Tom Collins

A central location highlighting fonts created with FontCreator and/or Scanahand. Post information about your fonts here.
Post Reply
Ned Ludd
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:57 am

Tom Collins

Post by Ned Ludd »

My second foray into fontmaking will be this typeface that is based on a scan from a long lost specimen book. I can't remember the name of the original but mine will be called Tom Collins (it's a tall, cool one).
I may be some time...
tom-collins.png
tom-collins.png (305.24 KiB) Viewed 10178 times
Dick Pape
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 1360
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:19 pm
Location: North Dallas, Texas

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Dick Pape »

Hello. The scan is a nice clean sample. That will help giving good dimensions to your letters.

I have looked for fonts which have some of the same characteristics: parallel strokes on /A, single bar on the /G, /K with a "knee" part of leg, /M with rounded tops and parallel strokes, /Q with cross bar and then in combination with a /W which meets in the center. Haven't found an exact equals so that is good.

Found several names which have tendencies like your sample but nothing with everything.

Hoefler, Jonathan/OdeonCondensedAlternate (also has the /&)
Panache Graphics/RaleighGothic-SmallCapAlt (has similar numbers, but no punctuation)
Harvey, Thomas E/Higherup Normal (has the W)
Stylus Lettering & Typography/Regency Gothic (close on GKAQR and numbers)

Most of them make the /M and /W inversions of one another.

Good luck.
Ned Ludd
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:57 am

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Ned Ludd »

Thanks for looking into it. Just to clarify, the blue image in my original post is the redrawn version with alterations. I scoured the book I thought I scanned it from but no joy. Here's the original scan with possibly the ugliest (and, thus, most identifiable) ampersand I've ever seen. The question mark is none too pretty either, hence my redrawn versions. I will probably change the W to an inverted M, possibly the X to an 8 with the top and bottom cut off, similarly the Y to a u with a stalk. I'll also extend the arms of the T by half a stroke width.
tom-collins-scan.png
tom-collins-scan.png (53.28 KiB) Viewed 10168 times
Dick Pape
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 1360
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:19 pm
Location: North Dallas, Texas

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Dick Pape »

It kinda goes on forever unfortunately ...
Ned Ludd
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:57 am

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Ned Ludd »

It does, and I don't imagine I need to witter on about every alteration. :roll:

I find the drawing process (if you can call Adobe Illustrator ‘drawing’) very relaxing though. It's the technical aspect of creating the font that doesn't relax me so much.
Dick Pape
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 1360
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:19 pm
Location: North Dallas, Texas

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Dick Pape »

We'll give you a call next summer and see if you still find it relaxing!!

Good luck, good drawing and good fonting

Dick.
Ned Ludd
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:57 am

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Ned Ludd »

And I've changed it again. More consistency between caps and lower case.
Attachments
tom-collins-2.png
tom-collins-2.png (334.08 KiB) Viewed 10044 times
Dick Pape
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 1360
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:19 pm
Location: North Dallas, Texas

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Dick Pape »

I like it!

There is a good design consistency with the three horizontal sections you've used: the arm of the /ABEF, the top of the lc and the top of the uc. I also like the curved foot on the /l, the one-sided cross bar on the /t and possibly the slash on the /0.

One thought, the colon seems short. Similarly the cross bar on the 4 might be low? Also, the "elbow" on the 5 and perhaps the 6 and the 9 (where the bowls connect to the vertical strokes) may need to be more substantial -- it seems right on the /m/n. Could be optical illusion...

The numbers look good by themselves, but use what appears to be a 4 step design - not the three steps used in the rest of it.
I understand it may get weird to have the numbers repeat those dimensions.
abcd1.jpg
abcd1.jpg (10.89 KiB) Viewed 10041 times
Good work.

What's next?
Ned Ludd
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:57 am

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Ned Ludd »

Thanks!

I deliberately wanted the numbers (including currencies) to be different but also to look like they belonged. I may look at the 4 again though. I'll either lower it or raise but make it relate to the 2,3,5 and 9 more.
The colon (and semi-colon) has been a pest. First it was enormous and now, I agree it is too short. I'll have another look.
The font has been sitting dormant since my last visit and when I looked at it yesterday i thought it just wasn't right, hence the changes which I'm very pleased with.

Next on the list is the provisionally titled Single Malt (yes, they'll all be alcoholically inspired). Another one with rounded outer and squared inner.
BA-inline.png
BA-inline.png (177.87 KiB) Viewed 10039 times
Also Brandy Alexander, inspired by the very early Soviet era.
brandy.png
brandy.png (251.87 KiB) Viewed 10038 times
Dick Pape
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 1360
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:19 pm
Location: North Dallas, Texas

Re: Tom Collins

Post by Dick Pape »

That looks like a very nice one too...
Post Reply