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EnglishHow Ligatures Work in Calligraphr Fonts
Updated
Ligatures in Calligraphr let a specific letter combination—like "th" or "fi"—automatically render as a single connected glyph instead of two separate characters. You use them when your handwriting naturally joins certain letters and you want the font to preserve that connection instead of forcing a visible break between them. Calligraphr covers this in its own tutorial, "How to include ligatures in a font," alongside its first-font and randomized-font tutorials.
What a ligature actually does
A ligature is a substitution rule baked into the font: when the text engine sees a defined sequence of characters, it swaps in the alternate glyph you drew for that sequence.
The practical effect:
- Without a ligature, typing "th" places your "t" glyph next to your "h" glyph. If your real handwriting flows from one into the other, the font will look disconnected or show an awkward gap.
- With a ligature, typing "th" triggers the font to use your "th" glyph instead—one shape, one continuous stroke.
This matters most for cursive and calligraphic styles, where letters are designed to connect. It matters less for print-style handwriting, where letters are meant to stand apart.
How to add ligatures in Calligraphr
The workflow follows the same template-and-upload pattern as a normal font, with one extra step: you draw the combined form.
- Generate your template in the Calligraphr app, including the individual characters you want.
- Add the ligature slots. You need a place in the template for each letter combination you want to connect—for example, a slot for "th," another for "fi." The ligature tutorial walks through how these are set up in the template.
- Draw the combined glyph. In each ligature slot, draw the two (or more) letters as one connected shape, matching the stroke weight and slant of your individual letters.
- Upload the filled template back to Calligraphr and build the font.
- Test it. Type the letter combination in a text field and confirm the connected glyph appears instead of the two separate letters.
The key point: the ligature glyph is a replacement, so it has to visually match the letters it replaces. If your "th" ligature is drawn at a different height or angle than your standalone "t" and "h," the substitution will look like a mistake rather than a natural join.
Deciding whether you need them
| Situation | Ligatures worth it? |
|---|---|
| Cursive or connected calligraphy | Yes—they're what make the font read as genuinely handwritten |
| Print-style, separated letters | Usually no—letters aren't meant to touch |
| A few problem pairs (e.g. "fi," "fl," "th") | Yes, target just those pairs |
| Full alphabet of combinations | Only if you have the time; each one is drawn by hand |
A common approach is to start with the pairs that look worst without them. In many handwriting styles that's "fi," "fl," and "th," because the strokes naturally collide or leave a gap. You don't have to ligature every possible combination—just the ones your writing actually joins.
Common snags
- Mismatched weight or slant. The ligature stands out as different from surrounding text. Redraw it to match.
- Missing the combination in the template. If the slot wasn't included, the font has nothing to substitute and the two letters render separately.
- Expecting ligatures to fix spacing. Ligatures replace glyphs; they don't adjust kerning between unrelated letters. Those are separate concerns.
If you're building a cursive font, ligatures are usually the difference between a font that looks like your handwriting and one that looks like your letters placed side by side. Start with the pairs you actually connect, draw them to match, and test as you go.