CHALLENGE: Numbers and Symbols

Numbers and symbols often end up as an afterthought when it comes to fonts. So, let's turn the tables and make some 'fonts' that exclusively feature numbers and symbols.

You must include all of the following characters:

1234567890
!?@%&

You may optionally include other symbols, but any additional symbols must appear on the standard US keyboard layout. Do not include any letters though.

Canvas Size - Unrestricted.
Colours - Min 4.
Transparency - Optional.
Animation - Optional.

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CHALLENGE RULES

• Participants have until this upcoming Sunday at midnight (12AM Pacific) to submit their entry (strict). Don't forget to check the 'Submit to weekly challenge' checkbox.
• Only new pixels allowed.
• Open to all members.
• Posting WIPs in this thread or in new threads in the WIP section is highly encouraged, but ONLY SUBMIT YOUR FINAL ART.

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CHALLENGE JUDGING

• Every Sunday at midnight (12AM Pacific) the previous week's entries are judged.
• Every week a new voting poll will be posted for previous week's entries.
• Winner announced the following week.

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CHALLENGE PRIZES/GOODIES

• Top three finishers will receive an award displayed in your PJ gallery profile for all to see and envy.
• Top finisher gets to call the following week's challenge...sweet.
• 'Participation' ribbons will be given for all who enter.
• No matter what happens you get challenged :)

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CHALLENGE VOTING

Vote now for your favorite pixelart in this week's challenge!

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CHALLENGE AWARDS

The Numbers and Symbols pixel art challenge is complete and we have three new champions. This week's challenge awards go to the following pieces:



Thanks so much to all who took the time to vote and participate in the challenge!

Definitely probably not the direction I'll go in, just something I was messing with in the last few minutes to see how small I could make these special characters.

I was trying for 3x4 pixels each, uniform size, and it was working out fairly well until I got to the @ and &. Also the 8 which I haven't really worked on yet, but I like how the 2 was coming out. It looks a little blurry though, but looks like a 2 to me.

In the bottom right is 4x5 version of &. Since it's originally based on the latin word for and, "et", I combined the E and T the same was it was done here- link

But yeah, I think I'll be making something much more stylized and not just a super optimized tiny font.

How strict is the no letters rule?
Can I use letters in the piece if it's not part of the main font in focus?
for example, a 5 pixel high font for letters, and a 20 pixel high font for the characters asked for in the challenge, or should I just use binary to type the message I want?

Cannot resist a typographic challenge.
Keeping it simple and slanted.



(update; will refine)

Edited by Mrmo Tarius - 12 December 2011 at 2:08pm

Here's what I got, not sure if it's worth to continue tho...




Edited by Jinn - 12 December 2011 at 11:33am

Only if you wanna win! ;)

Looks like you guys got your work cut out for ya, if Jinn has anything to say about it.

Definitely prefer this one. It's a lot cleaner than the other style you made.

Some more :)



Critics?

Yeah,I'm going to work at a larger scale to put in more detail.

P.S.
What is up with your formatting?

Edited by WolfKit - 13 December 2011 at 10:29am

Originally posted by bem

@WolfKit: <span id="result_" ="" lang="en"><span ="hps">Thank you</span> <span ="hps">for your feedback</span> <span ="hps">...</span> <span ="hps">And so</span> <span ="hps">I think</span> <span ="hps">that this</span> <span ="hps">challenge</span> <span ="hps">requires more</span> <span ="hps">effort and</span> <span ="hps">ingenuity,</span> <span ="hps">so I need</span> <span ="hps">to work on this</span> <span ="hps">further:</span><span ="">)</span></span>

I was talking about all this.

This is my idea; do yahs think it's worth continuing? Doubt I'll place but anyway:

I expected so little creativity this week that I'm amazed by all WIPs so far 

@ Jinn: I'd say shorten the leg of the 4 (or heighten the top, or both) as the top part of a 4 is usually larger, as seen in this sentence. Also, because the shading of 8 moves the bottom of the hair into the background, it loses the crisp outline of being an 8, so I'd say brighten the bottom of the hair a little.
But that's just me reaching for critiques 'cause you asked for them. Excellent piece, I wouldn't have thought of that for this challenge.

Jinn, that is genius 

My wip:

Edited by Chibiwing - 16 December 2011 at 5:24am

Hello, I am new to this site and I have read about numbers challenge. I made a picture - my very first pixelart attempt, by the way. Then I read challenge post and some replies again and realized that it has to be font, while I created some quasi-art-thingy with numbers on it. Grrr. I hope you don't mind if I post that in this forum anyway, because I killed two hours in Grafx2 with it, plus I am interested in your opinion too. I am not sure myself if the picture is likable or absolutely c*ap. Thanks

Gah, I suck at numbers :p
I probably won't have the time to even participate anyway



~5mns spent waiting for the bus :p
Made with TinyPixels on iPhone

Edited by Mhyre - 17 December 2011 at 8:53am

I think that's great :) I like the red and white one best though. It's cleaner and the style is very consistent. A bit of anti aliasing between the red and white would be a good idea imo.

Thanks a lot for feedback :) I am quite surprised that you like the red-white font, it was just base for the other ones.

I'm in with this challenge,



only problem, have to make this in kind of demoscene 3d style now and only 10h left


Edited by [thUg] - 18 December 2011 at 1:56pm

ok, seems quite dead for me, 5h and only 1,5 made..

I think you are right Shamocore, I was crazy to think I can do this in time.
I'm gonna find something else to finish these fonts, I post my last version of this anyway, my original idea was to make a different material for each one.