I'm still somewhat unsure if it's suposed to be a "script" font or not, hence the name.
My plan is to use it for section titles on my website. I didn't spend too much time on kerning, because I felt that it would be easier to kern it by hand when applying it.
My impression is that you're going to need a good number of alternates to make this work as a script - but it's a great idea!
BTW: 1. I think your lc "s" can be confused for an "8" in some contexts. 2. The lc "g" is descending an extra pixel. 3. You might try making the lc "f" descend.
I echo Hrant's comments. Looks like the 'f' does descend, but try another pixel. I really enjoy the tapering terminals (f, p, K, R). It gives the thing a nice blackletter feel without sacrificing legibility. Very nice start.
One more idea: drop the script tails on the numerals. I'm not sure they need to be a part of a connected line.
Even though it now fits in the vertical bounds, the new "g" is still the most prominent character, thanks to its bulky descender (which I think is nice).
BTW, your scheme of separating the connectors is pretty cool.
Thanks, Hrant, David - I really appreciate you taking the time to give me pointers and encouragement. I'm relatively new to font making, so it's good to hear feedback from people who already know what they're doing.
As for the "U","V" and "W" I've tried several different ways of connecting them, but can't seem to avoid the appearance of them all running together. (Yes, Mmmmmmm, ribbon candy!) However, I agree that it is unlikely that this issue will come up very often in "real life".
In response to something you said in your first post - I originally created Vacillation as a vector based font (.ttf for PC), so if you'd like a copy of it I'd be more than happy to email it to you. (If you
I would agree with everything that's been posted so far.
On the lc "s", why not experiment with even more of a cursive form, dropping the upper loop altogether and widening the lower one?
Regarding that lc "g", I like the look of the elongated lower loop, but it does stand out from the other glyphs. I think Hrant's suggestion to vertically condense the lower loop by a pixel is a good one.
The only other suggestion I have is to check the "M" and "N", as well as the "U", "V" and "W". When set together, these characters seem to be running in to each other a bit, causing some legibility problems. Perhaps adjusting the script connectors somehow would help, or maybe a pixel of kerning added to these letter combinations....
It strikes me that these forms would make an interesting vector-based font as well. Nice work.
The new lc "g" (as well as lc "f" and "j") is really nice.
The uc "M" and "N" are much improved, but the uc "U", "V" and "W" (with the connectors activated, anyway) still read like one long piece of hard ribbon candy. (Mmmmm, hard ribbon candy....!) I guess it's sort of the point of the connectors, and I must admit, the connectors most probably wouldn't be used with this combination in the caps all that often, but it still might warrant one more look.
And if that's the only criticism I can come up with on second draft, I'd say you're on to something here. Very nice.
11 Dec 2001 — 7:30am
Doh. Here's the image:

11 Dec 2001 — 7:39am
Is it a "script" face (at least to some extent)?
If so, I'd love to see some actual setting!
hhp
11 Dec 2001 — 8:04am
I'm still somewhat unsure if it's suposed to be a "script" font or not, hence the name.
My plan is to use it for section titles on my website. I didn't spend too much time on kerning, because I felt that it would be easier to kern it by hand when applying it.
-Jonathan
11 Dec 2001 — 10:08am
My impression is that you're going to need a good number of alternates to make this work as a script - but it's a great idea!
BTW:
1. I think your lc "s" can be confused for an "8" in some contexts.
2. The lc "g" is descending an extra pixel.
3. You might try making the lc "f" descend.
hhp
11 Dec 2001 — 10:19am
Jonathan,
I echo Hrant's comments. Looks like the 'f' does
descend, but try another pixel. I really enjoy
the tapering terminals (f, p, K, R). It gives
the thing a nice blackletter feel without
sacrificing legibility. Very nice start.
One more idea: drop the script tails on the
numerals. I'm not sure they need to be a part
of a connected line.
Stephen
11 Dec 2001 — 3:12pm
Thanks for everyone's suggestions! You've been very helpful.
I especially like the idea of giving the lc "s" its cursive form.
I'll try and work on it some tonight, and post the results tomorrow.
-Jonathan
12 Dec 2001 — 8:05am
I
12 Dec 2001 — 11:32am
Even though it now fits in the vertical bounds, the new "g" is still the most prominent character, thanks to its bulky descender (which I think is nice).
BTW, your scheme of separating the connectors is pretty cool.
hhp
13 Dec 2001 — 12:56pm
Thanks, Hrant, David - I really appreciate you taking the time to give me pointers and encouragement. I'm relatively new to font making, so it's good to hear feedback from people who already know what they're doing.
As for the "U","V" and "W" I've tried several different ways of connecting them, but can't seem to avoid the appearance of them all running together. (Yes, Mmmmmmm, ribbon candy!) However, I agree that it is unlikely that this issue will come up very often in "real life".
In response to something you said in your first post - I originally created Vacillation as a vector based font (.ttf for PC), so if you'd like a copy of it I'd be more than happy to email it to you. (If you
13 Dec 2001 — 11:06pm
> it's good to hear feedback from people
> who already know what they're doing.
Uh... OK, sure!
hhp
11 Dec 2001 — 2:10pm
I would agree with everything that's been posted so far.
On the lc "s", why not experiment with even more of a cursive form, dropping the upper loop altogether and widening the lower one?
Regarding that lc "g", I like the look of the elongated lower loop, but it does stand out from the other glyphs. I think Hrant's suggestion to vertically condense the lower loop by a pixel is a good one.
The only other suggestion I have is to check the "M" and "N", as well as the "U", "V" and "W". When set together, these characters seem to be running in to each other a bit, causing some legibility problems. Perhaps adjusting the script connectors somehow would help, or maybe a pixel of kerning added to these letter combinations....
It strikes me that these forms would make an interesting vector-based font as well. Nice work.
11 Dec 2001 — 2:34pm
Fun. It reminds me of Matthew Bardram's
Scriptometer (with a larger cap height?).
I was skeptical of Scriptometer at first but
actually grew quite fond of it. (In the
Bardram interview here.)
As to Hrant's suggestion for alternates--
although it might add some depth to the face,
I'm not convinced it's necessary.
I agree with Stephen about the numerals.
//joe
12 Dec 2001 — 10:38pm
Getting nicer, indeed.
Very nice.
The new lc "g" (as well as lc "f" and "j") is really nice.
The uc "M" and "N" are much improved, but the uc "U", "V" and "W" (with the connectors activated, anyway) still read like one long piece of hard ribbon candy. (Mmmmm, hard ribbon candy....!) I guess it's sort of the point of the connectors, and I must admit, the connectors most probably wouldn't be used with this combination in the caps all that often, but it still might warrant one more look.
And if that's the only criticism I can come up with on second draft, I'd say you're on to something here.
David
13 Dec 2001 — 11:06pm
> it's good to hear feedback from people
> who already know what they're doing.
(Did he mean us? I just came for the free food....)