Filed under: Graphic Design, App Store
First Look: FontShuffle puts FontShop in your pocket
If, like me, you do a lot of your font shopping at FontShop, you're sure to love FontShuffle.
FontShuffle is like having a copy of the indispensable FontShop catalog right on your iPhone or iPod touch. I know my dog-eared copy from 2002 needs to be updated and/or retired: FontShuffle is a nifty, free replacement. It's ideal for situations where you know what look you want, but don't know what font to use.
FontShuffle lets you choose from six major classifications of type: sans serif, serif, slab serif, script, blackletter, and display. Tap one, and FontShuffle shows you six more sub-categories to choose from. Tap one of those, and you're presented with six selections from the FontShop catalog based on the look you selected.
If none of the fonts fit the bill, press "Shuffle" or simply shake the device to get six more fonts. Tapping a font lets you view a customizable string of text in that font, and even save a picture of the text to your device's camera roll. Rotating the screen displays a specimen.
Unfortunately, FontShuffle can be frustrating if you know what font you're looking for, as there's no search tool. You have to shuffle through page after page of fonts until it comes up in a random selection. Also, FontShuffle doesn't contain FontShop's entire catalog. They promise to add more fonts in upcoming versions.
FontShuffle is free, and available from the App Store. It's a must-have for any type geek or designer that needs a font reference handy.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stephen Coles said 4:16PM on 12-22-2008
Thanks for the props! Your complaints are valid and we're actively working on improvements in the browsing area.
> you're presented with six selections from the FontFont catalog
Just a note on the difference between FontFont and FontShop. FontShop is a retailer and FontFont is a foundry, our "house" brand or label. FontShuffle displays fonts from many different foundries offered at FontShop.com, not just FontFonts.
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Robert Palmer said 4:19PM on 12-22-2008
Thanks, Stephen for that clarification. I've edited the story.
Dave said 4:43PM on 12-22-2008
How bizarre, I was just reading about you earlier today Stephen!
For those of you looking for awesome photos of him, look no further than
http://new.myfonts.com/person/coles/stephen/
;)
Stephen Coles said 4:52PM on 12-22-2008
That is indeed a very professional mugshot. Egad, I need to update that bio. Here's something slightly more current.
Stephen Coles said 4:52PM on 12-22-2008
http://fontfeed.com/about/
Jash Sayani said 5:04PM on 12-22-2008
Would be even better if you could download them and use them as system fonts or do some rich text editing......
However, not a bad app for reference for artists...
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Jürgen Siebert said 2:12AM on 12-23-2008
No more reasons to be frustrated with FontShuffle: Version 1.1 (January 2009) will provide a font name search and 500+ more fonts. Have a look into our request plan: http://www.fontblog.de/doc/fshuffle_1.1_requests.pdf
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Lesson said 7:48PM on 12-22-2008
Thanks for information ;)
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Gretchen Fisher said 3:40AM on 12-23-2008
FontShuffle is not only a useful app: it's fun to write all holiday greetings in a dozen different festive typefaces.
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Mike said 6:49PM on 12-23-2008
I actually bout the FontShop FontBook a few years back. A nice chunk of change too. I'd gladly pay for a comparable app for the iphone. Would be nice if it didn't need internet access.
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