API is a free web service that allows Node.js developerexperts the ability to utilize custom fonts outside of the typical web-safe fonts collection in an easy and resource-efficient way. Unlike using CSS-background-image replacement, using a CSS rule as a solution to add more appeal to web typography is more SEO-friendly. Additionally, developers don’t need to adjust any existing content, the CSS stylesheets simply need updating.
- Using software
A software platform such as Fontastic can be used to create custom icon fonts. First, the platform’s library needs to be downloaded. Thereafter, developers can use the platform by selecting icons from available sets and customizing the symbols that stand behind them. Once done, the new font can be downloaded by using a CSS file that contains the code. The CSS code is uploaded to websites to use and display the web fonts online.
Besides creating web fonts from scratch, there are also a few ways to add custom fonts downloaded or created on other platforms to website building tools:
- Adding custom fonts using @font-face CSS
- Adding fonts using a plugin
- Manually adding fonts using Google Fonts
Creating custom fonts can be tricky, especially if businesses don’t have the in-house resources to do it. As a result, many businesses turn to hiring afreelance programmer or remote development team who has experience developing new and custom web fonts hire a programmer.
The Bottom Line
Today, it’s important for businesses to find innovative ways to stand out online. It is no longer sufficient to simply use the same graphic elements, including web fonts.
There are plenty of incredible fonts available online that can be used in any design project. However, sometimes a more custom font is required to really make a design or application stand out. To do this, businesses have to hire experienced programmers, such as Node.js software developers, to develop customized fonts that can be used for online content. A strong team of specialists is one of the factors of success. Use relevant platforms and services to find your ‘team player’ and keep attention to the feedback about work(for ex you can check more in Upwork reviews for clients and etc). Few right steps and you run a business with your high-quality specialist