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Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Okay, I bashed myself over this for two days straight and I think I have some materials that need tracing, so we can make the Soquili TG font a reality now.
First, let's backtrack because this thread has been static for a while. The Soquili tg font will consist of 26 characters, each character will be one frame of a horse galloping. So people who use this font can make nice borders and such for rodeos and horse shows, whatever, but if they use the Animation Frame Gallery, and type successive characters on each frame, the result will be the animation I have here, except it'll be black and white only.
Now excuse any flaws in continuity because I can't get it much better. 26 is a weird number for frames, and the tail and mane are a little crude, because I drew these mostly without guides in After Effects. The tail certainly could use tapering at the ends of the strands, but you all will get the general idea:
I'm also attaching four zip files. Each one contains a frame, a JPEG that's 1280 by 720 (a 720p video, in digital measurements).
I'm not in charge of this project, but I figure the way this can go is: take a zip file. Each one contains 6 or 7 JPEGs. You don't have to do all 6, but it's a good idea to report in this thread which frames you volunteer to do.
Closed paths only, please. A font is one color, and we usually consider this to be black. White comes in where there is no path, it's transparent, just like holds in shapes you create.
Now this is a big "perhaps": perhaps instead of repeating the 26 glyphs for upper and lowercase, you draw the corresponding shadow, so each shadow—like for G and for g, corresponds. You could make a really neat animation with a black horse and a light grey shadow, you know? It's more work, I'll let the group decide.
Once I've downloaded the results of this group tracing (you upload your work as a Xara file as an attachment here), I will review them, do a little tweaking in Font Lab for the sake of visual continuity, and in a few days I'll post the font and all the paperwork for it to be a SIL piece of work we can all be proud of being a part of. And a very loving tribute to Bill "Soquili" Taylor.
This one's for you, Billy J.
My Best,
Gary
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
This is splendid news Gary! :)
For anyone just tuning in this is a continuation of this thread
Although I think to make sure we don't all start tracing the same set of glyphs I propose that we first post here to say which set we are tracing, and just a reminder if you want to help out we do need you to post a release for the SIL licensing if you have not already done so here.
I'll start by volunteering to do 1-6 :)
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
I haven't been able to view them yet but I'll take 7-13
EDiT: Makes a real nice animation Gare.
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
OK Gare, I looked at the zips and my question is how are we going to handle the main and tail so they all look alike?
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Let's do this: trace the entire image off as it is, remain faithful to the image, and I'll do the editing before I compile the font.
1 person editing=consistency, right?
By the way, you do not have to commit to doing 6 or 7 drawings, just because I packed them that way. If you only want to do three, for example, make a post, "I volunteer to do numbers 20, 21, and 22".
Yes, the point is to have only one person doing a frame, so we should post which ones a person is responsible for.
A single frame looks like this:
Attachment 95886
I'd just say try to keep the interpretation faithful to the JPEG image, and I will try to make them all conform to a consistent style when I compile the font.
@Frances, yes, agreed on signing off on the work. Can you please copy or link to the last font we did to provide and example of signing off, so it's easy for the volunteers?
TIA,
Gary
-g
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Terrific, thanks all!
That leaves only 20 through 26.
If there's a general question about how we move this font to the finish line, please post it here, where angelize or I will try to answer it.
If it's a technical question—how to accomplish something in your trace in Xara, or size or display on the page—if you feel your posr won't benefit the group, you are welcome to PM me.
Okay, I'm jazzed. This tribute font has been tossed around for almost half a year; now I can visualize it!
My Best,
Gary
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Question - do we really need the obvious masculine element to remain?
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
I guess it's suitable that the horse is a stallion, but I'll defer to Gary on this :)
For anyone who hasn't volunteered for a font project before you can see in the Roundhead TG thread how the process works :)
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
I feel what I have to say here needs to strike a fine balance between calling too much attention to a detail in a subject, and ignoring the question altogether.
In brief: yes, the 26 images need to be traced over as they are. If individuals start editing their work based on what they feel comfortable seeing or drawing, then the animation won’t work, nor will the font represent a unified group effort.
Let me say that if anyone on this thread has downloaded the files (I see several downloads) and doesn’t want to help complete the project for any reason, write me a PM to keep this diversion on this thread to a minimum. I really would like this post to be the last on the subject Christine is asking about.
Moreover, neither I nor the members I know here, would make a judgment on a personal decision not to participate, for whatever reason.
I really didn’t mean to light any fuses here, so let me briefly explain a little about this animation, its background and an observation about the project as a whole.
