Drawn Font Tutorial: Create Heavy Metal Typography in Photoshop

Are you ready to unleash your inner metalhead and craft some seriously wicked typography? In this tutorial, we're diving deep into the world of the Drawn font, a self-made heavy metal typeface designed to give your projects that extra edge. Forget about generic fonts – with Drawn, you'll be creating logos, posters, and artwork that scream metal in no time. We will explore the glyph features and alternative characters in Photoshop, and show you how to make adjustments with this font to make the best metal design. So, grab your digital axe, fire up Photoshop, and let's get started on this epic design journey! This tutorial is designed for both beginners and experienced designers. Whether you're looking to create a brutal logo for your band or add a metal touch to your design projects, the Drawn font is versatile for all your needs. Follow the steps and watch your typography transform into works of art.

Understanding the Drawn Font

The Drawn font is a custom-made heavy metal typeface designed for creating unique and impactful designs. It's incredibly user-friendly and comes with a plethora of alternative character combinations, allowing for extensive customization. This makes it an ideal choice for various projects such as band logos, album art, posters, and more. The Drawn font is not just about aesthetics; it's about functionality. It's designed to be easily integrated into your design workflow. The font is compatible with most design software, but it shines brightest in Adobe Photoshop, where you can fully exploit its features to create stunning designs. Understanding its unique features and how to access them is crucial for making the most out of this powerful Typeface. The key to mastering the Drawn Font lies in understanding its glyphs and alternative characters. These features provide the flexibility to transform ordinary text into extraordinary metal designs. Let's delve into how to access and utilize these features in Photoshop.

Accessing Alternative Characters in Photoshop

To fully utilize the Drawn font, you need to know how to access its alternative characters. These characters allow you to customize your text and create unique, metal-inspired designs. Here's how to do it in Adobe Photoshop:

1. Select Your Font Layer: Begin by selecting the text layer you want to modify.

2. Change the Font: Change the text to the "Drawn" font. You can find it in your font list within Photoshop’s character panel.

3. Access the Glyphs Panel: The glyphs panel allows you to view and insert alternative characters. Go to Window > Glyphs to open the panel.

4. Browse Alternative Characters: In the Glyphs panel, you’ll see all available characters for the Drawn font, including the alternative ones. Scroll through the panel to find the character you want to use.

   

5. Insert Alternative Characters: Double-click on the alternative character in the Glyphs panel to insert it into your text. You can also select a character in your text and then double-click on the desired glyph to replace it.

By following these steps, you can easily access and utilize the alternative characters of the Drawn font to enhance your designs. The glyphs feature is your gateway to creating a metal design that truly stands out.

Creating a Five-Letter Metal Design

Let's start with a simple example: transforming a five-letter WORD into a metal design using the Drawn font. This exercise will help you understand the basics of customizing text with this unique typeface.

1. Type Your Word: Create a new text layer in Photoshop and type your five-letter word. For example, let's use the word "Drawn."
2. Apply the Drawn Font: Select the text layer and change the font to "Drawn" from your font list. You’ll immediately Notice the transformation to a metal-inspired design.
3. Adjust Alternative Characters: Now, let’s customize the letters using alternative characters. Follow these steps:
   • Select the letter you want to change. For instance, let’s start with the letter “D”.
   • Open the Glyphs panel (Window > Glyphs).
   • Find alternative characters for the letter “D” in the Glyphs panel.
   • Double-click on the alternative character to replace the default one.
4. Repeat for Other Letters: Repeat this process for each letter in the word to create a unique metal design. Experiment with different combinations to achieve the look you want.
5. Fine-Tune Your Design: Adjust the spacing and kerning between letters to ensure the design looks balanced and visually appealing.

By following these steps, you can transform any five-letter word into a striking metal design using the Drawn font and its alternative characters.

Working with Seven-Character Sentences

Now that you've mastered customizing a five-letter word, let's move on to a seven-character sentence. This will give you a better understanding of how to work with longer text and create more complex metal designs.

