OpenType Fonts

Some OpenType fonts will contain additional elements such as ligatures and glyphs. In the example above using Feel Script, you can see the variations of the typeface, even though they are all the same weight. This was achieved in Illustrator's character palette. Select the "OPENTYPE" tab, and toggle the  buttons that say "Standard Ligatures", "Swash", etc. As you do this, you'll notice the different looks of your type. Give it a try; you may be surprised that you have different options.

Richard Huante Design & Illustration

Get Wacky

A few designer friends have asked me if they should get themselves a Wacom tablet. My answer is a resounding yes. I use the Intuos3 model, and it is not only great for digital drawing, but for design work in general. You'll find that using the pen tool in Illustrator or Photoshop becomes easier with a Wacom. I have not tried other brands such as Genius or Adesso, but if they are comparable in quality to a Wacom, I'd definitely consider getting one.

Once you get the hang of using one, which won't be long at all, you won't go back to using only a mouse again. So do yourself a favor and get yourself a digital graphics tablet. Beg, borrow, or steal if you have to. On second thought, disregard the previous sentence. Never resort to begging. :)

Richard Huante Design & Illustration