DESIGN: Using Typography to create Texture

It’s often a challenge to really play with typography as a design element itself. It’s no secret that type plays a significant role in a lot of the design world, both print, web, and beyond. But typography itself is a nice easy way to experiment with your design to see what you can come up with, given the circumstances allow for it. I have to sometimes force myself to do this, but it’s a really nice way to add a little extra if done right. Typography, especially scaled way up, can be a powerful addition to your design, and even a texture layer at times. I will use the font Sidewalk from a previous post as an example.

Because fonts can be easily outlined in vector format, we have the freedom to transform a character into an object, and further into a group of objects, scale it without limit. Grouped, overlapped, and layered, typefaces can become in themselves, a texture at times, worthy of exploring as a designer, and there are plenty of textured fonts out there, completely free.

Dafont is by far my favorite free font site, constantly updated, and very easy to use site. Check it often for “New Fonts.” (I do almost weekly)

Tips for exploring this on your own:

1. You can easily convert typography from type to a shape in illustrator by outlining the font. After you do this, the font now becomes a shape for you to manipulate as if it were a custom grunge shape, behaving more like a texture instantly.

2. Overlap diferent words/characters and use the Pathfinder (explained in this post) palette to create intricate custom designs based on the type.

3. Play around with transparency (opacity), layering and color. Don’t be shy, maybe even try some gradient fills. The sky is the limit. The point here is to explore type in a new way.

My favorite free font site: Dafont.com

Dafont’s Eroded section.

Dafont’s Distorted section.

Dafont’s Destroy section. (my Fav)

Download an Example:

I included a stripped down version of the file above for you to download. (The File above is 26 MB, too big because of all the outlined text, so I stripped it down to the essentials) You might notice that I don’t use much transparency, just a variety of colors and layers. But again, the possibilities are endless, and I encourage you to explore and experiment on your own with a variety of fonts.

Download the Type Texture Example

Includes: - AI (2) EPS (1) SVG (1)

Download the Seamless Vector Star pattern I used in the example above

Includes: - AI (2) EPS (1) SVG (1) PNG (1)

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Related Posts:

1. Dingbats Roundup: 16 Incredibly Detailed, Useful (and free) Dingbat Fonts
2. Font Update: 5 Cool Fonts Not to Miss
3. Font Update: Myndraine
4. Font Update: 7 Free Grungy Script Fonts You Shouldn’t Miss
5. 5 Excellent Free Grunge Fonts
6. Font Update: Panhead

18 Responses to “DESIGN: Using Typography to create Texture”

1. Nathan Logan, on March 20th, 2007 at 8:31 am

   That’s purty.

2. Cawlin, on March 20th, 2007 at 8:38 am

   Dugg.

   If you don’t have it, you should look into WP cache (http://mnm.uib.es/gallir/wp-cache-2/) I know that last time you hit the frontpage your server gave up.

   Really liking your latest articles.

3. wcbb, on March 20th, 2007 at 9:00 am

   Do you have any recommendations for a good font manager? There’re fonts in AI that I downloaded but didn’t end up using ‘cuz they don’t look good once you tried them with a particular project, then they just sit there and takes up valuable space. Now I have to scroll all the way back and forth to find a good font to use. Been looking for a decent free font manager ever since, but still haven’t find a good one yet.

   If you could write up a tutorial on how to manager your fonts efficiently, I think a lot of ppl will find it useful. ‘cuz I don’t really see such tutorials on the web.

   Great work!

4. BittBox, on March 20th, 2007 at 9:46 am

   Thanks Cawlin, I don’t know much about servers so I really appreciate the tip.
   ~BittBox

5. Adam, on March 20th, 2007 at 10:36 am

   wcbb: i use Linotype’s FontExplorerX. I used Suitcase for the longest time, but I get far fewer crashes with FEX, and importing fonts is much less buggy. It’s also free, as opposed to the $99 (I think) price tag on Suitcase. It’s only available for Mac OSX right now, but their site says they have plans for a Windows version.

   BittBox: I come here all the time–just wanted to say thanks for all your work. Very cool and useful stuff.

6. Brandon Hopkins, on March 20th, 2007 at 10:46 am

   Speaking of Digg, try this code so a Digg button will be on all of your posts…most are digg worthy.
   http://www.seorefugee.com/forums/showpost.php?&p=50288&postcount=4

7. Cawlin, on March 20th, 2007 at 11:41 am

   @wcbb

   I use fontDoc (free and macintosh) for previewing fonts, it is a bit slow and not a great manager, but it lets you type out anything you want and then renders that text in every font you have.

   Very nice for previewing so you don’t miss a font. Great for dingbat fonts as well.

8. Noor, on March 20th, 2007 at 1:16 pm

   Awesome post, I wish I had been introduced to this long ago. Thanks for it.

9. BittBox, on March 20th, 2007 at 9:47 pm

   wcbb,

   I only use the Fontbook program that came with OS X, so I’m afraid I can’t offer any advice :(
   I have heard of FontExplorerX, like Adam mentioned, but I have never toyed with it.

   ~BittBox

10. wcbb, on March 21st, 2007 at 9:20 am

    Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately, I’m a PC user, both at work and at home. So none of the Mac only programs that has been suggested will work for me. There gotta be sth. out there for PC users. ahhhhhhh.

11. Michael, on March 26th, 2007 at 10:51 am

    For those looking for a great font management tool take a look at Sue Fisher’s -The Font Thing

12. Mindtracks » Illustrator tips, on March 28th, 2007 at 1:51 pm

    […] in Using Typography to create Texture has pointed out ways to use features in Illustrator to create designs based on typography. Pointing […]

13. Glaucia, on March 29th, 2007 at 7:08 am

    Perfeito!

14. thepsychotherapist, on March 29th, 2007 at 1:27 pm

    RE: wcbb…try AMP Font Viewer from AMPSoft…it’s a fairly full featured free font utility (that’s a ton of alliteration)….it allows you to view installed/uninstalled fonts, temporarily or permanently install fonts from the interface, categorize fonts, and define samples to view each font with…I’m PC as well and have to match typefaces all the time in my job; this program has made it a thousand times quicker and easier

15. Luca Pitasi, on March 30th, 2007 at 1:08 pm

    Linotype FontExplorerX is really good to manage and preview fonts.

16. auron, on April 5th, 2007 at 7:59 pm

    FontExplorerX has a beta version out for the PC. It was just released on March 30th.

    http://www.linotype.com/3321/freedownloadpc.html

17. Illustrator tips « Mindtracks, on August 23rd, 2007 at 4:15 pm

    […] 29, 2007 Illustrator tips Posted by sharonb under Illustrator  Bittbox in Using Typography to create Texture has pointed out ways to use features in Illustrator to create designs based on typography. Pointing […]

18. relatively new, on February 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    i’m a student of grapic design, there are times i have idea’s but im not to sure how to execute them… this is brilliant.. it’s helping me ton’s.. an im having a lot of fun!! thank you

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