Vector fonts

Speedster1 · March 9, 2019, 6:39pm

I vector traced text from a DXF file that worked great. But when I try to vector trace text in inkscape for printing through K40 whisperer instead of it tracing the text centerline outlines the text. Is there a trick or a specific font that will allow me to vector trace a font without it outlining it?

Scorch · March 10, 2019, 12:40am

Fonts are generally outlines. There are a few ‘stick’ fonts but they are rare. CAD programs seem to be the primary users of stick fonts.

There are some free TTF stick fonts available on the Cambam site.
http://www.mrrace.com/CamBam_Fonts/

You can also use the Hershey Text plugin in Inkscape (comes with Inkscape) to create text made of single lines.

Scorch

Speedster1 · March 10, 2019, 2:13pm

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

These “stick fonts” are perfect for vector engraving small text in the 6-14 pt size. They end up looking a lot nicer than raster engraved text.

Speedster1 · March 10, 2019, 8:11pm

I downloaded the fonts from the cambam site and unfortunately they don’t seem to work in Inkscape. They shown up as jiberish on my PC. Maybe it’s just me.

Scorch · March 10, 2019, 9:03pm

I am assuming you installed the font and were able to create text in Inkscape using the installed font.

Since normal fonts are outlines when you create text the fill color is the text color. Since these fonts are not outlines the fill color only fills in the closed areas of the letters. (like the inside of an ‘a’) To make the text show up correctly you need to go to “Object” - “Fill and Stroke” and set the “Fill” to none (using the “X” selection.) and set the “Stroke Paint” to the color you want the text to be.

Speedster1 · March 10, 2019, 9:45pm

Duh. I can’t believe I brain farted and didnt think about that.

You are 100% correct, I followed your instructions and they worked perfectly. Thanks.

mcdanlj · January 8, 2020, 12:09pm

https://twitter.com/j0hnm4r5/status/1214764512454348800

Not a free font, but appears to be pay-what-you-want?

This font has only been tested as working in recent versions of Adobe Illustrator. You can give it a try in other programs, but it probably won’t work. It uses the relatively new OpenType-SVG color font format, so most applications will render the typeface incorrectly (or not at all).