Notes from the workbench

Graffiti lettering, explained

Short, practical write-ups on the things that trip people up: file formats, licence wording, layering technique and what to do with an alphabet once you have installed it.

• OTF, TTF or WOFF: Which Graffiti Font File Do You Need?

  Three file extensions, one alphabet, and a lot of confusion. Here is what each format actually does.

• Reading a Font Licence Before You Print Merch

  A commercial licence is not a blank cheque. Here is what to check before your design reaches a print queue.

• Layering Graffiti Letters: Fill, Outline, Shadow and Glow

  One alphabet, four layers. The technique that turns typed letters into something that looks painted.

• Fifteen Uses for a Graffiti Font That Aren't a T-Shirt

  Street lettering earns its keep far beyond apparel. Fifteen places it works, and the styles that suit each.