Creating a font from an existing font???

[jberry@mower.com]

How do i create a font based on an existing font? We need to substitute 1 letter for a glyph of the same typestyle?
Instead of find/replace everytime  we work on a project, i was hoping to create a font based on the one we have. So anyone can load it, and the type would come in natural and easy every time.

[kevin stohlmeyer]

There are many programs out there that can create custom fonts for you. However, be careful basing on an existing font. There can be copyright issues since most created fonts are licensed.

[TᴀW]

It sounds a bit as though InDesign's "composite font" feature might be what you're looking for:

Install and use fonts in InCopy

The link is to InCopy help, but InDesign also has this feature, but it may be available only in the CJK and ME versions of InDesign, though if you have a CC subscription, you can install the ME version for free.

Ariel

[jberry@mower.com]

we purchased the font, however, the lowercase "a" in the glyphs is what we want, not the standard lowercase "a".

Just trying to find a solution that multiple users can apply.

[John Mensinger]

So if I understand correctly, both characters in question already exist in the font you licensed;

• a1: the character applied when the 'a' key is pressed
• a2: an alternate lower-case a which you'd like to swap into a1's position in the font so that it appears (instead of a1) when the 'a' key is pressed

Right?

If it's that simple, the remapping may be worth a try via copy/paste in FontForge

Be warned though; font "authoring" can be tricky business. Even a simple modification like this can turn into an entanglement. Tread carefully, read the documentation, and don't overwrite the pre-existing font.

[Les ONeill]

And if John is correct in assuming that both a's exist in the font already, then please check to see that there isn't a 'stylistic set' that might already be programmed to use that alternate 'a', under: Character panel / Opentype / Stylistic sets.