Scanahand for Windows

User Reviews

• YOUR Handwriting as a Font, Fast and Easy

  Gregg_MarshallSeptember 15, 2012

  Pros

  Simple 1, 2, 3 process. Generate as many fonts as you'd like.

  Cons

  Filling out the form with your handwriting takes the most time.

  Summary

  This is not a full font foundry, it is designed to take your handwriting and create a font for it, although there are creative uses for converting line art to fonts too. This font creation software is for converting your handwritten printed writing into a font. It won't create a cursive writing font. The issue is for cursive you have to deal with the letters connecting, for most people the shape of an "r" followed by an "s" is completely different from an "r" followed by and "f". Installation was a snap, simply download the program, execute the installer and enter the registration code emailed you when you purchase the program. What you are downloading for free is in demo mode, you just can't save the fonts you create until you purchase a registration code. The program is nicely laid out and walks you through a simple three step process: 1. Print a template, 2. Scan the completed template, 3. Convert the template into a font. When you print a template you can also print the page of the manual that has the instructions for how to complete the template correctly. There are several templates already defined, and if you have the premium version and unique needs, you can create your own templates. By far the hardest part of the whole process is filling the template in, something High Logic can't help you with. It's just you, a pen, and that template. There are small index marks in each letter's template box to help you get the baseline, x-height, ascenders, and descenders correct for the font conversion. They help but it is still a handwriting challenge. Step 2 is you scan the result, either directly into the program if you have a TWAIN scanner, or via a JPG file if you don't. Having mastered step 2 in about 10 seconds, step 3 is almost as fast. Click the Generate button and a dialog box appears asking for the Font Name and copyright information. About 45 seconds later on my desktop Scanahand displayed my handwriting font with sample text. I could change the sample text (my favorite is the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog to show all letters). Assuming I was satisfied with the results, I could save the font as a .ttf file to install on any computer or have Scanahand automatically install the font on the computer I was using. I was impressed, Scanahand did everything it said it would do, fast, relatively easily (handwriting help not included), and effectively.

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• The Fastest Way to Create Fonts

  Bhikkhu PesalaNovember 19, 2011

  Pros

  Fast, simple to use, and easy to learn. It requires very little technical knowledge, so is a gentle introduction to the surprisingly complex art of font creating.

  Cons

  Unable to produce correctly spaced script fonts with swashes, overhangs, or negative side-bearings. Only the Premium edition can create bold and italic versions.

  Summary

  If you can write neatly, and have some artistic flair, but not much technical ability, Scanahand may be just what you need. Fill in a template, scan it, and let Scanahand create your font in minutes. If the first attempt is not great, don't give up. Edit the scanned image in your photo-editor and try again. With practice, a graphic artist could churn out original fonts in five minutes — way faster than any other program.

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• Easy, but expensive

  lottizenApril 26, 2011

  Pros

  Easy to use if you have scanner and printer.

  Cons

  The free version do not let you save your font!

  Summary

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• Imports fonts easily.

  stanleypatkanFebruary 21, 2011

  Pros

  AS my summary says. It imports fonts easily. It even can detect difference in the fonts on a printed page. There is some editing that has to be done but Scanahan is the best I've found so far.

  Cons

  The problem is you have to buy Font Creator to use the product from Scanahan. That makes the bundle very exspensive for us poor folk. The output from Scanahand can only be read by Font Creator. So one is forced to buy Font Creator.

  Summary

  I know a little about each but not sure if it really works because these are FREE to download but they are not working models so you're not sure how they work together.

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• Brilliant tool at a very reasonable price

  Zen DragonJune 1, 2010

  Pros

  Scanahand is a utility for turning hand script into a TrueType font. It is extremely easy to use and gives very satisfying results.

  Cons

  Because this software is not a full font creation utility it is somewhat limited in what it can do. For full font creation High-Logic's FontCreator is, naturally, more powerful, but for entry level this is fabulous.

  Summary

  I love all of High-Logic's font creation software. Scanahand might appear to be too limited for serious typographers, and regarded by some as a mere toy for those just playing at it. But the software is far more useful than simply turning handwriting into a font. I have used it to produce rapid fonts when I needed them for specific design jobs and didn't have the time to go through all the technicalities of full font creation. For example I created a hand lettered font for use in the production of historical maps, with excellent results. Furthermore by cutting and pasting (literally) it is possible to assemble any kind of typeface rapidly. Admittedly Scanahand lacks the technical tools of its big brother (or sister) FontCreator, but for quick results and relatively good results Scanahand is an excellent piece of software at a very reasonable price. Furthermore High-Logic has excellent customer support, easily accessible and very friendly.

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• "very easy to use."

  linsabrckAugust 4, 2009

  Pros

  all that i searched for came up

  Cons

  nothing that I can think of at this time.

  Summary

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• great value for money

  sw592654July 31, 2009

  Pros

  with Scanahand now i digitize my signature, and use it in any Windows program. now i m able to create company logos, or any line art into font characters.

  Cons

  awesome product

  Summary

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• Really NO STARS.

  iagmanNovember 9, 2008

  Pros

  It was easy to uninstall. If you want to see if this software works, good luck. They require $$ before you can check out even one scanned image to see how it works after conversion to a font. Might as well just send them money and hope for the best.

  Cons

  I tried to convert a graphic into a font. After converting it, I could not install the results as a font. An OOPS screen pops up stating they want moneybefore they allow you to see if the software works or not. No guarantee of satisfaction either.

  Summary

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• You really can make a font in five minutes.

  Bhikkhu PesalaMay 14, 2008

  Pros

  Creating fonts is harder than many people think it is, but Scanahand makes it as easy as possible. Print the template, fill it in, scan it, and generate your font. New users will need some practice to learn how to fill in the template correctly. After a few trial runs, and with the right pen, you can get a usable font in five minutes. Cartoonists will love it.

  Cons

  There is no control over character spacing, so the range of designs that will work well is limited. Fonts like Comic Sans or Brush Script are no problem, but don't expect to create calligraphic fonts without extra help from FontCreator.

  Summary

  null<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Oct 31, 2008<p/>Scanahand 2.0 has now been released. The Standard Edition extends font support from English only to German, French, Dutch, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Basque, Estonian, Faeroese, Frisian, Irish, Galician, Hungarian, Icelandic, Albanian, and Esperanto. Upgrades are FREE from users of Scanahand 1.0 The Premium Edition allows the generation of fonts from custom templates for any languages and symbol character sets. Template Guidelines can be adjusted to suit fonts with different x-height, ascender, descender, proportions.

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• By far the easiest AND fastest way to make a new font!

  DaveCrosbyMay 14, 2008

  Pros

  I can see the whole font on a single page! Print the Template and fill in each character including a signature!<p>Or save the Template and cut and paste characters from anywhere!

  Cons

  It won't weed my yard while I'm playing with it.

  Summary

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