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NiBeDB
Participant
April 6, 2022
Answered

Are there any single line fonts on Adobe Fonts?

  • April 6, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 7111 views

Hey there,

I'm searching for single line fonts on Adobe Fonts and can't find any. Am I doing something wrong or is there none? I need a font to prepare an engraving.

Thanks in advance!

Nico

    Correct answer Test Screen Name

    All the fonts are OpenType and I don't think single line fonts actually exist in OpenType form. It's always a filled shape. May be wrong though.

    3 replies

    AMetcalf21
    Participating Frequently
    October 11, 2023

    I recently searched for the same thing, and I stumbled on this post after finding a solution, so I thought I would post it here for those looking. I stumbled upon one on Adobe Fonts called Relief SingleLine. It has a monoline option and an outline option, and it displays correctly in Illustrator. I don't know if there are any others out there, but I hope more people make these kinds of things.

    Community Expert
    October 14, 2023

    Creative choices in typefaces will be pretty limited if someone is confined to using a limited number of faux single line fonts. It's not very difficult to edit letters from various typefaces to turn them into single line paths for various purposes (making tube patterns for neon signs, engraving, etc).

     

    The best way to do this is starting out with the thinnest weight of a desired typeface. There is a growing number of type families that have ultra thin "hairline" weights. Variable fonts with both width and weight axes can provide a lot more creative flexibility.

     

    Using path editing tools (such as the Scissors tool) break open the anchor points of a closed letter path to get rid of the line segments that aren't needed. I like to keep the line segments that match up with the cap height line and baseline. Use the Join command, alignment commands and blend operations to fill gaps. In some cases, like a letter "S", some manual drawing and path editing will be required. The process isn't time consuming if all one is doing is building a couple or so words.

    AMetcalf21
    Participating Frequently
    January 28, 2025

    Hi Bobby, I totally agree with you about having limited options with single line fonts when it comes to creative application, since there are so few of them. In fact, and I'm sure you would agree, when creating a creative design requiring mono-line lettering, it is probably best to edit a preferred font or making your own like you mentioned.

     

    In this instance, the reason I was looking for a (true) monolined font was not to use it creatively in a deisgn, but rather to use it for it's utility - as something that renders a single line. I was using as information reference on a file I was working on. I needed something that could convert to guides in Illustrator without looking messy, and it didn't matter too much how it looked, but rather that I was able to quickly type it out.

     

    The author of this post also has a utility purpose for a monoline font, being that he wants to engrave lettering. Now, that is creative, and I'm sure he would get the most creative control out of doing that method you mentioned, but often we have to sacrifice creative control for time. He may have to do this process repeatedly, and having a font that is already outlined may save a lot of time for him.

     

    I do think that font developers should take the lead and make monoline versions of thier own typefaces. Many popular typefaces that have hairline weights that could be redesigned directly into a working monoline font using the same methods that the creators of Relief SingleLine used.

    Participant
    July 25, 2023

    I was searching for a similar font for the exact same reason not but 6 months ago, and found some paid fonts available elsewhere on the web. But, recently, I just found a couple fonts in the Adobe Font Library that, when expanded, render as single open lines (no closed shapes at all), which can be followed by the CNC device of your choice:

     

    Relief Singleline

     

    Lingua Light

     

    The first is open source, and the second is avaiable for free use through the Adobe Fonts Library.

     

    Enjoy!

    Test Screen NameCorrect answer
    Legend
    April 6, 2022

    All the fonts are OpenType and I don't think single line fonts actually exist in OpenType form. It's always a filled shape. May be wrong though.

    NiBeDB
    NiBeDBAuthor
    Participant
    April 7, 2022

    Thank you very much, Test Screen Name.

    Participant
    June 22, 2022

    Engraving? Do you want to set an outline of the text (no fill, just outline? This example is from Adobe Blue Book at 97:

    /Helvetica-Bold findfont
    30 scalefont setfont

    /oshow %stack: (string)
    { true charpath stroke }

    def

    (String to print) oshow

    showpage

    Combined with a .N setgray in a gsave/grestore pair, it is hugely useful for engraving/signage, etc.