Balgruf

A central location highlighting fonts created with FontCreator and/or Scanahand. Post information about your fonts here.
Post Reply
PJMiller
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 977
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Contact:

Balgruf

Post by PJMiller »

Balgruf is a sort of old style calligraphic script.

As a typographer playing Skyrim by Bethesda I was annoyed by the font used in the books. The upper case 'F' seemed to have been cobbled together from other bits of the font and didn't fit with the aesthetic of the rest of the letters in the font, it also had a right side bearing which was much too large.

As if it had been hastily made by a graphic designer with no experience in typography who was on a strict deadline.

Once you 'see' this mistake you cannot unsee it and it was annoying.

So the question arose, how would I have done it?

This font is the answer to that question.

Enjoy !
William
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 2038
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:41 pm
Location: Worcestershire, England
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by William »

I tried the online text test using the twelve characters needed for Esperanto and I am pleased to note that they are included in the font.

ĈĉĜĝĤĥĴĵŜŝŬŭ

Ĉu neĝas? This is the Esperanto for "Is it snowing?".

William
William
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 2038
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:41 pm
Location: Worcestershire, England
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by William »

Is the name used for the font the subject of copyright?

Would you consider renaming the font and then uploading it directly to this forum please?

Although it is a very nice looking font and has great potential use, alas the name is somewhat concerning to me due to my concerns over possible copyright issues. So, for me, using it in a published PDF document is not possible at present.

I have not looked at the font yet but if it has, or has in the future, rarer characters used in medieval times, such as wynn and yogh and some not yet in Unicode but in MUFI (Medieval Unicode Font Initiative) then it could be great for transcribing documents when one wishes to have a medieval look to the document and could become extremely popular in specialist scholarly groups. It would also be helpful if the font has all of the accents for Welsh.

These comments are intended to be constructive and I hope that they help.

William
PJMiller
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 977
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by PJMiller »

In Skyrim the game by Bethesda Jarl Balgruuf the Greater is the Imperial Jarl of Whiterun and resides in Dragonsreach.

Balgruf is a similar but different name but implies a connection with the game Skyrim. It has deliberately been spelled differently.

It does not contain the characters wynn and yogh but could easily be modified to have these characters.
PJMiller
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 977
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by PJMiller »

William, I assume that being a member of this forum you have access to a font editor. Balgruf is licensed under the SIL Open Font License which means you can download it and edit the font as much as you want, you can add any characters you like and make any modifications you like. But if you make any modifications you should also change the name to something you like.

The download contains the .FCP files in the folder called 'Source Code' which can be loaded into Font Creator. :D
William
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 2038
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:41 pm
Location: Worcestershire, England
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by William »

Thank you. That is very kind and generous of you.

William
PJMiller
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 977
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by PJMiller »

It's not being kind, it is implicit in the license.
William
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 2038
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:41 pm
Location: Worcestershire, England
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by William »

Well, is it alright with you that I do what you suggested? I am not one for exploiting loopholes, I will only do it if you are happy for me to do that.

William
PJMiller
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 977
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by PJMiller »

Of course it is OK :D

If I had wanted to stop people from using it as a starting point for derivative works I would have put it under a different license. Please feel free to use any of my fonts as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

And that goes for everyone else as well.

Enjoy ! 8)
William
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 2038
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:41 pm
Location: Worcestershire, England
Contact:

Re: Balgruf

Post by William »

Thank you.

William
Post Reply