Most people would agree that Google Fonts is one of the good things to have happened to the internet in the last 10 to 15 years.
Available to all, Google Fonts offers free to use open-source fonts that you can use in your design projects. Yes, free to use!
Under the font licenses granted you can use Google Fonts to create your own logo, to use on a website, to include in a 3D printed object, to design a poster, and indeed to design your own badge. This includes commercial usage, so if you are a business or if you plan to resell your merchandise, then Google Fonts presents an essential resource.
You don’t need to be an experienced designer to access and use the font library. The interface is designed in a very friendly and intuitive way, such that only a basic level of computer skill is required to make the most of the collection.
- Use the controls on the webpage to navigate and filter the font collection. Filters include the writing system and the language, but also aspects such as the “feeling” and “appearance” of the font.
- You will see “static” as well as “variable” fonts. The only difference is that Static fonts will have a separate font file to install for the different variations such as bold and italic, while variable fonts will be a single font file which can be logically adjusted to the styles of bold, italic, underline once you have installed it.
- Download the font that you like. This will likely be a compressed .zip file containing the font file with a .ttf file extension. For Windows users bring up the Fonts panel by searching for “Fonts” in the Windows Search bar. Then drag and drop or copy and paste the ttf font file into the Fonts folder.
- Once installed, the font will be available to all the applications installed on your computer. You can design away!
There are hundreds of fonts, the key is choosing one that is perfectly suited to your situation. Here are some examples and recommendations from our own members of staff.
The font I have chosen is called "Bilbo".
There have been many occasions where I've been looking for a nice, handwritten style font that is also easy to read. For example, when I am adding text over an image for a Birthday/celebration badge, I am often looking for something that looks nice, not just an MS Office type of font. But quite often the standard handwriting fonts are actually too fancy and hard to read. When they are overly fussy some letters become hard to distinguish, or they are very thin and get lost in the background.
This font is elegant, easy to read and a decent thickness. The only thing I don't particularly like is the '&' ampersand sign.
Also Bilbo doesn't have a "bold" option available, but I think it is weighty enough in its regular form and I can always use the Photoshop tool to make it a bit bolder if needed.
Verdict: great choice for button badges.
The font I have chosen is called "Bagel Fat One".
Mainly I chose this font because it is fun. It reminds me of the nineteen-sixties or seventies, a bit like Cooper Black which was used for the cover of The Doors album LA Woman, or one of the psychedelic fonts of the flower power era, or even of The Beatles Yellow Submarine.
I think the situations where I would actually use the font are quite specific. It is not the easiest font to read, so it would need to be used where the font-size can be quite large - maybe a really big retro looking embroidered patch. But now I am aware of the font, I am going to look out for the perfect opportunity to use it!
Verdict: great choice for embroidered badges.
The font I have chosen is called "Bagel Fat One".
Mainly I chose this font because it is fun. It reminds me of the nineteen-sixties or seventies, a bit like Cooper Black which was used for the cover of The Doors album LA Woman, or one of the psychedelic fonts of the flower power era, or even of The Beatles Yellow Submarine.
I think the situations where I would actually use the font are quite specific. It is not the easiest font to read, so it would need to be used where the font-size can be quite large - maybe a really big retro looking embroidered patch. But now I am aware of the font, I am going to look out for the perfect opportunity to use it!
Verdict: great choice for embroidered badges.
The font I have chosen is called "Roboto".
I really like the simplicity of this font, and how easy to read it is. At the same time the roundness of the letters soften it slightly, and make it friendly, just a little informal. I would use this font perhaps for a business that wanted to be approachable but professional, or someone offering a personal service but also wanting to be taken seriously.
Also the font is available in six different font weights, so I know that I can have the boldness set perfectly for any situation I need.
Verdict: great choice for enamel badges.
