How to Import Illustrator Artwork into FontForge

Importing your vector designs from Adobe Illustrator directly into FontForge allows you to transform custom lettering and icons into functional, scalable font files. This guide details the essential preparation steps in Illustrator, the direct copy-and-paste method, the file-import workflow using SVG and EPS formats, and the necessary post-import adjustments required to maintain clean glyph outlines.

1. Prepare Your Artwork in Illustrator

Before transferring your shapes, you must prepare the vector paths to prevent rendering errors in FontForge:

  • Outline All Strokes: FontForge requires closed outlines. Select your artwork and go to Object > Path > Outline Stroke.
  • Combine Shapes: Open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) and click Unite to merge overlapping elements into a single compound path.
  • Remove Unnecessary Anchor Points: Go to Object > Path > Simplify to clean up excess points that can distort curves.
  • Scale to Em Size: A standard font size in FontForge is 1000 units (points) per Em. Create an artboard or bounding box that is 1000x1000 pt to scale your letters consistently before moving them.

2. Method 1: Direct Copy and Paste

You can paste vector outlines directly from Illustrator into the FontForge glyph canvas using the clipboard:

  1. In Illustrator, go to Preferences > File Handling & Clipboard (or Illustrator > Settings > File Handling & Clipboard on macOS).
  2. Under the Clipboard on Quit / Copy section, check AICB and select the Preserve Appearance and Paths option. Check SVG Code as well if available. Click OK.
  3. Select your vector path in Illustrator and press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (macOS).
  4. Open FontForge and double-click the target glyph slot to open the Glyph Outline Window.
  5. Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (macOS) to paste the shape directly into the window.

3. Method 2: Import via SVG or EPS File

If the clipboard method introduces distortion, importing a dedicated vector file is the most precise alternative:

  1. In Illustrator, select the glyph and go to File > Export > Export Selection (or File > Save As).
  2. Choose SVG or Illustrator EPS from the format dropdown.
  3. If saving as SVG, set the Styling to Presentation Attributes and ensure Responsive is unchecked. Click Export.
  4. In FontForge, double-click the destination glyph slot to open the outline editor.
  5. Go to File > Import.
  6. Set the Format dropdown to SVG (or EPS depending on your chosen format).
  7. Select your exported file and click Import.

4. Post-Import Adjustments in FontForge

Once the artwork is imported, finalize the paths within FontForge:

  • Correct Path Direction: Select the shape and go to Element > Correct Direction (Ctrl+Shift+D / Cmd+Shift+D) to ensure inner cutouts (counters) render correctly.
  • Remove Overlaps: Go to Element > Overlap > Remove Overlap (Ctrl+Shift+O / Cmd+Shift+O).
  • Snap to Pixel Grid: Go to Element > Round > To Int to ensure all nodes align to whole integer coordinates, which prevents rendering glitches in font rendering engines.
  • Set Side Bearings: Drag the left and right vertical boundary lines to adjust the spacing around your glyph.