I predict Hrant :)

(I don't mind being predictable if it's for a good cause. :-)

Jason, typographic letterforms are not "expanded skeletons".
It might be tempting to think of the process you're following
as adequate for a beginner; I'd counter that it's a damaging
foundation for future development.

Try to think of a font as a collection of black and
white shapes that "talk to each other" to form words.

hhp

Is there any way to create this affect?

Draw it by hand. Scan and trace.

I understand that type design in very detailed and intricate process.
I am trained in the fine arts and know the proper way to approach a project like such.

My current endeavor takes my down an alternate path. This font is based deeply in mathematics and precision, hence it's creation in a computer program.

Is there any way to create my desired affect in Illustrator CS5?

Thank You,

j

Now that I think about it there was an Illustrator plugin for doing this called LivePen. But it was Windows only, so it was pretty much irrelevant to designers and FontLab bought it and withdrew it from the market. Maybe you can get them to sell you a copy.

More than detail and/or intricacy, my concern is that
although your path might lead to beauty (Fine Art) it
does not lead to a Real typeface.

> This font is based deeply in mathematics and precision

Parametic/generative fonts are one of my favorite things.
But they don't have to be skeleton-based: http://typophile.com/node/73827

--

James, it's not fair to call people like me non-designers.

hhp

> I understand that type design in very detailed and intricate process.
> I am trained in the fine arts and know the proper way to approach a project like such.

Type design is not a fine art, it's a craft, like architecture or furniture design.

What fine arts training do you have that includes type design training? Unless you have *specifically" studied type design (whether formally or not), you don't know how to approach it. This doesn't mean you shouldn't, or shouldn't learn. Note also that type design is not the same thing as calligraphy.

> My current endeavor takes my down an alternate path. This font is based deeply in mathematics and precision,
> hence it's creation in a computer program.

Modern typefaces are pretty much *all* created in computer programs. It's just that most type designers use dedicated type design programs to do it. Maybe half of them do sketches first, and about as many do not.

Cheers,

T

I prolly misunderstand your first post, but why don't you simply create your own calligraphy brush?

Thank you Dunwich Type for answering my question.

j

Something similar built-in already as Width Tool, with Illustrator CS5?