For quite some time companies and governments have been working hard to make daily life things available as digital services in whatever way possible to speed processes up and cut costs. At the same time most communication takes place on digital channels by sending emails, chatting, electronic orders, paying online, doing banking online…well almost anything goes on the line today. Sending a good old snail mail letter is still possible but not that popular really. Even on vacations we are not offline and stick to digital channels, keep the blog updated with “near real time images and stories. Just ask yourself – when is the last time you send or received a postcard, a letter…? This is because of we have netbooks and handheld gadgets going with us anywhere and most hotels, restaurants, public places, people we visit etc. have internet (or if not we can just sneak online using bluetooth and our mobile phone if it is not already integrated into the netbook…). The advantages that computers give us is obvious but the complete turnaround that have happened over just a few years makes real life stuff like fx. hand written text catch most peoples attention (even though it is presented on a computer screen). Hand writing is something we all know very well and have been working hard to learn in school, it may bring up emotions, memories, images that a plain verdana or times roman can’t compete with. While hand written fonts may be very useful to achieve certain design goals they are not to be applied in any case. Long text and difficult to read text are examples where hand written fonts may be painful for the reader. For headers and short notes hand written fonts may be very useful.
This article is an update of 45+ Exceptionally Useful Free Handwritten Fonts. Lots of excellent handwritten fonts have been added. Be sure to check the font author restrictions before using them.
First some inspiration on how Handwritten Fonts can be used
Have you seen good use of handwritten fonts in logos, web designs, posters etc? Please drop a link in a mail to share the inspiration. Handwritten fonts have been used to create some of the most well known brands in the world. Coca Cola is obvious but there are many others. Here a few examples.
One use of Handwritten Fonts that we see used quite often is a vision or mission statement below a company logo. It makes it look like someone just personally added it and that it is true.
Another really great way to use this effect isto make people think that fx. a discount is really a discount and that someone just changed the price by hand and added some notes. We all know this is not what happend but it affects us somehow anyway.
Taking it further handwriting can be used very in a very simplistic way to give an impression of things happening – kind of the effect we all know from comics that we spends hours and hours on reading as kids.
Also handwritten fonts can effectively be used in a feature box to deliver a “soft introduction” to a product. If all other text elements on the page use traditional fonts this part stands out. Using colours as well increase the effect.
Really there are no limitations on how to use handwritten fonts. I personally wont encourage too heavy use of handwritten fonts but it is up to you to decide!
Hand Written Fonts
Most of these fonts are either completely free or free for personal use.
Thurston the Font
The Quiet Scream
Grutch Shaded
Kraboudja
Tiza
Sketch Rockwell
This font is very good to be used, with a big size, for titles and headers.
Urban Sketch, Regular
Rough Draft, Regular
Scrubble, Regular
WC Roughtrad Bta
HandVetica, Bold
karabinE., Regular
Jump Start, Regular
FatStack BB, Regular
!Sketchy Times, Bold
Cup and Talon, Regular
Caityln
Alliewriting
clementine sketch, Regular
bearerFond, Regular
Umberette, Regular
blackout serif, Regular
GoodDog
WC Mano Negra Bta
Katy Berry
Jellyka Endless Voyage
Analgesics
Analgesics is a “bold” font particular useful to design heder elements.
aaaiight
Almagro Regular
Brook 23
Harrison
House Whiteboard
Joe Hand 2
This font is good for small size typography.
Rickles, Medium
Fabulous 50s, Normal
Rai Elegant
Redstar, Regular
imitation
JohnLennon, Regular
Glider Girls, Regular
Note this
Milktop Girl, Regular
Jessica, Regular
Pisan
Rabiohead
Hand of Sean
Jellyka – Estrya’s Handwriting
Keisadiya
NOxWAY
Jellyka Castle’s Queen
Philippe, Regular
Sophie, Regular
Hannahs Messy Handwriting
Christopher Hand
Daniel
Chemist
Windsong, Regular
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September 7th, 2009 at 10:44 am
This is a wicked collection – bookmarked and 2 downloaded already! thanks
September 14th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Thanks for the great links, lots of good stuff here!
October 1st, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Great post .. thanks for bringing together your thoughts on usage, as we as the fonts themselves …
October 21st, 2009 at 10:13 am
Nice collection, wish I found this a couple of months ago when I was really struggling with a project that needed handwritten fonts. Thanks for including us to!
November 20th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Great roundup. Thanks! Handwritten fonts are in!
January 15th, 2010 at 6:03 am
What a great collection! Thanks for sharing.