How to turn your handwriting into a working font

Choose a language on the inktype homepage, then click Download template.

The templates include basic Latin, Polish, German, French, and Spanish characters. Choose Empty for extra symbols or punctuation.

For paper, download the PDF and print it on white A4 paper. Set the print scale to 100%, not fit-to-page.

For a tablet, download the PNG and open it in a drawing app such as GoodNotes, Procreate, or Photoshop. Fill it in with an Apple Pencil or another stylus.

Write one character inside each dashed box. Use your usual handwriting.

• Use a black felt-tip, gel pen, fine marker, or ink pen. Pencil and light blue ink are harder to detect.
• Keep each character inside its box. Strokes across a dashed border may get cut off or merge with another letter.
• Keep the loops in letters such as 'a', 'e', 'o', and 'g' open.

Photograph the filled sheet with your phone, or use a flatbed scanner.

• Place the sheet flat on a well-lit surface. Avoid shadows from your hands or device.
• Hold your phone parallel to the paper.
• Include all four black corner markers in the photo. The app uses them to straighten the sheet.

For a scanner, use 300 dpi and save the scan as a JPG or PNG.

Click Upload scan on inktype.cc and select your file. You can use JPG, PNG, or PDF files up to 25 MB.

The app reads the corner markers to identify the template language and straighten the sheet. It extracts each character from its box and traces its outline.

Processing runs in your browser. Your scans never go to a server.

The editor shows your captured characters. Select a character to adjust it:

• Use Shift X/Y to move it left, right, up, or down.
• Use Scale to change its size.
• Use Advance to change how far the next character sits from its starting position.

Use the Global tab to adjust all characters at once. Auto-crop spacing fits spacing to each character's outline, plus the margins you choose.

Type in Try your font below the editor to check the result.

Click Export .otf, then enter a font name and author. Download the file and install it in an app or system that supports OpenType fonts.