The difference between fonts and alphabets can be explained by describing the difference in the type of each file. Fonts (.ttf or .otf) are the same type of font file that already exists on your computer such as Times New Roman, Arial, etc. These fonts will be available for use within any system program that supports them, such as Microsoft Word, desktop publishing programs, and others.
An alphabet is in full-color and is made up of individual image files (.png). These image files can be imported, viewed, printed, and changed in a graphics editing software such as PhotoShop. You can download the .zip files of the alphabets which when unzipped will give you a folder with all of the individual graphics.
Alphabets
- Alphabets are full color.
- Use alphabets in nearly any program on your computer to add an colorful word or words to your project. You don't need advanced programs like PhotoShop.
- Use alphabets to add an image to school projects, letters, posters, photos or anything you can think of.
- A high resolution alphabet file is 300 dpi (dots per inch). That is a high resolution image so when you print it, it does not look pixelated.
- Alphabet images should not be resized much. You can stretch them and make them bigger but the more you do, the more pixelated they become. A small amount of stretching will not result in noticeable pixelization.
- You can always size an alphabet down without distortion.
- When you buy an alphabet from LD, you can download the whole set at once (usually around 78 images unless you purchased an international alphabet) or you can choose to type words as you need them using the online Use Alphabet Tool.
- If you do not use the online Use Alphabet Tool, you will have to manually arrange words in whatever program you are placing the letters in since an alphabet is made up of individually graphic images representing each letter.
Fonts
- Fonts are one color (whatever color you choose in your program)
- Fonts have unlimited ability to size up. Whether you are making a large scale sign or typing very small, a font will not distort as it changes sizes.
- Fonts must be installed on your computer to work.
- Fonts will work in any program you can type in on your computer.
- While you can see a font in any typing program on your computer, you can't assure that people on other computers will see it. For example, if you type in a unique font in an email client and send it to a person who does not have that font installed, a substitute font will be used on their end to see the email.
