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Clever Someday

create smart

Pen fonts for your cutter

October 29, 2009 by Kay

Now that we all have clever ways to use various pens and markers with our Cricuts, the problem remains that computer fonts aren’t made to write with pens using strokes like a person writes. Instead, TrueType fonts are defined by closed outlines so that there is open space in the center, and this becomes more pronounced the larger the font is rendered. This is great for cutting, but usually doesn’t give us the look we are after with pens and markers.

There is some indication that SCAL2 will cut with open paths, but it is unclear as to exactly how we can take advantage of that. In the meantime, I’ve tracked down 3 free fonts, that while not the best looking, do a great job of creating a single line look at a wide range of sizes. The sample was done with a gel pen holder from Amy Chomas. The numbers you see on the sample are the default size in SCAL1.

penfont1 penfont2

Bauhaus Engraved (last link on page)

Stymie Hairline (look above the capital E for the hidden link)

Agrafa Hairline (free registration required)

Update: here’s a great looking font you will want to grab to use with your gel pens.

Rose Water (thanks to Christy of the SureCutsALot Yahoo group for pointing this out)

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Comments

  1. Louise says

    October 29, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    I love the look of the Stymie font, but can’t seem to figure out how to download from that site. All I see is a preview of the font.

    • Kay says

      October 29, 2009 at 7:41 pm

      Good question, Louise. Look directly above the capital E and you will see a link hidden there.

  2. toaster says

    November 2, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    Love, Love the Stymie font!!! It prints really nice. Thanks so much!

  3. susan says

    November 4, 2009 at 10:29 am

    Thank you. I was looking for some good fonts to use with the pens.

  4. Carolyn says

    November 6, 2009 at 11:05 am

    Thank you for the information, they look like good fonts to use. I have linked to this post and the other one on text fill.

  5. pam says

    November 6, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    Where did you get the gel pen holder from? Did you buy it or construct it somehow?

    • Kay says

      November 6, 2009 at 6:49 pm

      It was ordered from Amy Chomas. Please see the link there in the post where you see her name.

  6. 7524kes says

    November 8, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    Thank you! This font issue has been an ongoing, annoying one. Hope SCAL 2 comes through. Appreciate these options.

  7. Chelsy Ray says

    November 30, 2009 at 11:38 am

    A very UNRELATED comment…but I was googling “vinyl with my cricut” and a thread came up that you had commented on. Under your comment… you had the a link linking to Tallahassee Democrat photos of “why your son was covered in red glitter!” I must say that I am a diehard FSU fan and was touched when I read the article several months back about his recovery. As a season ticket holder, I want to thank these boys profusely for raising the spirits of all of our fans.. even throught he worst of games! On another note, glad to have stumbled upon your blog! Go Noles!

  8. Cloe says

    January 10, 2010 at 9:27 am

    Hello,

    thanks for the info! Your pen holder looks a bit different then the ones that Amy has on her blog… maybe a different ‘model’ 🙂 I’m trying to decide about getting one – I guess the only part I don’t ‘understand’ is what holds the pen in place and it doesn’t just slide out of the tube (thus it touching the paper all the time)?

    • Carol Carratt says

      March 15, 2010 at 4:39 am

      Pressure!

  9. ALyssa says

    September 29, 2010 at 6:42 am

    Thank you for sharing this info, I have been looking for good single line fonts, but am too cheap to buy some:)
    Alyssa

  10. Bobbi says

    December 6, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Thank you so much. You are so helpful to us less informed folk.

  11. Elizabeth Barnett says

    May 22, 2013 at 11:23 am

    a much belated reply with a link to “10 Free Classy Thin Fonts” http://www.design-by-izo.com/2011/01/07/10-free-classy-thin-fonts/

  12. Caroline says

    December 12, 2013 at 10:42 am

    new link for Stymie Hairline http://www.fonts101.com/fonts/view/Uncategorized/45668/Stymie_Hairline

    • Kay says

      December 15, 2013 at 8:43 pm

      Thank you, Caroline! I’ve updated it.

Trackbacks

  1. Cri-Kits Gel Pens Party Invitations! Blog Candy!! | My Cricut Scrapbooking says:
    September 28, 2010 at 1:45 am

    […] Please visit Clever Some Day’s blog She has a link on her blog to the Stymie Hairline font that I used on these invitations.  You can download it for FREE! […]

  2. Pre-filled fonts for gel pens « Clever Someday says:
    February 17, 2013 at 5:04 pm

    […] pens, there are many more options, or you can use the fonts above at even at larger sizes. Also see this previous post about single line […]

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