Design your own letters, numbers and special characters

Apr 28, 2015 09:40 GMT  ·  By

Writing has become an activity that most perform on a computer or mobile device. Default characters are used so everyone can read and understand. However, characters also differ in shape and style, just like handwriting from one person to the other.

Windows already comes equipped with a staggering amount of different fonts so you can customize each document and presentation. Just like information is easily found on the Internet, a simple search over the web lets you add even more fonts to your collection.

You might want to know that Windows has a built-in tool with which to design your own characters. Although you can’t export and share them, it’s possible with third-party applications, and the following steps shed some light on how this is done.

Using Private Character Editor

Step 1: Use Win + S to search for Private Character Editor.

Step 2: Select a HEX row for the Character column to use and hit OK.

Step 3: Use the left toolbox to select drawing tools and design a character.

Step 4: Under the Edit menu, pick Select Code for a new character slot.

Step 5: Repeat until you created enough custom characters.

Step 6: Select Font Links from the File menu.

Note: This integrates your new characters in an existing font map. You can either link them to all at once, or to a single font. It’s recommended to select an existing font to make it easier to identify later on.

Find Custom Characters

Step 1: Launch the Character Map (Win + S and search for it).

Step 2: Select the font you linked your characters to. It needs to run under the form: Font (Private Characters).

Step 3: Browse through custom characters. You can insert them in custom documents through drag and drop.

Using other applications

Step 1: Download, install, and launch Scanahand.

Step 2: In the upper toolbar, press Save As.

Step 3: Edit (with Paint or others) the generated image and draw custom characters in the corresponding boxes.

Step 4: Run Scanahand again and select Step 2 from the left panel.

Step 5: Drag the new image over the main window or import by pressing Load.

Step 6: Select Step 3 from the left panel and hit Generate in the upper toolbar.

Step 7: Write the new font name and your info, and preview it in the last interactive panel.

Step 8: Save Font to share with others or hit Install to use it in your work.

Note: The same can be done by Printing the template, manually drawing characters, scanning the sheet of paper, and load the picture to generate the new font.

Create and use custom fonts (9 Images)

Custom font
Launch character editorCreate and save characters
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