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The Art of Typography, and Elfquest
Jan. 30th, 2014 05:27 pmHow do you create a font? A working font, which does just what you want it to do, no more, no less? A typographer describes how he's created a font for the last installment of Elfquest. Here's how Nate Piekos, a professional typographer--and a big fan--worked to give the full flavor of Wendy Pini's hand-lettered style, and also to make sure that the final product did not get in your way as you read the story.
Wendy and Richard Pini's epic tales got me through junior high and beyond. I carted those trade paperbacks with me when I left my mom's house, went to design school, started a career in comics, got married ... and moved a half dozen times in between.
Fast-forward to just a few months ago. Editor Sierra Hahn told me new Elfquest comics were coming to Dark Horse and asked if I was interested in not only designing Wendy's hand-lettering font, but if I'd also like to take on the lettering duties of the whole series! I couldn't reply fast enough. Of course I was interested! It was one of those surreal full-circle moments when I get to work with some of my comic book heroes. I immediately broke out those faded, dog-eared Elfquest collections for reference, and they sat on my desk the entire time I worked on Wendy's typeface.
Wendy and Richard Pini's epic tales got me through junior high and beyond. I carted those trade paperbacks with me when I left my mom's house, went to design school, started a career in comics, got married ... and moved a half dozen times in between.
Fast-forward to just a few months ago. Editor Sierra Hahn told me new Elfquest comics were coming to Dark Horse and asked if I was interested in not only designing Wendy's hand-lettering font, but if I'd also like to take on the lettering duties of the whole series! I couldn't reply fast enough. Of course I was interested! It was one of those surreal full-circle moments when I get to work with some of my comic book heroes. I immediately broke out those faded, dog-eared Elfquest collections for reference, and they sat on my desk the entire time I worked on Wendy's typeface.
