Creating Your Own Single Line Font
Pathhaus offers three routes to a custom single-line font: tracing from an existing TTF/OTF font, capturing your own handwriting, and building from scratch in the path editor. Each has strengths for different use cases.
SLF Tracer: convert any TTF/OTF to SLF
The SLF Tracer (Pro feature) takes any standard TTF or OTF font file and automatically extracts a single-line centerline from each glyph. The algorithm identifies the spine of each stroke by finding the midpoint between the inner and outer contours of the filled letterform. The result is an SLF font that preserves the original letterform's proportions and character. This is the fastest route to a custom SLF font and works well for most sans-serif and simple serif typefaces.
Handwriting Capture: digitize real handwriting
Handwriting Capture (coming in Phase 2) lets you write each letter on a printed template, photograph it, and have Pathhaus automatically convert the strokes to clean bezier paths. This produces the most authentic single-line handwriting fonts — because they are actual handwriting. The system handles baseline correction, stroke smoothing, and glyph spacing automatically. Ideal for creating personalized fonts from a client's handwriting.
Path editor: from scratch
For complete control, the Pathhaus path editor lets you draw each glyph as bezier paths from scratch. The editor supports node creation, handle adjustment, undo/redo history, and live preview in font context. This is the most time-intensive approach but gives the cleanest results for custom display fonts where every stroke is intentional.
Publishing to the marketplace
Once you've created a font (via any method), you can publish it to the Pathhaus Marketplace (Enterprise tier). Set your price, choose a license tier, write a description, and submit for review. Published fonts are accessible to all Pathhaus users who purchase or subscribe at the appropriate tier. You receive 80% of all sales revenue, paid out via Stripe.
Try it in Pathhaus Studio
Free to start — optimize and export your first font file in under 5 minutes.