Slitscan Type Generator

Slitscan K
Slitscan K

Script Updated

In the previous version of the Slitscan script (below), the bottoms of all the letterforms were aligned and the coloring of the slices gradated from the outside to the inside. In this version of the script (above), the bottoms of the letterforms are not aligned, but use the font’s baseline position. This gives a better representation of the diversity of type designs. I have also randomized the coloring of the slices.

Slitscan K
Slitscan K Collection
Slitscan J Collection

I created an Illustrator script that types a letter (in this case, ‘J’ & ‘K’) using every font installed on a computer. It aligns all the letters and then cuts slices out of each letter based on width. The collections are the results of 18 computers that friends and I tried this on. They range from 97 to 6607 fonts.

If you’d like to try this on your computer:

Pre-requisites:

  1. Adobe Illustrator CS, CS2, or CS3. If you are using CS4, please down-save the files to CS3 before sending. In the event of any error, let me know exactly what happened and I can try to debug.
  2. Some patience (amount depends on size of font collection)
  3. Willingness to e-mail me the two files when you are done
  4. Acceptance that this may produce an error and not work for you the first time

How to use the Slitscan type generator (as verbosely as I can think) :

  1. Download the Slitscan zip file
  2. Unzip it. This will extract two files: a jpeg of what your output should look like, and a javascript file (.jsx) that Illustrator will use.
  3. Open Illustrator
  4. Go to the ‘File’ Menu and choose ‘Scripts’ >> ‘Other Scripts…’
  5. Navigate to the unzipped javascript file titled ‘Slitscan-v1_1.jsx’ and select it.
  6. Wait
  7. When an alert pops up telling you how many fonts Illustrator thinks you have, click ‘OK‘
  8. There will be two files that remain open in Illustrator and should look similar to the jpeg file. Look at them if you feel so inclined, but don’t touch! ;) If you are using CS4, please down-save the files to CS3 before sending!
  9. Close the files
  10. Navigate to your home folder or do a search for ‘Slitscan’
  11. There should be two files with the prefix ‘Slitscan-’ in your home folder
  12. If you can, zip or stuff them into one archive file.
  13. E-mail me the archive file. Please use ‘Slitscan’ as the subject line (this way I should see it if my e-mail program labels as spam).
  14. Wait again
  15. I run another set of scripts on this file which will get a final result.
  16. I will e-mail you the two files back so you can have them for posterity’s sake. You are free to use them however and wherever you like as well.
  17. Bask in the warm feeling that you are a vital component of this project

  • Added: 2006 Mar 26 @ 04:20
  • Updated: 2010 Jan 02 @ 17:45
  • Permalink

14 Responses to “Slitscan Type Generator”

  1. On April 23rd, 2006 at 02:34, Dave Knoph said:

    Hey, I was looking on your website and I think this project is amazing. I’d like to try this on my compy. I am a student at CCS and I was scheduled to meet with you guys from Cranbrook in Danielle Aubert’s class but sadly I got a flat tire. Anyway…this stuff is great, and I’d love to try it.

    Thanks,

    -D

  2. On April 23rd, 2006 at 08:24, Per said:

    Hi! I’d like to try this thing on my computer!
    Its funny that it creates kind of the same K every time…

  3. On May 19th, 2006 at 12:19, doctor scotland said:

    this looks very very cool – i’d like to try it please!

  4. On October 3rd, 2006 at 02:52, Jonathan said:

    Very cool.

    The gateway to my learning about scripting Adobe.

    Could you send the info please?

  5. On March 7th, 2007 at 23:53, jessica said:

    ausgezeichnet!
    & the animated use of it in Jumpers Bumpers was quite fabulous as well.
    Don’t know if you’re still handing the Slitscan Type script out, but if you are, may I play?

  6. On April 9th, 2007 at 13:24, ana said:

    Hi!
    very cool
    Id love to try it out, i want to experiment!

  7. On April 9th, 2007 at 16:29, JK said:

    I have added instructions and a link to the zip file above so that people may use this for themselves. Hopefully it will not kill anyone’s machine (shouldn’t), and I make no warranties that it won’t.

    I’m just sayin’.

  8. stimmelopolis blog » Blog Archive » luck pingback on April 18th, 2007 at 21:42
  9. On May 6th, 2007 at 08:39, hey said:

    Thats realy cool
    thanks for the instuctions

  10. On May 28th, 2007 at 12:46, katie said:

    pretty rad – though I’ve always had a soft spot for typography.

    an e-mail with my additions is on it’s way :)

    -k-

  11. JK’s daily photo project « atemporal siempre pingback on January 11th, 2008 at 06:59
  12. On August 13th, 2009 at 16:06, James said:

    Hey, i love this project and i was wondering, by doing the steps you mentioned, does this allow me to use this technique to create the fonts, or what? im sorta confused, cause it says email you the stuff and i don’t know what your sending back.

    Sorry, im not so bright. :(

  13. On January 31st, 2010 at 00:27, kevin said:

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This is an archived page. Comments are sealed. I can't take the criticism.

2006 Mar 26 @ 04:20
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2010 Jan 02 @ 17:45