Basic Guide to Fonts for Photoshop

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If a picture is worth a thousand words… the perfect font on a picture makes it worth two thousand.

*stands up and looks around*

Hello. My name is Aywren. And I… am a FontAholic. At one time in the past, I had downloaded and collected over 460 fonts. But then I was advised that having that many fonts installed might slow down the processes on my computer (this was a while back so I don’t know if that’s true with the newest computers), so I did manage to weed through and cut back a bit.

And I have to admit that sadly, it sometimes takes me fifteen extra minutes just to find the exact right style of type for text in my art. I’m font-picky… but at the same time, I love to hunt my font archive to put that extra special little touch of the perfect compliment between my artwork and a font’s artistic expression.

Why should I care about fonts?

The same words on the screen can have different meanings depending on where they are positioned… if they are in lowercase or CAPITAL LETTERS… if they are in a different color… and what sort of font style they are displayed in. That’s why it’s always important for a webcomic and graphic artist to arm themselves with a font for every occasion!

What is a font?

Most people know that a font is simply a style of text. It can be very plain or it can be very artistic. But a font can really set the tone of your message — be it lyrics added to a picture or shouting in a text bubble on a comic page.

Most computers come with a select default set of fonts already installed. But the fun part of fonts is hunting down new and cool styles and installing them into your collection for your own use!

Where do I find new fonts?

There’s a ton of fonts of all shapes and sizes out there on the net. You can even learn how to create your own… though that’s a whole different topic for another time. Here are some good places to look for free fonts:

Blambot Comic Fonts and Lettering
This is one of the best font sites for webcomic artists. It may not have thousands of fonts, but some of the free fonts that I use the most, my favorite fonts for many years, have come from this site. It’s a must-see!

1001 Free Fonts

Abstract Fonts

Google Search for Free Fonts

How do I install new fonts?

Installing a new font isn’t half as difficult as it sounds. Here are the quick steps to get you on your way:

Make sure that your art program is shut down. Programs like Photoshop or Word won’t load a new font until you open it after you install the font.
Download your font of choice. This will usually be in a zip file. Sometimes the zip file is actually a whole font pack – the font may come in a number of styles such as italic or bold version of the font.
Unzip your font(s).
Copy the font files to the Fonts folder on your computer. When you place the font file into this folder, you are actually installing it on your computer. The Font folder is, by Windows default, located at:
C:\Windows\Fonts

Once your new font has been installed, it will become a font option on all of the programs that use fonts, such as Office and Photoshop.

My Favorite Fonts

I thought I’d showcase a few of the fonts that I use quite often.

I use this font for all of my normal webcomic text. People sometimes ask me why I used it, seeing that it’s one of the basic default texts. One main reason is that I’ve discovered that this font still shows up very clearly, even at tiny, tiny sizes. I find it great for avatar text and small buttons!

Twelve Ton Goldfish is a winner in my book. I use it for most of my sound effects. It’s got this cool bouncy design that just works with a lot of the magic and sounds that I imagine.

Source: Blambot Comic Fonts and Lettering

Umberto. For when you want your sound effects to literally rock. When something vibrates or resounds big time in my comics, this is the font I use!

Source: Blambot Comic Fonts and Lettering

Sergeant SixPack is another great font for lout sound effects. I also like to use it for when people do some serious shouting.

Source: Blambot Comic Fonts and Lettering

Another default font… but a nice one to use for things that have a scripted feel, without going too fancy. I also use this for a lot of invitations and thank you card I design at work.

Zud Juice… another good sound effect font that I use from time to time. Not as often as I used others, but when I want something just a little different looking, this is one I pick.

Source: Blambot Comic Fonts and Lettering

Runes of the Dragon. There are actually two sets of these. When working with runes and fantasy settings, it’s always great to have some sort of “magic” looking text. I know Blambot also has a great one called “Wizard Speak” or something along that line.

Source: Unknown.

Now that I’ve shown you some of my favorites, go off and discover your own! And be sure to share your favorites here with me, too! I look forward to finding a few more fonts to add to my collection!

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Posted by User Image Aywren