Live data from Hacker News

Realistic computer-generated handwriting

calligrapher.ai

41–50 of 247 posts

Re: Realistic computer-generated handwriting

#43

This is perfect for those ransom letters I send out. I no longer need to search around for newspapers and am going to save a fortune on sticky tape!

So now I just need to go ask this startup to see their logs. I'll get your IP address in no time. Maybe I'll need a warrant. But I'm sure these guys will just be very nice and send me their logs on an ongoing basis.

Bad (or good) news, it's open source: https://github.com/sjvasquez/handwriting-synthesis

Re: Realistic computer-generated handwriting

#47
I think a lot about how the written English language has been altered by technology. Latin majuscule letterforms were designed, AFAICT, to be easy to chisel into stone. Miniscule letterforms were later invented because they were faster to write, enabling monks to copy manuscripts more quickly. Printing press manufacturers saved money by getting rid of letters that could be replaced by combining others (the thorn), alternative letterforms (long S), and rejecting ligatures. Later, both typewriters/teletypes and low-resolution early computer displays would force English letterforms to be further simplified.

To tell the truth, mostly I'm just envious of all the beautiful calligraphic scripts that are standard in other languages, whereas with English it seems we're stuck with sterile Helvetica clones. Maybe someday we can re-beautify everyday English.

Re: Realistic computer-generated handwriting

#49

I've had a project idea similar to this in the backlog for years: personalized signature generator that can be used to deal with dinosaurs that still want printed, scanned and signed documents. Basically I want to take a pdf, turn it into fake scan image (add noise, some inkjet smear lines, random skew etc procedurally), then generate signature image to paste over that. Zero dead trees and screaming at printers invol…

I scanned my signature at high resolution from blank white paper, cleaned it up a little with Paint.net, and made the white areas transparent. Pasting that into documents has saved me a lot of hassle.

Legally I'm pretty sure you could also just draw an X on there and you'd be fine.

Re: Realistic computer-generated handwriting

#50

Non-english alphabets unreadable even with maximum legibility setting.

I have the feeling that the amount of programmers whose minimum acceptable standard for code is on the level of "garbage in, garbage out" is on the rise. I condemn this development, that's a lack of role models who can transmit the values of culture and discipline.

If I had written that software, I would have made an effort to support the complete Latin script, or at the very least shown an error or a warning for unsupported letters.

Post reply on HN