D&D 3rd Edition Title Font [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D 3rd Edition Title Font [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thorf
05-20-06, 06:22 PM I realise this question has probably been asked many times before, but has anyone managed to find a match, or even a close match, to the font used for the titles of most 3rd Edition books?

http://www.wizards.com/global/images/products_dndacc_953747200_lgpic.jpg

The TSR & WotC Font Usage FAQ (http://www.geocities.com/rgfdfaq/tsrfonts.html) has it down as "Not an electronic font; it's from an old book of fonts (probably one published by Dover)", and marks it as "officially confirmed". But on the other hand Wizards is clearly using an electronic font to create the titles. Is it really a totally customised font that is not available for sale anywhere?

If that is the case, I suppose the next question is this: has anyone made their own version yet? I believe most of the letters have been used (though a quick search of book titles didn't turn up any J's or Q's), so it should be a comparatively simple matter to make the font manually.

I would very much appreciate any assistance on this issue.

(Shameless plug: Check out my OD&D and Mystara Font FAQ (http://mystara.thorf.co.uk/fontfaq.php) - my companion work to the excellent TSR & WotC Font Usage FAQ. :) )
Thorf
05-22-06, 01:24 PM Since all my searching has turned up nothing, and no one has come forward with any revelations, I decided that perhaps the best solution would be to just make the font myself, assembling it from all the official sources.

http://mystara.thorf.co.uk/images/3rd-ed-title-font.png

I was able to find sources for all letters except Z. It would be relatively easy to make an uncial style Z that fits roughly, but it would be nice to see the official Z too.

I have these as vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator, along with some variations. The next step would be to convert them into a working font file, but I haven't got a lot of experience in that area.
Darth K'Trava
05-22-06, 07:16 PM It's called on most font sites I've been to "The Crow".

Edit: Or "Mael".

Both True Type Fonts.
Gazza555
05-23-06, 08:14 AM I have these as vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator, along with some variations. The next step would be to convert them into a working font file, but I haven't got a lot of experience in that area.
Hi Thorf

IIRC you can create fonts in Illustrator but I prefer High-Logic's Font Creator program. It's fairly cheap. You can find more information here (http://www.high-logic.com/fcp.html).

Regards
Gary
Thorf
05-25-06, 11:42 AM Thanks for the link, Gary. I still haven't decided yet what program to use to make the font, but I did find an example Z to finish my set.

First, though, I have two rather pressing questions. If I do go ahead and compile these characters into a font:

Would anyone be interested in it? I'd be happy to make it freeware, but more importantly...
Would Wizards of the Coast be opposed to this?

It would be very nice to know the official policy. I don't want to upset anyone or break any laws. I would buy the font myself, but it seems to me from studying the existing characters that even Wizards doesn't have it as a font in the computer, but instead sets the individual characters manually for each title.

Oh, and since there is no official name, I have decided to use the name "Draconis" for now. It seems a fitting title for the D&D title font. :)
Dahil
05-26-06, 03:40 AM Thorf,

Let me be the first to say that if you make that, i would LOVE to have a copy. (Assuming it's legal and all that...)

Secondly, i have a question of my own. Are there any free font making programs out there? All i want is to make 1 font. Just one. It seems a waste of money to pay for a program if all i want is one use. If anyone could point me in the right direction, i would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
Thorf
05-26-06, 08:19 AM Thorf,

Let me be the first to say that if you make that, i would LOVE to have a copy. (Assuming it's legal and all that...)

I used the "Help" section to ask about the legality of it yesterday, but the response was something like, "Unfortunately we cannot give you permission to do this." I then asked if they could explain why, or give a reason, but they said they couldn't get into it. I also brought up the fact that other people have already made clones of D&D fonts, and the reply was that they don't give anyone specific permission.

The reply seems to me to be quite ambiguous, despite my attempt to get some clarification. I didn't mention permission, I merely inquired about Wizards of the Coast's stance would be. Now I'm left wondering what exactly that means...

"You can't do that. You would be violating our copyrights."
"We don't want you to do that. But you would probably get away with it anyway."
"We can't give you permission to do that, but we will turn a blind eye if you do."

I wish I could get a clear answer to this question. I know of at least one person who is currently selling a meticulously reconstructed font of a very similar vein to my idea. :confused:
frosty_treant
05-26-06, 08:37 AM Letter shapes are not copyrightable.
The only thing that is copyrightable is the actual font file itself.

However, since you took the letters from the book covers, you should trace them (in Illustrator or something similar). Otherwise WotC might smack you for using copyrighted images. But it looks like someone already did that, and converted the letters to black.

In other words, if you want to trace the letters from the D&D books and make it into a font file, and distribute it for free, go right ahead.
The only breach of legality would be if you actually stole/bought the font file that Wizards' graphic design department is using for the books, and started distributing it without permission.

See also:
http://nwalsh.com/comp.fonts/FAQ/cf_13.htm#SEC33
fw190a8
05-26-06, 04:30 PM On the whole fonts thing, people might find this useful: http://www.geocities.com/rgfdfaq/tsrfonts.html
Uncle Meat
05-26-06, 11:56 PM As a calligrapher, it looks like a sort of modern uncial, or a streamlined artificial uncial. "Medieval Calligraphy" by Drogin has a good exemplar for those wanting to do it by hand.

