Posted on 11:30 AM

1. Convert Ttf To Bitmap Font
2. Bitmap Font Maker

The Bitmap Font Generator is a free program to generate bitmap fonts from true type fonts. The bitmaps are generated in such a way as to leave as little unused space as possible. Position of the characters in the bitmap is not regular so you'll need the generated font.

1. Bitmap Font Generator - Documentation. Back to main page. How to interpret the values in the font descriptor file. The image to the right illustrates some of the values found in the font descriptor file. The two dotted lines shows the lineHeight, i.e. How far the cursor should be moved vertically when moving to the next line.
2. Anonymous Pro is based on an earlier font, Anonymous™ (2001), my TrueType version of Anonymous 9, a Macintosh bitmap font developed in the mid-’90s by Susan Lesch and David Lamkins. Anonymous Pro is distributed with the Open Font License (OFL). There are two versions: Anonymous Pro and Anonymous Pro Minus.
3. This particular bitmap font was generated using Codehead's Bitmap Font Generator. This approach has several advantages and disadvantages. It is relatively easy to implement and because bitmap fonts are pre-rasterized, they're quite efficient. However, it is not particularly flexible.
4. Bitmap Font Generator This program will allow you to generate bitmap fonts from TrueType fonts. The application generates both image files and character descriptions that can be read by a game for easy rendering of fonts. The program is freeware and open source, but a donation is greatly appreciated.

In this tutorial I will show you how to generate and import bitmap fonts in Unity3D with ShoeBox and GlyphDesigner.

UPDATE 07.07.2016: An Unity asset store plugin can convert your bitmap fonts for free: https://github.com/lite3/Unity-BitmapFontImporter
UPDATE 11.17.2015: Littera is an online tool. It works great and it’s free: http://kvazars.com/littera/
UPDATE: Unity 5.x, I updated the script but there is an issue with the space interline.

EDIT: GitHub repository

You can use your own custom font in your Unity games like this:

First of all we need to export a .xml file and a .png file.

You will also need this piece of code to generate a font compatible with Unity. I modified and found this C# script in the Unity forum.

Download and add this C# script in your Unity Assets folder: GitHub zip

The softwares

It exists several applications to export a bitmap font with a .xml file but in this tutorial we will use ShoeBox and GlyphDesigner:

Convert Ttf To Bitmap Font

• ShoeBox: Free, Adobe Air required
• GlyphDesigner: Shareware, Mac, Windows
• Littera: Free, Online
• bmGlyph: Shareware, Mac
• etc.

Export a bitmap font with ShoeBox

ShoeBox is a free Adobe Air based app for Windows and Mac OSX with game and ui related tools. Each tool uses a drag and drop or clipboard interaction for a quick workflow.

How to generate the required files to import your custom font with ShoeBox?

• Download and Install ShoeBox: http://renderhjs.net/shoebox/
• You can use my custom font in this .psd file: MyCustomFont.psd
• Watch this video bellow but export with the template: FNT-xml Starling. Yes! Starling! :). The BitmapImporterScript.cs script needs a .XML file format.

The video tutorial:

• Import the .xml and the .png files in your Unity Assets folder.

Follow the next step of the tutorial in the next chapter after this one.

Export a bitmap font with GlyphDesigner

Glyph Designer is a powerful bitmap font designer. Create beautiful designs using highly configurable effects, definable backgrounds and more. Make the most of your screen with smart zooming and full screen support. Target hundreds of devices on multiple platforms with support for over 15 frameworks out the box. Streamline localizations with GDCL.

How to generate the required files to import your custom font with GlyphDesigner?

Bitmap Font Maker

• Download and install GlyphDesigner for Mac or Windows
• Create your own custom bitmap font with all the glyphs you need
• Click on the Export button
• And select Export Type > .xml (BMFont XML)

• Click Save
• Import the .xml and the .png files in your Unity Assets folder.

Follow the next step of the tutorial in the next chapter.

Import and use the bitmap font in Unity

• Import the BitmapFontImporter.cs file in your Unity Assets folder.
• Then do a Right Click on the .xml file
• Click Generate Bitmap Font
• The Script should generate a .material and a .fontsettings file
• Now we use the font you just created in your scene
• Create an UI > Text game object in your scene
• Select the UI Text game object
• In the inspector go to the Text(Script) component and add the .fontsettings file in the Character >Font field
• Then add the .mat file in the Material field
• Never use the Font Size value in the component but use the Scale of the game object instead

Pixel fonts, also known as screen fonts or bitmap fonts, are fonts consisting of small pixels. Pixel fonts display the texts in simple blocks instead of elaborate curves as most regular fonts do. So the obvious advantage of pixel fonts over regular fonts is that texts using pixel fonts can still look crisp and clear in very small sizes. Pixel fonts are very popular over the Internet due to its clearness and crisp look, especially in websites that require text legibility in small sizes such as flash websites.

Because pixel fonts are usually designed to fit pixel by pixel with the computer screen, it will be best displayed at a specified size. Thyme Nu created by Michel Troy is a typical font family of pixel style. The family contains six fonts, and they are perfect for both small screen resolutions and outputs at larger sizes.

Thyme Nu by Michel Troy

To download free pixel fonts, you can take a look at our collection of pixel fonts. If you are looking for professional pixel fonts with good kerning, alternates, broad character support, have a look at pixel fonts at MyFonts.com. If you don’t want the hassle of downloading and installing fonts, but just want to use pixel fonts fonts online, you should check our text generator tool below.

Create text images with pixel fonts

You can use the following tool to generate text images based on your selection of colors, text effects and sizes using pixel fonts in seconds. You can then save the image, or use the EMBED button to get image links. If you want to modify the image further such as rotating, bending or blurring, you can use our image tools.