Is there such a thing? I've done some searching and I can't find anything.
These are just prelim, brainstorm like ideas.
What would that look like, and why is it important?
A 3d font format would be parametric and allow inputs like bevel, embossing, etc. It could be several layered typefaces that do boolean operations on each other to achieve 3d effects. It obviously doesn't need to be exclusive to text; decorative patterns could be done.
Why?
Customization of 3d printed products, like jewelery, cups, etc.
3d displays like Magic Leap and Hololens.
Any thoughts?
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Even if this font format were 2D, like let's say Postscript with layers of vector and bitmap. That could allow the inclusion of height, normal, occlusion, displacement, specular, color, tiling texture etc. But for actual 3D modeled glyphs, I doubt PS or TT curves would be suitable. 3D PostScript is possible (not sure about TT curves) but I think it would be more sensible to use an existing 3D format with polys, splines and primitives, and more importantly, established 3D modeling software. Imagine struggling with a FontLab 3D font modeling system.
Mark: Would a TrueType extension be limited to TrueType curve tech or could any bitmap, polygon, spline format be used?
I think the reason we don't have this technology is that it's not needed right this very moment. When VR and AR become commonplace, when phones use the selfie-cam for creating reflective textures and other 3D magic stuff, then it'll be relevant. Which is really soon, I think. I've heard the argument of "just extrude it" but I think that type of thinking reveals a lack of imagination. Walk through a city and you'll see lots of real 3D lettering that you couldn't make with extrusion or special effects.
http://illostrophy.com/2013/03/01/parco-sign/
http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/2011/05/national-stationery-show
http://martincookstudio.co.uk/signs/hand-carved-house-sign-by-martin-cook
http://www.redcherrygift.com/2013/09/clay-sign-board.html
http://www.customwoodcarvings.com/gallery/gallery images/signs/inspirational signs/commercial1.png
A full 3D model of each glyph probably isn't totally necessary and possibly be too labor intensive for type designers. If you know how modern game engines work, you know you can make complex looking 3D objects by mapping a flat surface with height and displacement maps. It's pretty incredible what game designers can do with textures alone. If you're not familiar with displacement mapping, look into it. If you were to use displacement mapping on a flat letter and look at it on an angle, you would see what looks like a 3D shape, The above examples could all be rendered with displacement mapping on flat glyphs.
There is a limit to the viewing angle. You can't look at the letters "edge on" and expect it to look wonderful.
But it's hard for these things to get started. We still can't even get grayscale transparency. I think the people who decide of what goes into new font formats only look at how existing font designs can be adapted to it, rather than giving us the tools to create something that's never been done before.
I am almost finished with my 3d actions for illustrator. The actions are finished. Just need to get the marketing material finished. These are the same tools I used to make my font Versatile Bold. Versatile has 7 stackable layers.
https://creativemarket.com/Borgeslettering/2019973-Versatile-Bold
This is a sample showing the shadow on the right. The actions allow the shadow to be either left or right, 7 different cast shadows, outline and inside shadow.
It should be finished and available at creative market soon.
It needs a dedicated font designer to think through that, learn a method, and produce some good results, and yes, this will be a real need as AR & VR uses ramp up faster - which indeed they are doing.
My experience teaches me such a transition will, technically, not be completely smooth and it could actually be rather rough. Talking about fonts:
1) Whoever catches that wave soon enough will get very rich.
2) drawing fonts will go the way of digital drawing and 3d sculpting, it will all be done in thin air, with gloves or directly with gesture recognition. Font designers and app developers better be prepared.
This is what I foresee. In the scope of 10 years. However, progress tends to squeeze time in ever smaller portions. What took 10 years between 2000 and 2010 takes 5 now, what took 5 takes 2...
According to your theory, all musicians would be using theremins by now, which is not the case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8za_4g5zCOM
But I have doubts about designing type in 3D. While Illustration applications will be ahead of the curve, type design applications will likely lag decades behind due to the small number of users and small budgets. But if it's merely extending the desktop, that's OS level...I hope.
As for VR? Bah. Wearing VR gear is exhausting. I can't imagine it would make for a pleasant working environment. I'm sweaty enough without a helmet and gloves. Plus I need to be constantly grabbing a coffee cup. VR is good for certain things but not drawing or making typefaces. If AR glasses are truly like a crisp holographic overlay with normal weight glasses, I could work that way all day. And there's no reason you couldn't design in 3D with AR. Maybe better because you can use real world tools. Get right in there with a real pen to adjust points.