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Calligraphy Software for PC: 7 Best in 2024
Unique custom fonts and beautiful designs suitable for calligraphy
10 min. read
Updated onJanuary 8, 2024
updated onJanuary 8, 2024
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Key notes
Calligraphy is a visual art that refers to the execution of lettering with a brush, or other writing instruments.
Now let us shift the point of interest towards the digital era and yes, it is possible to practice calligraphy on your PC.
There are three types of calligraphy: Western, Eastern, and Arabic, each reflecting the language and handwriting of a specific region of the globe.
Unlike the conventional form of writing, digital calligraphy requires no special pens, inks, or brushes. However, it does require quality software that comes with various brush presets.
One might ask why bother with digitalizing calligraphy or creating calligraphic fonts when there are already so many designs available to choose from.
As in all other areas, it is important to find your own voice or in this case your own writing style in order to make your work stand out from the plethora of similar services available on the market.
If so, take a look at our selection below, compare and explore the different capacities that each software has to offer and become an expert at digital calligraphy.
What is the best software for calligraphy?
Adobe Illustrator– Vector-based structure
When it comes to the state of the art of illustration,Adobe Illustratoris the best software that money can buy.
The graphics software is used by millions of designers and artists to create anything from mobile graphics to book illustrations and much more.
One of its distinguishing features is its vector-based structure which means you will never have to deal with resolution issues. Your calligraphy can be easily scaled larger or smaller while preserving intact quality.
Besides, the Image Trace feature can quickly scan your calligraphic fonts and transform them into vectors. The Illustrator also boasts a user-friendly brush widely appreciated for its accurate results.
The tools included in Illustrator’s suite enable you to find a font style that fits your work or turn to other graphic designers for calligraphic design inspiration.
You can even import your favorites by choosing from over 17,000 high-quality fonts with Adobe Fonts or sync with Adobe Stock and use it as a basis for custom fonts.
With Adobe Illustrator you can make your own custom font design based on handwriting or serif or sans serif fonts.
Not only that, but you can also create custom letterforms that fit your unique layout and design.
Let’s quickly go through itskey features:
Adobe Illustrator is a paid service, but you can try it out for free for 7 days. You can integrate it within the Creative Cloud if you use other Adobe products.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop– Unique designs
Adobe Photoshopis the most popular graphics software for professionals and there are good reasons for that.
It’s the pinnacle when it comes to calligraphy work thanks to its numerous brushes and special effects, not to mention the fact that it gives you complete control over the lettering since you can edit your graphics pixel-by-pixel.
In calligraphy, each letter is carefully thought out according to the artist’s vision.
This leads to a wide variety of styles and Photoshop brushes cover them all: from spray paint or ink wash effect, precise linework shading with pencil, ink, and charcoal brushes, and watercolor brushes to splatter effects.
You can perfect your calligraphy brushstrokes with thousands of preset high-quality Photoshop brush sets or create your unique, custom drawing brushes and sync them with Creative Cloud libraries.
You can create unique calligraphy designs by playing around with effects and color options.
Users can also create custom brushes or use one from the comprehensive brush preset collection.
Let’s quickly go through itskey features:
Adobe Photoshop is a subscription-based service that is integrated into the Creative Cloud. It has a 7-day free trial.
Adobe Photoshop
Graphic Design Studio– Full artistic color palette
Graphic Design Studiois a powerful vector drawing tool that enables you to sketch out your design or import a vector graphic in SVG format to add your own creative touch.
When it comes to calligraphy, the tool is suitable for both professionals and beginners who can use pre-designed graphics without the hassle of starting from scratch.
With a full artistic color palette, easy-to-use pen and pencil, and tools that allow you to control size, shape, text, lines, and layers, you can start creating unique and stunning lettering designs with a creative edge in no time.
Graphic Design Studio gives you a plethora of inspiring tools, including over 2 000 pre-designed vector graphics and images.
The tool lets you also create your own presets and add them to the Component Library, so you can reuse them in the future.
