From the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, by way of Toronto, comes Martie's handwriting. Martie Byrd is a school teacher in Roanoke, Virginia, and a friend of Canada Type's Rebecca Alaccari. After years of admiring the cheer and clarity of Martie's handwriting, we asked her to write out full alphabets for some cool font treatment. The intent was to do three different versions of her writing in two different pens, then use the auto-magic of OpenType to determine letter sequences and rotate character sets on the fly when the fonts are in use. A successful endeavor it was. Take a look at the images in the MyFonts gallery to see the character rotation in action, along with a visual explanation of why Martie is not just another handwriting font. Unlike other available felt tip and ballpoint handwriting fonts, the regular and bold variations are style-based, not weight-based. They are the handwritten expressions of two different Sharpie pens: The fine point one (Martie Bold), and the ultrafine one (Martie Regular). The style-based variation considerably helps the realism needed in design pieces that take advantage of the contrast of two different handwriting fonts. Weight thickening in handwriting is an obvious mechanical effect that only happens with computers. Weight changing by replacing pens is what happens in the real world. Martie Pro and Martie Pro Bold each contain three different character sets in a single font. Language support includes Western, Central and Eastern European languages for all three sets. This translates into each Pro font containing over 750 characters. Add OpenType code and stir, and you have true handwriting fonts with versatility unavailable out there in anything else of the genre. A software program that supports OpenType features is needed to use the randomization coded in Martie Pro and Martie Pro Bold. Current versions of QuarkXpress and Adobe applications (Photoshop, Illlustrator, InDesign) do contain support for the randomization feature. But if you don't have one of these apps, you can still use the interchangeable Type 1 or True Type fonts and change the characters manually to achieve the appearance of true handwriting. The Martie fonts come in a variety of price packages, from the affordable single fonts to value-laden complete sets. All the proceeds from these fonts received by Canada Type will be donated 50/50 to two primary schools: One in Roanoke (where Martie teaches), and one in Toronto (where the 10-year old, real Canada Type boss goes). So next time a design project needs a handwriting font, do the write thing and use Martie to keep it real.

Solantra is a solidly crafted handwritten script. I’ve long felt that beautiful writing is more pleasing to the eye than the more attention grabbing swashes and flourishes. That being said, both have their role in design and Solantra has a large slice of each. Solantra combines vintage style handwriting with all its quirks and English Roundhand of that same era. The result is a solid setting script filled with charm and personality. With default Adobe Illustrator settings for Ligatures and Contextual Alternates active, the vintage charm is in full display. Want to add more flair? There are loads of more embellished letters inside the full version. Solantro takes into account how scripts are actually written so that connections from letter to letter are more fluid and rhythmic than the average script font. In natural script/handwriting most letters end at the bottom right and move up to connect with the next. Some letters like o, v, and w, however; end at the top right. Rather than force these letters to dip down and go back up they should ideally connect from that upper right point. This is accomplished through a series of alternate letters and ligatures with extensive contextual feature programming. So, for example, you might get one version of a ligature in the middle of a word and a different one at the beginning or end of that word. Solantra also takes into account another often overlooked feature of natural handwriting. When you write you inevitably pick your pen up from the paper at times. This is often just to reposition the hand, but in the days of writing with dip pens this was also needed to attain a fresh supply of ink. Having these occasional breaks in connections makes the writing less static and more rhythmic. While the Basic versions are limited to a standard character set and several ligatures and alternates for better settings of text, the full pro versions contains 1292 glyphs and an abundance of features. Even with numbers there are options like Oldstyle numbers, fractions, and ordinals. Central European language support is included as well as some select ligatures that use accents. To see more on the technical aspects and instructions on using Solantra, please check out the user’s guide in the Gallery section. **Note: The Pro versions of Solantra which do not have the word “Basic” attached to the title, have everything in them. So if you license a Pro version there is no need to get the Basic versions.

Pompeian Cursive is a calligraphically-inspired display typeface featuring a limited number of alternate characters and a handful of graceful ligatures. A lively set of non-lining numerals accompanies, as well as a few calligraphically-inspired flourishes for ornament. The history of this typeface: Oswald Cooper’s relationship with the Barnhart Brothers & Spindler foundry was one instigated under the auspices of creating new styles of type in lieu of following stylistic trends. In 1927, BB&S requested that Cooper create a script-like cursive typeface design in step with Lucien Bernhard’s Schoenschrift and ATF’s similarly-styled Liberty typeface. In response to BB&S’s desire to emulate instead of innovate, Cooper wrote to Mcarthur, “I am desolated to see Barnhart’s hoist the black flag. Your own efforts through the years to boost the foundry into a place in the sun as an originator seem wasted.” Still, Cooper took up the task at hand, creating a delicate, sophisticated type design which he named Pompeian Cursive. The typeface featured a limited number of alternate characters and a handful of graceful ligatures. A lively set of non-lining numerals accompanied, as well as a few calligraphically-inspired flourishes for ornamenting the end of lines of type accompanied the typeface, as well. By reviewing the few remaining original drawings for the type, as well as copious samples of Pompeian Cursive from both Cooper & BB&S' proofing process and period-specific type specimens, Wordshape presents the first digital version of this classic hybrid script/sans typeface, complete with all original alternate characters and ornaments. Pompeian Cursive has been intensively spaced and kerned for the finest setting for weddings, announcements, and general display work. - What was the inspiration for designing the font? While researching a biographic essay for Japan’s IDEA Magazine, I came across the original proofs and drawings for Pompeian Cursive. While a number of foundries have released interpretations of Cooper’s assorted typefaces, they stray from the original rather dramatically in parts. Cooper is without a doubt my favorite type and lettering designer, and to bring a refined return to his original intentions is an immense gift. - What are its main characteristics and features? Pompeian Cursive is a typeface which functions as both a display face and a limited text face. It features classy, thoughtful, and delicate swash capitals and rugged lowercase characters with a low x-height and gracefully long ascenders and descenders. - Usage recommendations: Display type or text-setting. Perfect for newspaper work, editorial design, materials intended to invoke an "old-timey" flavor, or just about anything in need of personality.

