Semi-safe fonts

[Erica C.]

I'd like to style some content so that it looks like a signature. I typically pick fonts from this list of browser safe fonts. (http://www.ampsoft.net/webdesign-l/WindowsMacFonts.html) I'd still use some sort of serif fonts from that list as a backup, but if I could specify something like URW Chancery for those who have it, that would be ideal.

So, is there a list of nearly safe, somewhat common fonts? Or would anyone have suggestions for signature-like fonts that some users might have?

Thanks so much.

Erica

[Wassercrats]

URW Chancery L was detected in 3% of PCs according to the VisiBone Font Survey (http://www.visibone.com/font/FontResults.html). Unless it means 3% of browsers overall. Their key isn't so clear. The most popular cursive fonts according to that list are:

Brush Script MT 38% (302/790) 84% (137/164)
Edwardian Script ITC 37% (298/797) 54% (89/164)

But I don't see Brush Script MT as cursive on my PC (Windows XP, IE 6).

[Erica C.]

Thanks, Wassercrats!

The survey is useful though I agree that the key isn't clear.

I guess the most common cursive font is Comic Sans MS but that's really not the look I was going for.

Thanks again!

Erica

[DogAndPony]

Your safest bet would be to create a graphic... If it's dynamic content, it'll be a challenge, but it can be done letter-by-letter or using something like ImageMagick.

You can find some amazing fonts (and some not so great ones) by searching for "handwriting" at MyFonts.com...

Good luck!

[Randall]

Your safest bet would be to create a graphic... If it's dynamic content, it'll be a challenge, but it can be done letter-by-letter or using something like ImageMagick. Dynamic Text Replacement (http://alistapart.com/articles/dynatext) would work in that situation. (I'm using a slightly modified version that does everything server-side in PHP instead of a Javascript/PHP combo.)

Haven't tried it with a handwritten font, but I expect Zapfino (http://www.linotype.com/1175/zapfino-family.html) would be a good one for signatures.

http://randallblank.com/images/randall.gif

[Jeff]

Wow! Dynamic Text Replacement is very very cool. Thanks Randall!

[Erica C.]

For various reasons, I probably won't be making graphics for this. Though that Dynamic Text Replacement thing is wonderful. I'll have to read the article ASAP.

Thanks.

Erica

[DogAndPony]

Dynamic Text Replacement (http://alistapart.com/articles/dynatext) Groovy script, R.!

But I thought FQ had some licensing issues or something with scripts that depend on server-based fonts. I remember support for annotation in ImageMagick being turned off. Or something like that...?

Then there's always the dependability issue (whether the font actually lives on your particular machine).

Hmmm...

<edit>BTW, I've tried the letter-by letter thing, using individual image files of characters, and it does work, although you have to be sure to use a font that's either mono-spaced or looks good that way, or is a joined-up handwriting font that's well designed... </edit>

[sheila]

But I thought FQ had some licensing issues or something with scripts that depend on server-based fonts. I remember support for annotation in ImageMagick being turned off. Or something like that...?
FutureQuest simply doesn't provide any fonts on the server, due to licensing issues.

You are welcome to upload to the server and use any fonts for which you have the appropriate rights/license.

[DogAndPony]

FutureQuest simply doesn't provide any fonts on the server, due to licensing issues.

You are welcome to upload to the server and use any fonts for which you have the appropriate rights/license.Thanks for the clarity, Sheila!

So I think this would work with most fonts, since most licenses grant use on 1 to 5 machines. BUT you have to be sure to check the license for the particular font you use, since licenses do vary...

[Randall]

BTW, I've tried the letter-by letter thing, using individual image files of characters, and it does work, although you have to be sure to use a font that's either mono-spaced or looks good that way, or is a joined-up handwriting font that's well designed... The nice thing about DTR is that the GD library on the server takes care of kerning issues and the like. (I haven't looked closely as the image-making code, but I imagine it can be modified if you want stuff like wider letterspacing or horizontal scaling.) You have a choice of doing it on word-by-word basis, or rendering the text as a whole unit.

The signature I used above was done manually in Photoshop. I don't know if DTR can handle extremes like that R, but I may give it a try this weekend. (Edit: Did a quick test on my local server, and it does work. But you have to design carefully around it, because the ascenders and descenders are huge.)

It's really easy to change your fonts, too -- just give it a different .ttf/.otf file to work with.

Randall

[DogAndPony]

Well, okay, now I'm going to have to find someplace to try it out. :yeah:

[Randall]

oBob, you may be interested to know that it also works with OS X's dfont format. That was a bit of a surprise. The nice thing about DTR is that the GD library on the server takes care of kerning issues and the like. To be more accurate, the OS appears to handle these things. The kerning and antialiasing are better on my Mac than on FQ's server, which is what I'd expect if the OS was involved. OS X's font rendering is the best I've seen.

Randall