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Find Photoshop CS4 tutorials and videos on our Photoshop CS4 Tutorials Page.
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Pixel Fonts To The Rescue
Graphic designers working on web projects often complain that when typefaces designed for print are set to lower sizes that they become harder to read and unattractive to the eye. Even using anti-aliasing (the smooth option in the Character Palette) is not enough to help these fonts look better on screen. The solution when this happens is to abandon the printer fonts altogether and to try using a Pixel font, which will produce a crisp, clean image at very small sizes.
Pixel Fonts — Limits & Restrictions
Pixel fonts were created specifically for computers, with each pixel of the font designed on a grid that is exactly the same grid that is on your computer screen. Because of this Pixel fonts have certain limitations. They cannot be scaled and must be used at the sizes at which they were designed, or else at exact multiples. This is to prevent them from distorting. It is also important to never apply any anti-aliasing to them.
Let's Pick A Pixel Font
Some great pixel fonts can be found at Joe Gillespie's minifonts.com site. One of his font creations, Mini 7, is considered to be the most popular Pixel font in use on the web today, and it is one of my all-time favorites.
Pixel Fonts In Action
Pixel fonts are great for website photo captions, because you can get a lot of text into a small area, and it will still be very legible. (The screenshot below uses Mini 7). They are also great for website interfaces, especially navigation buttons.
Pixel Font Troubleshooting Checklist
Follow these guidelines (from minifonts.com) to avoid the most common problems:
Pixel fonts should be set on a page with a 72 ppi resolution.
Anti-aliasing (font smoothing) should be off.
The type size should be the 'designed size' or multiple of it. You will find this size in your ReadMe file.
All tracking and kerning should be set to zero and character widths to 100%.
Leading (line spacing) can be specified as required.
Always specify your font sizes in pixels, not points. A ten pixel font is not necessarily the same as a ten point one. Change your setup to work in pixels and set your document resolution to 72 ppi (pixels per inch).
Do not use a centered paragraph style. The math required to center text can result in fractional spacing and vertical rows of pixels can mysteriously disappear. Always set your pixel fonts ranged left and center it by moving the whole layer.
Save as GIF images at a 1-bit color depth, resulting in a small file size.
Inspiration
If you're curious as to how far you can take the pixel look, visit Kaliber 10000 (The Designers' Lunchbox). Now that's a "pixelated" website.
Pixel Fonts — Where To Get Them — Free Font Resources
DaFont.com — DaFont.com has some great free pixel fonts. Just do a search (top right of screen) for "pixel" to find them. I like Snoot.org px10 by Divide by Zero.
04 — On the front page click on "extra" and then you'll see "bitmap font" and "font ps.tt" - which are free downloads. This is a very nice collection of pixel fonts.
Wanted Fonts — Lots of free fonts. On left side navigation you'll see categories. Look for "pixelated" and search through the collection. "Endless Showroom" looks nice.
HighFonts.com — Another nice site with a great collection of free fonts you can download.
Silkscreen - Free Pixel Font — Silkscreen is a free four member type family for your Web graphics created by Jason Kottke. Available in both Mac and Windows versions.
How To Install & Remove Fonts In Windows — This font installation guide will tell you everything you need to know.
MiniFonts.com — Joe Gillespie's site showcases the individual fonts he has for sale (over 200), or you can try the free samples. The site also features some in-depth articles on the history of pixel fonts, pixel font usage tips, and a pixel fonts FAQ page.
That's it. Enjoy your Pixel fonts!
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Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended feature a newly refined, tab-based interface in a single, integrated window, with self-adjusting panels arranged in docked groups. Automatically keeping tools well organized and away from your work area means you get greater efficiency, less clutter, and better results, faster than before.
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Find upgrade options and package deals at the Adobe USA Store. Teachers and students get special pricing at the Adobe Education Store. You can also buy in your country currency and language at the following Adobe International Stores:
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Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium - Complete CS4 Bundle
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Photoshop Web Template — Web Site Design Tutorial
Learn how to make a Photoshop web template with this web site design tutorial. Includes finished web page with code and links to free resources.
How To Create A Favicon In Photoshop
A Favicon is a little custom icon that appears next to a website's URL in the address bar of a web browser. And when I say little, I mean 16 pixels by 16 pixels. So if you like a good design challenge try your hand at this one.
Blog Templates & Blog Design Tips
This Photoshop tutorial offers tips on how to improve blog templates by adding your own design elements. Includes a list of free blog resources, and a martini recipe.
The Photoshop Blog offers the latest Photoshop and Digital Photography news and software updates, tips and tutorials, and random thoughts from graphic artist, digital photographer and Photoshop expert Jennifer Apple.
Photoshop Masking Plugin Fluid Mask 3 - Price Drop And Exclusive $20 Instant Discount - Now Only $129
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Photoshop CS4 Book - Photoshop CS4 Essential Skills - By Mark Galer And Philip Andrews
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Read 2 free sample chapters:
Skin Retouching Tips In Photoshop CS4
Transforming Smart Objects In Photoshop CS4
Find more Photoshop CS4 tutorials on our Photoshop CS4 Tutorials Page.
Read 2 free sample chapters from the Adobe Photoshop CS3 version:
Adjusting Exposure in Adobe Camera Raw CS3
Photoshop CS3 Tutorial High Dynamic Range
Find More Adobe Photoshop Books at Amazon.com
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Buy. Download. Create. Get Adobe Photoshop now at the Adobe Store.
