Single Line Font

Feb 16, 2011 at 23:05

I am using a pen plotter and need a true type font that creates a single line. Currently the plotter draws the outlines of the fonts. I know that there is such a thing which is used in CNC and laser cutting machines, but these fonts are proprietary and come with the software that operates such machines. I am looking for TTF that I can download to my font folder and use it with any plotter in which the drawing or other tool determines the characteristics of the font, not the software.

I know that there are fonts called "Monoline" but it is impossible for me know if they actually work as I described above.

Thanks for any help.

Shab

Feb 17, 2011 at 01:08

CNC (milling), the software generates the trace.

example:
http://www.artcaminsignia.com/toolbox/man_areaclearance.htm

Feb 17, 2011 at 01:14

I don't see how your example is helpful. I have already mentioned above that CNC machines can do that but these are not TTF, they use proprietary software to those machines. The specific example you mention is not a solution to what I am looking for.

Thanks for the effort anyway.

Shab

Feb 17, 2011 at 01:29

Your cnc use the g code ?

Feb 17, 2011 at 02:19

The first line of my original question says: "I am using a pen plotter and need a true type font that creates a single line"

So now you are asking me if my CNC uses the G-Code? Why do you think I am using a CNC machine in the first place?

I appreciate your interest in helping, but you are going off on a tangent with an escape velocity which is useless for me.

Thanks for your valiant efforts to show that you know something.

Shab

Feb 17, 2011 at 02:51

Because can not make a ttf only with simple lines.

koeiekat

Feb 17, 2011 at 08:48

Shab, font software, be it postscript, truetype or opentype, and CAD/CAM - CNC software are two completely different worlds and are not compatible.

Feb 17, 2011 at 09:09

I never said CAD/CAM is compatible with TTF, in fact, I have no interest in CNC fonts, the only reason I mentioned the this is to say that I am interested in fonts that resemble those that CNC machines can do BUT that are TTF. Now, I understand that it is not easy, or maybe even possible to create TTF with single stroke lines, but I am interested to know why? What makes TTF fonts different than single line font?

Shab

vinz

Feb 17, 2011 at 09:29

because it must be a closed shape.

#10

Menhir

Feb 17, 2011 at 10:05

It's not possible to have a font in True Type format created with a single line.
ALL the letters of a TTF font is created with filled closed surfaces, even if it LOOK like a line.

The only fonts I know that are created with lines, are the fonts specific of CAD systems, like the SHX fonts of AutoCAD.

#11

Feb 17, 2011 at 15:42

Menhir said

like the SHX fonts of AutoCAD.

80's software

#12

Feb 17, 2011 at 15:51

koeiekat said

CNC software are two completely different worlds and are not compatible.

with a good software

http://cjoint.com/data/0crbxGOFYNW.htm

#13

Feb 17, 2011 at 17:12

OK, folks, I appreciate all the answers given to me although none solved my problem.

From all the answers I conclude that it is impossible to create a True Type Font comprised of a single line and that if such fonts exist, they are proprietary to software that drives machines like CNC and the like.

One reply says that the reason it is impossible to create single line TTF is because a TTF must be a closed shape. I still don't understand what that means and why it is so, but I will accept it as a given and won't probe into it any deeper. Just to clarify, I know what a closed loop means in vector design, I just don't understand why this doesn't work.

Be it as it may, I thank you all and feel that this topic has been exhausted completely and there is nothing more to add.

Shab

#14

Carnegel

Nov 08, 2011 at 02:35

Download single lined fonts here: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/psfonts.zip
Then download and run the script from here: http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~boyer/typophile/pfb2otf.zip
Select the Folder where the fonts reside and the script will convert to .otf.
Then run FontForge here to convert pc font to mac: http://sourceforge.net/projects/fontforge/files/

or just download these good to go fonts in otf: http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=214786&d=1266159485

#15

Menhir

Nov 08, 2011 at 09:14

claudeserieux said

Menhir said

like the SHX fonts of AutoCAD.

80's software

80's font but actual software.
AutoCAD is ever the nost used 2D CAD software.
But actualy, the users use preferably TTF fonts thant the old SHX.

#16

xlr8r

Jan 27, 2012 at 05:54

I know this is an old thread, but I came across it when I was searching for a single line TTF font, so I figured I'd post a link to a site I found that may help some people. It's http://www.onelinefonts.com . It seems fairly new, but they have 3 different styles so far that include acccents and lots of symbols (not the typical single line font that only has letters, numbers, and a couple punctuation marks).

P.S. I remember the good old days using SHX fonts. I'm feeling old now.

#17

vinz

Jan 27, 2012 at 09:21

Thanks, for sharing, it might be useful to someone

#18

Menhir

Jan 27, 2012 at 10:57

This fonts TTF are not "single line". It's surfaces lookink like single lines.
It's not possible to create TTF with single lines.

#19

xlr8r

Jan 27, 2012 at 17:38

Yeah, I understand the whole TTF fonts can't be single line because of the closed loop thing from my past searches. I went ahead and bought one of the fonts to give it a try in Camworks. The font purchase included 2 fonts (both TTF). One of them retraces due to the closed loop, but the other one (has 'SP' in the name) only traces the path once. They say that it has only been confirmed to behave like that in Camworks so far, but that's what I need it for, so it works great for me!

#20