Introduction to Python Programming for the Type Designer

Type designers have always used their own specialized home-made tools. In the sixteenth century it consisted of custom hewn gravers, punches and casting molds, today the type designer extends the software they use by creating new tools using the Python programming language.

With no requirement of prior programming experience, students in this workshop will learn the basics of the Python programming language by writing code to make illustrations and printed proofs of their type design projects using the Drawbot application, and will apply these fundamental skills to editing font data and automating tasks in RoboFont. Students who come to the workshop with some programming experience will be given the chance to expand upon these basic concepts.

Required Materials

• A Mac laptop running Mac OS 10.9 or newer
• Basic knowledge of the type design process using RoboFont

A workshop offered by Type@Cooper West, a collaboration between Letterform Archive and The Cooper Union Continuing Education Department, and held in the Monotype Classroom at Letterform Archive.