Our Administrator, also known as Barbara Bouton, came to me with the idea of a horse animation font, while we were collectively creatively stalled on what to do typographically to honor the memory of Bill Taylor. Once we proposed the idea publicly and it was met with approval, I bought the model of a stallion—a male horse—and the animation tracks online and Barbara and I agreed upon the purchase and she saw the model and my progress with it along the way. And had and has no problem with it as a person or as a woman.
I chose a highly detailed stallion because I always start a project with good data. Bill Taylor is a man, thus the choice of a stallion and not a mare as a 3D model was an appropriate one. The optimum angle for rendering a gallop is from the side, where unavoidably the gender of a horse can be noticeable. Not obvious, not the focal point of this illustration, but a fairly innocuous bump is there, yes.
I cannot say that I ever gave this area even the slightest thought while working on the animation and the frames, and thinking about it, I don’t think it’s because I’m a guy. It’s because this is an animal, and unless one lives in a city their entire life, you are bound to see nude animals—animals in a natural state (as opposed to cats people dress up!)—at petting zoos, on ranches and farms, and even in motion pictures depicting American settlers and Native Americans—of which Bill shared a heritage.
There is no detail in the area I’m addressing, absolutely nothing suggestive of any action other than being part of a galloping horse.
I've written too much, sorry! Can we get back to the project?
Thanks!
Gary
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Ok so we've got Larry and Christine each doing a set Anyone else out there want to take part in this tribute to Bill?
Rik, you indicated in the other thread you would like to help do you still want to?
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
I know it's been about half a year since we got together and collaborated on a tg typeface.
So if anyone has questions about how you build path, you can post and attached one file if you like, a Xara file, and I can guide anyone with the construction of the path because characters (glyphs) need to have an economy of control points and there can only be one combined path, no more than one per character.
Oh, and control points where there is a sharp change in direction of the path. Control handles shouldn't extend beyond Mars, Saturn at very most. :)
My Best,
Gary
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Here is the first one of mine maybe Gary if you can have a look and see if it needs any corrections and maybe others can learn from this :) I have traced the horse and the shadow as two separate objects.
And do you want each glyph as a separate page in a single .xar file?
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Thanks for having the courage to go first, Frances! :)
Okay, attached is "Soquili POC" (Proof of Concept), and let me say right now that 1.) you did an excellent job, and 2.) you used 270 control points. Which is fine for TrueType, but 200 is usually a good limit. I used a utility in FontLab to "optimize" the outline, it automatically took out what it thought were unnecessary nodes to wind up with 206.
Attachment 95938
I think we're okay. Frances, how do you feel this screen cap compares to your original? And the typeface?
I'd like to see fewer control points in subsequent drawings, but not at the price of accuracy, of course.
Thanks!
-g
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Sorry guys.
I don't look here often, but, Frances reminded me.
So, as all the others are taken, I'll take 20-26.
I will get onto this asap.
I do have a question though.
If you look at frame 20, the two hooves near the ground are obscured by the shadow on the ground.
This would lead to doing a bit of guesswork.
Is guesswork OK?
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Rik—
Welcome aboard, matey!
In 20, I see the very tip of the left front hoof obscured. And there is no way except re-rendering (unpacking, loading, etc.) the sequence to truly see where the edge is.
I recommend your eye, skill, and an educated guess, Rik.
I'm sure that will do the trick.
Thanks!
Gary
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Thanks for that explanation Gary.
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
I would like to volunteer also for the Soquili project but before doing so I would just like to check my eyes are up to it :D so I've uploaded this file to see if this is up to the standard you require Gary, eyes are not as sharp as they use to be :D
Stygg
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
@Stygg—
I am not an optometrist, but your eyes appear to be fine to me! Your work is splendid, and I see you did the shadow as a separate piece. If everyone does this (it is NOT required), I could make the lowercase alphabet the shadow, to make a really complex and rich animation.
BUT:
1. This is a font, and its primary purpose is to honor Bill and make nice patterns, with the "hidden" animation capability a secondary consideration. So thinking about this, we probably don't need the shadows from anyone.
2. Stygg, Rik volunteered to do 20-26, so theoretically we're covered.
Is anyone dropping out or would like to share a few characters with Stygg?
-g
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Cheers for that Gary, I'd be happy to help out if anyone wants to share, seeing that you seem to be covered is good news but I will still help out if anyone needs a break or anything.
Regards, Stygg
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
It's all good!
Now bear in mind that I don't have an assistant for compiling the font...I'll be going solo here and it's tricky work if we want a good font, so please bear with me as you finish the glyphs and perhaps we can release this one in a month or so.
My Best,
Gary
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
I'll share with you Styyg :) I've attached 4 to 6 but first you need to post a release. :) You can copy and paste the following and change my information to yours.
