Anyone else handwrite (or used to handwrite) their text? Should I just switch over to a proper font?

[But_a_Jape]

Most of my comics have handwritten text because I could never decide what the best font would be for my work. I know a lot of my earlier comics are kinda rough in terms of how the writing turned out, but I think my more recent comics have been coming out better in terms of legibility. But I still don't know if I'm missing input from people who still find it difficult to read as opposed to some tried-and-true fonts. I have a couple examples of my current handwriting for reference:

So is the text in these legible or even aesthetically pleasing? If you think I should just switch to typing out the text, do you have any recommendations on what font matches my style? Or maybe you used to handwrite your text and decided to switch - do you have any input on why you made the switch?

But a Jape | Tapas

[LadyN]

Honestly, I find it easier to just use text instead of nitpicking at how uneven certain lines are. I’d recommend using a font. Or even making your own.

[IndigoShirtProd]

I think you're handwriting looks great! It lends itself to the tone of the comic.

[ninjashira]

I do like the feel of your handwriting, it totally suits the vibe of your comic. But if you want to make your life easier for yourself, you can make a font out of your handwriting using a site like Calligraphr.

[joannekwan]

I made a switch from hand-lettering to a font like 5 pages into my comic. And it saves SO much time! And it's so much easier to edit the text too if you find any typos.

I did try making my own font too with one of those sites where you can upload your own hand-done letters, but the kerning was always off to me so I scrapped that idea. (kerning = space between two individual letters)

[DukeOfOool]

What I think is that the tone should match. Your comic is made of simple forms, so your handwriting fits. A font might overshadow your art, nut you could also find font, which fits your art. Similarly if your art gets more high polish, a simble handwriting withouth caligraphy skill might be inadequat.

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I'd say your handwriting and art currently fit together, so you could keep writing it by hand or make a font out of it to save time, like @ninjashira said.

[Rhonder]

I like the handwriting shown off here a lot tbh I know it takes more time to hand letter but I think it's working for you tbh.

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I've done lettering 2 ways in the past:

• Typically I've used Calligraphr to create typable fonts from my handwriting. There is both a free and premium option- the main limiter on the free option is the # of characters you can create for a single font- you might have to be stingy with some lesser used punctuation and hand letter them or find an alternative potentially but I've made due with it.

The pros are that you get the best of both worlds with a unique font that has your own touch & the convenience of typing and using text editing tools. The cons are that it's hard to make a font that's just right so far I've made 2 fonts this way with the free mode, the first one I used for my first Tapas Comic, and looked like this:

But I thought it was a little too thin/tall, so afterwards I made this one:

which isn't perfect but I like pretty well... but some of the punctuation is wonky so I'm thinking about adjusting it more or making a 3rd one before starting my next comic lol. You can edit the characters as much as you want on the template though so it's not like a 'one and done" kind of deal~

• I've also handwritten one comic that I did for an anthology last year, although it was only 10 pages long lol. For that I stole a piece of advice I read on this forum a couple of years back about typing out what you want to ink first and then using that as a guide (kind of like the "pencils" to your "inks" for the letters lol). I thought it turned out pretty nice actually

I've contemplated switching to hand lettering and just practicing it tbh but the only thing that turns me off is the time it takes lol. Not only to write everything out, but then if you have to change something later... oof. I thought it was fine for something only 10 pages long tho haha

[Inspector_Spinda]

you can make your own font out of handwriting. that's what i do http://www.yourfonts.com/

[But_a_Jape]

Yeah, I've considered the "making my own font" route, but the dissatisfactory kerning was an issue I was thinking of. I know once the font decision is made, it'll save me a lot of time, it's just that I have a huge upfront investment of time looking at a bunch of fonts and then switching them in and out of one of my comics deliberating which one looks better.

If you don't mind, what font did you use for Erie Waters? I quite like how that looks with that art style.

[joannekwan]

I used Tekton Pro for that one!

[But_a_Jape]

It's good to hear people have positive opinions of my handwriting - I felt my second comic was a good representation of how it can get less consistent when I have more to write, so I figured if there were any stark issues, that would be the most visible example.

I like how your handwriting looks too. Your reservations for how they turned out really calls my attention to the fact that artists are often more attentive to flaws in their work that most viewers never notice.

At this point, I think I'll probably stick to handwriting my text out of counterproductive laziness (using up my time now as opposed to saving it in the long-term). Knowing me, somewhere down the road I'll get a really nasty cramp after handwriting a particularly verbose comic and decide "That's it, time to switch to typing!"

[rajillustration]

I like your handwriting--and I've done a comic completely handwritten, too--and it just saves so much time to do a computer font instead! It's something I'd save for a short comic only. When you have to get something out there once or twice a week it's just...that's actual hours of work, youknow?

[WOSTR]

Your handwriting is excellent.
Most of mine is handwritten and a mess. I struggle to make finger to touchscreen look decent. I'm selling out soon and moving more to a font though.

[CursedBeasts]

I mix and match. I started with a font, then started handwriting. Then switched to a font again, but a different one that is more readable. I still use hand-lettering for special effects.

I also sometimes use a font made from my own written letters.

[CursedBeasts]

This writing looks good!

[thedude3445]

I like the handwriting in the OP, but as a reader I almost always prefer when writers use fonts instead. It's just easier to read.