Creating a custom font from your handwriting and using it in GoodNotes can significantly enhance your note-taking experience. This document outlines a straightforward process for turning your handwriting into a digital font, allowing for more personalized and efficient digital note management.
Step 1: Preparing Your Handwriting Sample
To begin, you need a clear and consistent sample of your handwriting. Use a marker instead of a ballpoint pen to avoid thin, inconsistent strokes. Make sure to write within the designated areas on the template to avoid any cut-offs, especially with letters that have tails like ‘g’ or ‘y’. It’s important to use a scanner instead of a camera to capture the handwriting to ensure clarity and uniformity in your strokes.
Step 2: Creating the Font
Once you have a clear sample, the next step is to convert this handwriting into a font. For this, you can use online tools like Calligraphr. Here’s how to do it:
- Download a template from Calligraphr and print it out.
- Fill out the template with your handwriting using the marker.
- Scan the completed template back into your computer.
- Upload the scanned template to Calligraphr to convert your handwriting into a digital font.
Calligraphr allows you to adjust various aspects of the font such as spacing between letters and the boldness of the strokes. Once you are satisfied with the look, download the font file, typically in .ttf or .otf format.
Step 3: Installing the Font on Your Device
To use your new handwriting font in GoodNotes, you will need to install it on your iPad. This can be done using an app called iFont. Follow these steps:
- Install iFont from the App Store onto your iPad.
- Open iFont and follow the instructions to add your downloaded font to your device.
Once installed, the font will appear in the drop-down menu of fonts in GoodNotes, allowing you to start using it immediately.
Step 4: Using Your Font in GoodNotes
With your font installed, you can now start taking notes in GoodNotes using your own handwriting font. This feature is particularly useful for those who use Scribble, as it allows the iPad to convert your handwriting into text more seamlessly, even if your actual handwriting varies day by day.
Additional Tips for Enhancing Your Digital Notes
- Pens and Tools: Experiment with different pens in GoodNotes, such as the fountain pen or brush pen, which are pressure sensitive and can add a unique flair to your handwriting.
- Note Aesthetics: To make your notes more aesthetically pleasing, use the brush pen for headings and the ball or fountain pen for body text. This can help in organizing your notes and making important information stand out.
- Editing Tools: Utilize GoodNotes’ editing tools to resize and move text around after you have written it. This is particularly handy for making corrections or adjusting the layout of your notes without having to erase and rewrite.
- Screen Protectors: If writing on the glass screen is uncomfortable, consider using a matte screen protector to provide a more paper-like feel, which can help with writing endurance and accuracy.
- Color Coding and Highlighting: GoodNotes supports a variety of colors for both pens and highlighters. Use these tools to color-code your notes or highlight important sections without obscuring the text.
By following these steps and tips, you can create a custom font from your handwriting and use it effectively in GoodNotes, making your digital note-taking experience more personalized and efficient.