It comes with full layering support, so you can tweak and change up your lettering without disturbing other parts of your design.
Let’s quickly go through itskey features:
Graphic Design Studio is a paid product, so if you want to use you will have to purchase a license.
Graphic Design Studio
Caligrafile– Curated archive of 500+ supplies
Caligrafileis not a simple calligraphy tool because it includes diverse word lettering and editing tools for professional writers or hobbyists.
You can start with this tool if you need an integrated platform to find and use multiple fonts or calligraphy tools.
More exactly, this platform offers an archive with valuable lettering supplies, magazines, or even physical pens and nibs.
It’s possible to employ this tool for seamless integrations with productivity or email tools, such as Office 365, Google Workspace, or Slack.
Besides this, you’re not limited only to lettering or font software as the platform offers design tools, practice sheets, pad and brushes & mockups.
It is worth mentioning that you have customizable tags and labels to create a personalized system and set tags to your documents or files.
Let’s quickly go through itskey features:
⇒GetCaligrafile
FontLab 8– Improved font curves and coloring
FontLab 8 is a popular font editor with professional and detail-oriented tools for creative and colorful fonts.
This typeface solution is tailored for professionals and artists of all levels for creating mind-blowing lettering projects.
It has multiple standout capabilities that can turn any font designs into convincing artworks or marketing products.
For example, you have professional Bezier drawing assets for creating fluid letterforms and font types precisley.
Other worth mentioning features for this calligraphy solution are the drafting sketchboard, font variations, or OpenType functions like alternates or substitutions.
Let’s quickly go through itskey features:
⇒GetFontLab 8
Calligraphr– Simple user interface
Calligraphris a popular app that allows you to transform your calligraphy into fully functional vector-based fonts with genuine custom designs.
Creating your own calligraphic artwork has never been easier thanks to the pens and pencils as well as the color, line thickness, and transparency of each tool boasted by this software.
The best part is that you can even modify characters after scanning thanks to the internal image editor.
You can create standard font files (TFF or OTFF formats) which can be easily editable and included in other font or graphical editing software.
Caligraphr also includes character randomization which is an essential solution when you want to simulate genuine handwriting.
This calligraphy tool supports multiple languages, so you can easily access and edit all sorts of characters.
Let’s quickly go through itskey features:
Calligraphr has a free as well as a paid version. The free version lets you freely create and design calligraphy, but it does have some limitations on the number of fonts you can make at the same time.
⇒Get Calligraphr
Inkscape Calligraphy– Custom pen degrees
Inkscapeis definitely a powerful contender in the race for the best calligraphy tool thanks to some nifty features like the undo command which would not be possible with a traditional pen and ink.
Thanks to its flexibility, the tool enables both advanced and beginner users to design intricate calligraphy. Plus, Inkscape is able to utilize the pressure and tilt sensitivity of a tablet pen.
You can take full control of the look of your design with width and thinning settings, so your calligraphy looks exactly as you envisioned.
Inkscape also gives you the possibility to fully control the angle and fixation of your pen, with custom pen degrees, from 0 to 90 or -90.
Let’s quickly go through itskey features:
You can take full control of the look of your design with width and thinning settings, so your calligraphy looks exactly as you envisioned.
Inkscape also gives you the possibility to fully control the angle and fixation of your pen, with custom pen degrees, from 0 to 90 or -90.
⇒Get Inkscape
By emulating the look of handwriting, calligraphy fonts are more artistic than the average font.
If you decide to create your own, you have even better chances to produce an eye-catching design that is sure to impress the right audience for your project.
So why not try your hand at digital calligraphy with the help of a specialized tool? Let us know how that worked for you in the comments section below.
More about the topics:design software,Graphics Software
Vlad Turiceanu
Windows Editor
Passionate about technology,Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world.
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, with a complete expertise in touch-based devices, he is constantly keeping an eye out for the latest and greatest!
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Vlad Turiceanu
Windows Editor
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, he’s a Windows 11 Privacy & Security expert.