Nokian11 is a font inspired by an old Nokia phone display. It was created in 2001 and named Nokian. Nokian11 is a new, improved version with full set of glyphs and covers most of European languages.

Birthday Doodles.... cakes, hats, banners, flags, confetti, streamers, balloons, noise makers, and some written and printed words. Plus a full set of numbers. Everything you need to make cards, invitations, and to scrapbook all your parties.

Summer Butterfly is a thin and clean handwritten font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

Pretty Magnolia is a sweet and unique display font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

That's a special horrific font with an intricate pattern of bones. All letters are put together of nonrecurring elements drawn individually by hand. The classical forms as we see it sound afresh with the bones attire.

An old set of brass stencils spotted for sale on eBay were the inspiration for this font from Jeff Levine. Redrawn completely from scratch, Jeff retained the narrow "M" and angled corners found in the original.

ID Monotrap is a display monospace typeface, specifically designed with equal width for each letter across the glyphs set. With mono weight, maintaining consistent stroke thickness throughout its parts, giving it a distinct and modern aesthetic.

Stickup is an incomparable, simple, and bold display font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

An adorable and straightforward handwritten typeface is called Cool Mind. Add it to your original ideas to see how it helps them stand out since it can be readily suited to a huge range of projects.

Punavuori is a clean geometric unicase font. It's best for display use in magazines, books & posters. Punavuori font was originally designed in 2002. Now it's been remade with the complete character set and five different versions.

Scrolls A are a set of pictorial scrolls like signs of the zodiac, animals, dishes, flowers, symbols, decorative and Americana. They are beginning of last century American. Your I-found-them-somewhere type-designer, Gert Wiescher

Full Of Wonder is a smooth and thick font perfect for crafting with! Full Of Wonder features: • Set of alphabet characters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols • 3 standard ligatures & 3 discretionary ligatures • 2 alternate characters • Multilingual support

Deuglas is a minimal and neat sans serif font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

Nacho, is a font inspired by the Mexican culture as the party of the dead and customs, created From the Thin to the Densa, it also contains a dingbat set to make the text more dynamic.

Luella is an elegant, hand drawn vintage inspired font by Cultivated Mind. Luella has been carefully crafted and comes in three weights (Regular/Bold/Black). This font works perfectly with the Luella frames and ornaments sets.

The unusual type design that comprises Cold Case JNL was modeled from a 1950s set of letter and number stencils manufactured by the Huntington Oil Cured Stencil Company of Huntington, NY (later relocating to South Florida).

Nautica Line is a new version of Nautica font. This fonts family contains 10 fonts, made by different weight of lines. The Features of this fonts are: Contextual Alternates, Standart ligatures, Stylistic Alternates and Stylistic sets.

Geotrica is a minimal and neat sans serif font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

Billa summer is a thin and clean handwritten font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

Sveva Versal is a light swinging art nouveau caps only headliner, with swash like alternates and lots of special combinations. It's well suited to set a short and fancy block or line of text. PDF Specimen

Next Time is an incomparable and simple handwritten font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

An exceptional handwritten typeface with simple lettering is called Brainchild. Add it to your original ideas to see how it helps them stand out since it can be readily suited to a huge range of projects.

Big Dreamer is a thin and tall display font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

DearJoe 1 is the first of four handwritten scripts by JOEBOB graphics. It is not the same as the free font. It includes a complete character set with numbers and most (but not all) special signs.

Eterea LC (Lower Case) is based in Eterea using the same Capitals but changing the lower case set. You can use this version of Eterea to give a more readable and soft aspect to your work.

Linja is an elegant ultra condensed font. It's best for display use in magazines, books & posters. Linja font was originally designed in 2002. Now it's been remade with the complete character set and six different versions.

Christine is a minimal and neat sans serif font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

Mariana is a minimal and neat sans serif font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

An elegant monoline typeface with smooth corner detailing. The simple linear design is best suited to identity, editorial and on screen uses. Details include 7 weights, a complete character set, manually edited kerning and Euro symbol.

Based upon remnants of the Ludwig & Mayer font Magnet, first released in 1951, this Italian-style design was completely redrawn and extended for most main European languages, West and Central, plus a character set for Turkish.

Hi! Introducing Deskmark Slab Pro Typefamily. Original and soft version. 3 weight for each version, bold, regular and light. Language support: Contains full set of Latin alphabet, including diacritical marks for European languages and Cyrillic alphabets.

Funny Holiday is a thin and clean handwritten font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

Fatin Gengky is an authentic and neat serif font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!

Hard core street scrawl, for tough graffiti urban hood, laid back and tough, lots of attitude and tons of muscle, for automotive, motorcycles, urban settings and back alleys. Gives your designs some serious five o'clock shadow.

Handy Organizer is a fun and friendly display font. It can easily be matched to an incredibly large set of projects, so add it to your creative ideas and notice how it makes them stand out!