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Lettering
Posted: 28 Oct 2008, 09:21
by simondix
I read the previous post on markings. My problem is lettering. How do you get the lettering correct.
I have several aircraft missing on the VA fleet. I have Photoshop etc. I could re do the letters on the reg but how do I find out the correct style and size?
Re: Lettering
Posted: 28 Oct 2008, 09:48
by DaveB
Hi Simon..
3 Words mate.. Research, Research and more Research

Unless you have a clear shot of your subject in the exact area of the registration/wording, the only thing you can do is 'best guess' the actual size and then your real problems begin.. finding the correct font ;-)
ATB
DaveB :tab:
Re: Lettering
Posted: 28 Oct 2008, 11:22
by Quixoticish
If you can get a decent photo of the lettering or clip some lettering from a larger photograph in photoshop you can run it through WhatTheFont:
http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/
It works
some of the time depending on how good the source material is and will try and match the font for you. It isn't perfect and if the font doesn't exist it will best guess for you. At the very least it'll give you something you can use and then modify manually if needs be.
Re: Lettering
Posted: 28 Oct 2008, 22:46
by Motormouse
All you need to know about UK registration markings is here ---->
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP523.PDF
ttfn
Pete
Re: Lettering
Posted: 29 Oct 2008, 12:18
by simondix
If there is a paint already on say G-ABCD and I want to copy it and change the lettering to G-ABCE is there a way of detecting the font and size on the original paint?
And by the way thanks for the previous answers.
Re: Lettering
Posted: 29 Oct 2008, 12:24
by Garry Russell
Hi Simon
The registration letters were painted on and as such is not really a font
There are some you can use but they usually need modifying so you won't get an exact match to what you alread have
It is trick to match the lettering in FS correctly and a lot of paints are not correct in this respect
There is no easy answers I'm afraid, you have to modify.
I'll put up the fonts I used
Garry
Re: Lettering
Posted: 29 Oct 2008, 12:36
by Garry Russell
Modification is usually proprtions to make them look right
The military ones have ni hyphon and are lower case, but come out upper case
http://garryr.cbfsim.org/fonts.zip
Garry
Re: Lettering
Posted: 29 Oct 2008, 12:51
by simondix
Thanks for the quick reply.
Re: Lettering
Posted: 29 Oct 2008, 12:54
by Quixoticish
simondix wrote:If there is a paint already on say G-ABCD and I want to copy it and change the lettering to G-ABCE is there a way of detecting the font and size on the original paint?
And by the way thanks for the previous answers.
See my link above. If you grab a screenshot whatthefont may be able to help.