Katakana

GeoMal · 23-02-2010, 11:06:02 AM

Is anyone proficient in Japanese katakana? I need to have one word: カッコイイ (apparently meaning cool!) set in a particular typeface.

The problem is that the typeface is quite stylised, and so I cannot tell if I am selecting the correct glyphs, and I do not seem to be able to change the font for the word (using AI CS4 and Fireworks CS4), only select the glyphs from scratch. The image below show where I am so far (but sure some of them are wrong, particularly the last 3). The top is the original, the bottom the stylised font.

retired_member12 · 23-02-2010, 11:11:34 AM

Edwin perhaps might be able to help.

Edwin · 23-02-2010, 11:27:22 AM

I'm afraid I don't have any decent paint packages on my machine, as I gave up art at about 5 years old. However, the top logo has the right text in it, the bottom one doesn't.

In case you're able to select and cut and paste them one by one from somewhere (e.g. a table of Japanese characters), the 5 characters should be as follows:
ka
little-tsu
ko
i
i

BTW, there are about 2x as many results for "かっこいい" (the Hiragana of "kakkoii") as there are for "カッコイイ" (Katakana version) in Google Japan, so the latter is somewhat less used.

bensd · 23-02-2010, 11:29:56 AM

Have you asked Scott? Some of his websites provide translations for tattoos so might be able to help.

GeoMal · 23-02-2010, 11:46:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwin

I'm afraid I don't have any decent paint packages on my machine, as I gave up art at about 5 years old. However, the top logo has the right text in it, the bottom one doesn't.

In case you're able to select and cut and paste them one by one from somewhere (e.g. a table of Japanese characters), the 5 characters should be as follows:
ka
little-tsu
ko
i
i

BTW, there are about 2x as many results for "かっこいい" (the Hiragana of "kakkoii") as there are for "カッコイイ" (Katakana version) in Google Japan, so the latter is somewhat less used.

Many thanks for the help Edwin, much appreciated. It is part of a logo, and so is really only being used for styling so not so concerned about popularity, it is for an english site (anyone guess? recognise the W above?).

I can select individual characters, but only by their shape, or by Unicode, but the Unicode does not seem to match up. It is a free font called Donut Shop (last on the right GAU+�F�t�H��g)

The choice I have is:

Do any appear to be the characters you list above, could I ask?

GeoMal · 23-02-2010, 11:48:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bensd

Have you asked Scott? Some of his websites provide translations for tattoos so might be able to help.

Thanks for the suggestion, I did look at Scott's site, but he currently only offers names in Katakana, not words or phrases.

TinkyWinky · 23-02-2010, 12:18:14 PM

Agree with Edwin - 3rd letter 'Ko' correct top, incorrect bottom example.

I think it looks like 3rd line from bottom 6th Character... but could be wrong as stylising a bit odd.

Is there another set of characters ordered that comes with the font?

When I learned, it was....

A I U E O
Ka Ki Ku Ke Ko
Ta Chi Tsu Te To....

etc

TW

Edwin · 23-02-2010, 12:31:55 PM

The little-tsu character is in the 5th line, 3rd character from the right (just to the left of the "-" character)

Having said that, it's a frankly terrible font if you need it to actually be READABLE by a Japanese speaker. I don't think the person who made it cared at all about legibility, it's supposed to be "cool" but in fact it just looks weird (if you're used to Japanese typography)

If that doesn't matter for your purpose, no problem of course!

GeoMal · 23-02-2010, 12:37:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinkyWinky

Agree with Edwin - 3rd letter 'Ko' correct top, incorrect bottom example.

I think it looks like 3rd line from bottom 6th Character... but could be wrong as stylising a bit odd.

Is there another set of characters ordered that comes with the font?

When I learned, it was....

A I U E O
Ka Ki Ku Ke Ko
Ta Chi Tsu Te To....

etc

TW

Thanks, for your help and Edwin's.

Think I have it, after looking at the table above, and Edwins Ka Tsu Ko I I on a chart of the 45 Katakana symbols, with a conversion table from the font maker (which made no sense until your posts as it just had 45 characters with english letters), I came up with the following 2.

Could you look again, any good?

GeoMal · 23-02-2010, 12:41:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwin

The little-tsu character is in the 5th line, 3rd character from the right (just to the left of the "-" character)

Having said that, it's a frankly terrible font if you need it to actually be READABLE by a Japanese speaker. I don't think the person who made it cared at all about legibility, it's supposed to be "cool" but in fact it just looks weird (if you're used to Japanese typography)

If that doesn't matter for your purpose, no problem of course!

Thanks again. It doesn't really matter if it is a bad font for a Japanese speaker, but it would be nice if it was legible.

Does the top font above (the slightly geometric one) look any better?

I once spent a week workinh in Tokyo, loved every minute of it, wish I had more time there.

23-02-2010, 11:06:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
GeoMal Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 420 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 13)	Katakana Is anyone proficient in Japanese katakana? I need to have one word: カッコイイ (apparently meaning cool!) set in a particular typeface. The problem is that the typeface is quite stylised, and so I cannot tell if I am selecting the correct glyphs, and I do not seem to be able to change the font for the word (using AI CS4 and Fireworks CS4), only select the glyphs from scratch. The image below show where I am so far (but sure some of them are wrong, particularly the last 3). The top is the original, the bottom the stylised font. __________________ mobile phone insurance \| iphone insurance

23-02-2010, 11:27:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Edwin Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 3,876 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 46)	I'm afraid I don't have any decent paint packages on my machine, as I gave up art at about 5 years old. However, the top logo has the right text in it, the bottom one doesn't. In case you're able to select and cut and paste them one by one from somewhere (e.g. a table of Japanese characters), the 5 characters should be as follows: ka little-tsu ko i i BTW, there are about 2x as many results for "かっこいい" (the Hiragana of "kakkoii") as there are for "カッコイイ" (Katakana version) in Google Japan, so the latter is somewhat less used. __________________ Memorable Domains Ltd - Over 7,000 descriptive, generic .co.uk domains for sale Please note: All sale prices over a week old are automatically invalid. No exceptions. Thanks!

23-02-2010, 12:18:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
TinkyWinky Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 623 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 27)	Agree with Edwin - 3rd letter 'Ko' correct top, incorrect bottom example. I think it looks like 3rd line from bottom 6th Character... but could be wrong as stylising a bit odd. Is there another set of characters ordered that comes with the font? When I learned, it was.... A I U E O Ka Ki Ku Ke Ko Ta Chi Tsu Te To.... etc TW __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lifestyle Magazine

23-02-2010, 12:31:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Edwin Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 3,876 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 46)	The little-tsu character is in the 5th line, 3rd character from the right (just to the left of the "-" character) Having said that, it's a frankly terrible font if you need it to actually be READABLE by a Japanese speaker. I don't think the person who made it cared at all about legibility, it's supposed to be "cool" but in fact it just looks weird (if you're used to Japanese typography) If that doesn't matter for your purpose, no problem of course! __________________ Memorable Domains Ltd - Over 7,000 descriptive, generic .co.uk domains for sale Please note: All sale prices over a week old are automatically invalid. No exceptions. Thanks!

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23-02-2010, 11:11:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
retired_member12 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,510 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (0% / 0)	Edwin perhaps might be able to help.

23-02-2010, 11:29:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
bensd Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 3,955 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 96)	Have you asked Scott? Some of his websites provide translations for tattoos so might be able to help.