I, Frances Proctor, as a contributor to the project undertaken by a group in the TalkGraphics.com Fonts and Typography Forum, to create the following font, Soquili TG, grant a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute [the] Contributions I made to the work and such derivative works.
I understand that this is a license agreement only; it does not transfer copyright ownership and does not change my rights to use the artwork I contributed for any other purpose.
Frances Proctor, BC, Canada
Also there may be some more design work needed when we finish, possibly a pdf glyph guide and some examples of the font in use. And perhaps a short tutorial show how to use the font as an animation :)
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Thanks for sharing Francis, much appreciated, downloaded the zip file and will start the tracing tomorrow. Also copied and pasted the release, changing the information of course :D
Regards, Stygg
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
I, Gary Bouton, have downloaded Frances' tracings.
:)
and...
I, Gary David Bouton, as a contributor to the project undertaken by a group in the TalkGraphics.com Fonts and Typography Forum, to create the following font, Soquili TG, grant a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute [the] Contributions I made to the work and such derivative works.
I understand that this is a license agreement only; it does not transfer copyright ownership and does not change my rights to use the artwork I contributed for any other purpose.
Gary David Bouton, Liverpool NY, USA
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Gary do you still need the shadow tracing or not, I will trace it if you think it is necessary.I have posted the release but its ended up in the Soquili TG -A new collaborative project section.
Stygg
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
@Everyone
DON'T TRACE the SHADOW.
I know I'd suggested it earlier, but it detracts from our work with the font and doesn't directly relate to a tribute to Bill.
Thanks for bringing it up, Stygg.
-g
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
OK guys and gals.
My trace needs to be looked at to see if it's any good?
Let me know what needs to be changed/improved?
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
You're good, Rik, and thanks.
Try to keep the number of control points to a minimum without hampering your artwork.
The more control points we host in this typeface, the larger it will get in file size.
My Best,
Gary
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
"@Everyone
DON'T TRACE the SHADOW."
Glad you said that Gare. I was doing just that. So how do you want them submitted? Each on a different layer? Outline only? I did mine all black as did Frances, is that OK? Should I submit one as a check for control point numbers. I tried to keep mine to a minimum but have no idea how many.
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
There's no way to have Xara count the control points, at least no way that's obvious to me, Larry, so just think "economical" as you draw, okay?
I can live with layers, individual files, whatever, as long as the submitted file format is Xara. What will help me is:
•if you're creating more than one horse in a Xara file:
Put the frame number, type it next to the drawing, or name the layer.
I need to know, without fail, what character or number your individual drawing is.
Cool?
Thanks!
-g
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
OK.
Here's three that I've traced. I've got four more to do.
I'll post these here now for three reasons.
1. If they're OK - that's good.
2. If not, then I can be told what needs to be done, before I start on the other four.
3. I won't be able to make a start on the other four for a few days.
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Here's my three, 04 to 06, hope they are ok :D
Stygg
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Here's mine 14-19.
Attachment 95989
Christine
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Thanks, all.
I will get to them summarily (it's Sunday, and I need to get the Xara Xone going for May).
-g
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Here's the rest of mine.
The others are in Post #32.
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Hi everyone. I already posted the first frame and finally here are frames 2 and 3. I hope I didn't hold you up Gary. Family matters kept me away from the computer over the weekend.
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
@ Frances—
Okay, I've wanted to say this for days:
"Hold your horses!"
:)
Seriously, I'm still finessing many of the horses to become glyphs, so even if you submit the rest over the weekend, I still won't be all set to make the font.
Plus there's paperwork.
-g
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I have gone over, and over, and over this so guess I'll post my work and hope for the best.
Attachment 96040
I, Larry E. Leiker, as a contributor to the project undertaken by a group in the TalkGraphics.com Fonts and Typography Forum, to create the following font, Soquili TG, grant a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sub-license, and distribute [the] Contributions I made to the work and such derivative works.
I understand that this is a license agreement only; it does not transfer copyright ownership and does not change my rights to use the artwork I contributed for any other purpose.
Larry E. Leiker, Saint Peters, MO., USA
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Re: Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!
Larry, I just snagged your work and opened it, and it's fine, man, just as good as everyone else's splendid efforts.
Now I really need to finesse the drawings so they're not so literal in your tracing. Mostly because my model was a little crude on the mane and the tail, unavoidable to make the animation work as quickly as I got it working.
I want each drawing to be able to stand on its own as a glyph and nice artwork, and it only requires a little editing because everyone did exactly as we were asked: trace accurately over my inaccurate JPEGs.
It'll make sense after I compile and cook the font.
Larry, you and everyone did great, and I hope Bill is looking down at us and laughing.
My Best,
Gary