1. Type Your Sentence: Create a new text layer in Photoshop and type your seven-character sentence. For this example, let's use the sentence "Brewbox."
2. Apply the Drawn Font: Select the text layer and change the font to "Drawn." The sentence will transform into a metal-inspired design.
3. Customize Letters: Customize each letter using alternative characters from the Glyphs panel. Select a letter, find an alternative character in the Glyphs panel, and double-click to replace the default letter.
4. Experiment with Combinations: Try different combinations of alternative characters to create a unique and interesting design. For example, you can change the “B” to an uppercase version to see how it looks.
5. Adjust Spacing: Fine-tune the spacing and kerning between letters to ensure the design looks balanced and visually appealing.

Customizing seven-character sentences allows for more creative freedom and helps you understand how to combine different characters to create a Cohesive metal design. Experimentation is key to unlocking the full potential of the Drawn font.

Tips for Enhancing Your Metal Typography

To take your metal typography to the next level, consider these additional tips:

• Use Uppercase and Lowercase Combinations: Experiment with mixing uppercase and lowercase letters to create visual interest and contrast.
• Adjust Letter Spacing and Kerning: Fine-tune the spacing between letters to improve readability and visual appeal. Tight kerning can often enhance the metal look.
• Add Effects and Textures: Apply effects such as drop shadows, glows, and textures to add depth and dimension to your typography. Metal textures and grunge effects work particularly well.
• Incorporate Metal Elements: Add metal elements such as rivets, spikes, and chains to further enhance the metal aesthetic. These elements can be easily added using Photoshop brushes or vector graphics.
• Use Color Strategically: Choose colors that complement the metal theme. Dark colors such as black, gray, and deep red work well, as do metallic colors such as silver and gold.

Step 1: Install the Drawn Font

Before you can start using the Drawn font, you need to install it on your computer. Here’s how:

1. Download the Font File: Download the Drawn font file from a trusted source. The file usually comes in a ZIP format.
2. Extract the Font File: Extract the ZIP file to a folder on your computer. You should find a TTF or OTF file inside.
3. Install the Font:
   • Windows: Right-click on the TTF or OTF file and select “Install.”
   • macOS: Double-click on the TTF or OTF file. This will open Font Book. Click “Install Font” at the bottom of the window.
4. Restart Your Design Software: Restart Adobe Photoshop or any other design software you plan to use. This ensures that the newly installed font is recognized.

Once the font is installed, you're ready to start creating metal typography designs.

Step 2: Create Text in Photoshop

Now that the Drawn font is installed, let’s create some text in Photoshop:

1. Open Photoshop: Launch Adobe Photoshop on your computer.
2. Create a New Document: Create a new document with the desired Dimensions for your project. Go to File > New and set the width, Height, and resolution.
3. Select the Type Tool: Click on the Type Tool (T) in the toolbar.
4. Type Your Text: Click on your canvas and type the text you want to use for your design.
5. Adjust Text Properties: In the Character panel (Window > Character), adjust the font size, color, and other properties to match your design requirements.

With your text created, you're now ready to apply the Drawn font and start customizing it with alternative characters.

Step 3: Customize with Glyphs and Alternative Characters

The real magic happens when you start customizing your text with glyphs and alternative characters. Follow these steps:

1. Select Your Text Layer: Select the text layer you want to customize.
2. Open the Glyphs Panel: Go to Window > Glyphs to open the Glyphs panel.
3. Browse Alternative Characters: In the Glyphs panel, scroll through the available characters for the Drawn font. Look for the alternative characters that add a unique metal touch to your design.
4. Replace Characters: Select a character in your text and double-click on the desired glyph in the Glyphs panel to replace it.
5. Experiment with Combinations: Try different combinations of alternative characters to achieve the look you want. Pay attention to how different characters interact with each other.
6. Adjust Spacing and Kerning: Fine-tune the spacing and kerning between letters to ensure the design looks balanced and visually appealing.

By customizing your text with glyphs and alternative characters, you can create typography that truly reflects the metal aesthetic.

