How-to use Tracey

Capture a high-confidence scan

• Print the template at 100% scale and write one character per box.
• Use dark pens and keep the page flat to avoid warped strokes.
• Keep all four corner marks in frame and fully visible.
• Fill the camera frame so the whole page is visible.
• Use bright, even light so there are no hard shadows or glare.

Run the import flow

1. Download the template from the studio header and write your glyphs.
2. Upload your photo, scan, PDF, or TIFF from the studio and wait for processing.
3. Check the review list for glyphs flagged in orange/red.
4. Type directly in the preview area to test words and spacing.
5. Open a glyph to compare your source photo with the traced version, or double-click a preview glyph to repair it.
6. For small cleanup fixes, paint black or white over the imported mask and apply the retrace.
7. Set your font and creator name, then click Export.

Common issues

• If many cells are empty, the scan is likely too dark, too small, or too low contrast.
• If many edge-touching warnings appear, writing may be clipped or the page was skewed.
• Use mask repair for tiny gaps or specks. Tracey keeps the original imported mask separately, so Reset to import does not re-read a lower-quality photo crop.
• Retake or use a freeform sheet for badly clipped characters, alternates, or large shape changes.
• If export is blocked, fix the flagged glyphs or retake with the full page visible.

Install your exported font

1. On a Mac: double-click the OTF font file and click Install.
2. On Windows: right-click the OTF font file and choose Install.
3. In Word/PowerPoint and most desktop apps, restart the app after install.
4. In design tools, restart the app if the font does not appear right away.

If you changed the font name in the studio, use that name when selecting it in apps.

Quick links for common problems

• How to install on Windows
• How to install on Mac
• Font does not appear
• Replacing an installed font
• Font appears in some apps but not all
• External help pages

Which template to use

Primary sheets identify characters from printed labels. Freeform sheets are unlabelled, so Tracey opens an assignment review with OCR hints before they start a font or merge into the current font.

• Simple template: one 72-cell page for A-Z, a-z, numbers, and core punctuation.
• Advanced / Complete template: one PDF with the base page first, then accents and extra symbols.
• Freeform template: one 72-box blank sheet for redos, alternates, or extra glyphs; confirm Tracey's OCR hints before starting a font or merging.