Just my 2 coppers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thorf 05-20-06, 06:22 PM	I realise this question has probably been asked many times before, but has anyone managed to find a match, or even a close match, to the font used for the titles of most 3rd Edition books? http://www.wizards.com/global/images/products_dndacc_953747200_lgpic.jpg The TSR & WotC Font Usage FAQ (http://www.geocities.com/rgfdfaq/tsrfonts.html) has it down as "Not an electronic font; it's from an old book of fonts (probably one published by Dover)", and marks it as "officially confirmed". But on the other hand Wizards is clearly using an electronic font to create the titles. Is it really a totally customised font that is not available for sale anywhere? If that is the case, I suppose the next question is this: has anyone made their own version yet? I believe most of the letters have been used (though a quick search of book titles didn't turn up any J's or Q's), so it should be a comparatively simple matter to make the font manually. I would very much appreciate any assistance on this issue. (Shameless plug: Check out my OD&D and Mystara Font FAQ (http://mystara.thorf.co.uk/fontfaq.php) - my companion work to the excellent TSR & WotC Font Usage FAQ. :) )
Thorf 05-22-06, 01:24 PM	Since all my searching has turned up nothing, and no one has come forward with any revelations, I decided that perhaps the best solution would be to just make the font myself, assembling it from all the official sources. http://mystara.thorf.co.uk/images/3rd-ed-title-font.png I was able to find sources for all letters except Z. It would be relatively easy to make an uncial style Z that fits roughly, but it would be nice to see the official Z too. I have these as vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator, along with some variations. The next step would be to convert them into a working font file, but I haven't got a lot of experience in that area.
Darth K'Trava 05-22-06, 07:16 PM	It's called on most font sites I've been to "The Crow". Edit: Or "Mael". Both True Type Fonts.
Gazza555 05-23-06, 08:14 AM	I have these as vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator, along with some variations. The next step would be to convert them into a working font file, but I haven't got a lot of experience in that area. Hi Thorf IIRC you can create fonts in Illustrator but I prefer High-Logic's Font Creator program. It's fairly cheap. You can find more information here (http://www.high-logic.com/fcp.html). Regards Gary
Thorf 05-25-06, 11:42 AM	Thanks for the link, Gary. I still haven't decided yet what program to use to make the font, but I did find an example Z to finish my set. First, though, I have two rather pressing questions. If I do go ahead and compile these characters into a font: Would anyone be interested in it? I'd be happy to make it freeware, but more importantly... Would Wizards of the Coast be opposed to this? It would be very nice to know the official policy. I don't want to upset anyone or break any laws. I would buy the font myself, but it seems to me from studying the existing characters that even Wizards doesn't have it as a font in the computer, but instead sets the individual characters manually for each title. Oh, and since there is no official name, I have decided to use the name "Draconis" for now. It seems a fitting title for the D&D title font. :)
Dahil 05-26-06, 03:40 AM	Thorf, Let me be the first to say that if you make that, i would LOVE to have a copy. (Assuming it's legal and all that...) Secondly, i have a question of my own. Are there any free font making programs out there? All i want is to make 1 font. Just one. It seems a waste of money to pay for a program if all i want is one use. If anyone could point me in the right direction, i would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
Thorf 05-26-06, 08:19 AM	Thorf, Let me be the first to say that if you make that, i would LOVE to have a copy. (Assuming it's legal and all that...) I used the "Help" section to ask about the legality of it yesterday, but the response was something like, "Unfortunately we cannot give you permission to do this." I then asked if they could explain why, or give a reason, but they said they couldn't get into it. I also brought up the fact that other people have already made clones of D&D fonts, and the reply was that they don't give anyone specific permission. The reply seems to me to be quite ambiguous, despite my attempt to get some clarification. I didn't mention permission, I merely inquired about Wizards of the Coast's stance would be. Now I'm left wondering what exactly that means... "You can't do that. You would be violating our copyrights." "We don't want you to do that. But you would probably get away with it anyway." "We can't give you permission to do that, but we will turn a blind eye if you do." I wish I could get a clear answer to this question. I know of at least one person who is currently selling a meticulously reconstructed font of a very similar vein to my idea. :confused:
frosty_treant 05-26-06, 08:37 AM	Letter shapes are not copyrightable. The only thing that is copyrightable is the actual font file itself. However, since you took the letters from the book covers, you should trace them (in Illustrator or something similar). Otherwise WotC might smack you for using copyrighted images. But it looks like someone already did that, and converted the letters to black. In other words, if you want to trace the letters from the D&D books and make it into a font file, and distribute it for free, go right ahead. The only breach of legality would be if you actually stole/bought the font file that Wizards' graphic design department is using for the books, and started distributing it without permission. See also: http://nwalsh.com/comp.fonts/FAQ/cf_13.htm#SEC33
fw190a8 05-26-06, 04:30 PM	On the whole fonts thing, people might find this useful: http://www.geocities.com/rgfdfaq/tsrfonts.html
Uncle Meat 05-26-06, 11:56 PM	As a calligrapher, it looks like a sort of modern uncial, or a streamlined artificial uncial. "Medieval Calligraphy" by Drogin has a good exemplar for those wanting to do it by hand. Just my 2 coppers.