Understanding the Licensing Options

The pricing and licensing options for the Drawn font are tailored to accommodate a wide array of users, from individual designers to large commercial entities. It's essential to choose the license that aligns with your specific usage requirements to ensure compliance and respect for the font creator's intellectual property.

• Personal Use License: Intended for non-commercial projects, this is typically the most affordable option. It allows you to use the font for personal hobbies, educational projects, or internal prototypes that won't be distributed or used for financial gain. Key features include:
  • Single-user license
  • Use in non-commercial projects only
  • No rights to redistribute or resell
• Commercial Use License: Designed for businesses, freelancers, and designers who intend to use the font in projects that generate revenue. This license grants broader rights and is essential for any project that directly or indirectly contributes to a company's income. Key features include:
  • Use in commercial projects
  • Limited number of users or projects (depending on the tier)
  • May include web embedding rights
• Extended Commercial License: This is the most comprehensive license, intended for large corporations or projects with extensive distribution needs. It covers unlimited users, projects, and often includes rights for use in Broadcast media, apps, and other wide-reaching platforms. Key features include:
  • Unlimited users and projects
  • Rights for use in apps, broadcast media, and merchandise
  • Priority support and maintenance

Before purchasing a license, it's crucial to review the End User License Agreement (EULA) provided by the font vendor. This document outlines the specific terms and conditions, including what you can and cannot do with the font. Understanding these terms will help you avoid any potential legal issues and ensure you're using the font in accordance with the creator's wishes.

Unleashing the Features

The Drawn Font is a heavy metal typography powerhouse designed with a suite of features aimed at giving designers unparalleled creative control. Its unique characteristics make it an ideal choice for projects that demand a bold, edgy, and impactful aesthetic. Key features include:

• Extensive Character Set: Beyond the standard alphabet, Drawn Font boasts an extensive character set, including numerals, punctuation, and symbols, all crafted in the same distinctive heavy metal style. This ensures consistency across all typographic elements in your design.
• Glyphs Panel Integration: Fully integrated with design software like Adobe Photoshop, Drawn Font allows easy access to its full range of alternative characters and glyphs. This integration streamlines the design process and encourages experimentation.
• Versatile Application: While inherently designed for heavy metal themes, Drawn Font is versatile enough to be applied in various contexts. From band logos and album art to posters and merchandise, its distinctive style can elevate any project.
• Customizable Elements: The font's design allows for further customization using design software. Designers can add effects like shadows, glows, and textures to enhance the font's visual impact and tailor it to specific project needs.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Drawn Font is designed to work seamlessly across both Windows and macOS platforms, ensuring consistent performance regardless of the operating system.

Where Does Drawn Font Excel?

The Drawn font excels in projects that demand a strong, edgy, and rebellious aesthetic. Its unique characteristics make it an ideal choice for various applications:

• Band Logos and Album Art: Drawn font is perfectly suited for creating band logos and album art that capture the essence of heavy metal, rock, and other intense Music genres. Its bold and aggressive design conveys a sense of power and energy.
• Posters and Flyers: Use Drawn font to design posters and flyers for concerts, events, and promotions that need to grab attention and make a bold statement. Its unique style ensures your message stands out from the crowd.
• Merchandise Design: Drawn font can be used to create merchandise designs for clothing, accessories, and other products. Its edgy and rebellious aesthetic appeals to fans of heavy metal and alternative culture.
• Gaming and Esports Graphics: Drawn font can be used to create graphics for gaming and esports, conveying a sense of intensity and competition. Its bold and aggressive design complements the high-energy nature of these industries.
• Tattoo Design: The unique and intricate design of Drawn font makes it a popular choice for tattoo designs. Its bold and edgy style can be used to create custom tattoos that reflect the wearer's personality and interests.
• Web Design and Social Media Graphics: Drawn font can be used to add a touch of edge to web designs and social media graphics. Its bold and aggressive design ensures your message stands out in the crowded online space.