How to Convert Computer Fonts for use with PSP

[Demonchild]

Here's a little tutorial that I wrote from messing around with stuff. It's pretty simple, and noob-friendly as long as you don't mess up anything

This has been tested with 5.00 M33. Fonts are universal... I think

Things Needed

-A working PSP that can run homebrew (Get eLoader if you use a Slim)
-A .tff or .tiff font
-Font Hacker
-Windows Atmosphere (at lack of a better word. Font Hacker is designed to work in Windows)

Installing FontHacker

Fonthacker is supplied as a standalone package. There is no need for install. Once you download Fonthacker, just extract to a folder of your choice.

Obtaining your font

If you don't know how to create fonts, or don't know where to find a couple, you can go to dafont.com and pick one some that were created by other users. Please note whichever one you take, how is it to be used. Once you pick your font, download it and save it to a place you can find it later.

Preparing your font for use

To prepare a font for use, it just takes a few minutes messing with the options of FontHacker in order to get your font ready. Launch FontHacker.

This is the screen that you get upon launching FontHacker. For the meanwhile, ignore everything. Now to start from the top. (Literally)

In the 'Firmware Version' drop down box, select 2.60. For 'Disk Drive' select the drive belonging to your PSP. You don't have to do this now if your PSP isn't connected to your computer. You can do that after you prep your font.

Once you do that, where it says 'Typeface', there is a button with '....' next to it. Click on it. An Open dialog will come up and ask you to locate a Trutype font. Find the .tiff, or .tff font that you want to use on your PSP.

When Fonthacker loads your font, you will get to customize three settings that make up the font: Typeface shape, Shadow parameters, and Shadow position.

Typeface Shape

For Typeface Shape, its basically messing around with the character's shape and size. If you look closely, the window is broken down into 2 sections. The first half of the window (with the blue shaded area, and the darker 'M', and a red/yellow shaded area with a lighter 'M') Your goal is to shape your font, so that it fits within the two blue lines. The two blue lines defines the size of the font that the PSP displays. Anything above or below these lines will be cut off.

To resize your font, click and drag the darker M up and down. Once you get that handled, you have to adjust the whitespace at the end of the character to give each character enough spacing. To do that, drag the lighter M left and right. The rule of thumb here is to move it as closely left as possible to get all characters fairly spaced together like the text you're reading. You should only move it right if you want to space out the characters where the typeface would cause characters to overlap.

Shadow Parameters

This controls how crisp, and how dark the shadow behind the characters will appear. There are two options for this - shadow blur, and contrast. On the left side, there is a slider. You can either drag your mouse up and down. Moving more up to make it more blurry, and down to make it crisp. The same applies for the other slider on the right side. Instead this time, going up makes the shadow darker, and moving down makes its lighter. Even though these options can be made to your liking, you can always try to keep the blur and contrast ratio together to make your font look better.

Shadow Position

This option speaks for yourself. The shadow is fixed on a square axis (?) in which you can move around the character. Where you move it is up to you. Whatever floats your boat.

Compiling the font

To compile the font and add it to your library, click the Add Font button. Name your font anything. Once you do, the font will be added to your library, and a preview pic will appear. This will give you a rough preview of how your finished font should look like. One thing to note is that the more letters that appear in the preview, the smaller your font will be, and the more characters that are likely to appear on your PSP.

Flashing to PSP

Once content, you can now flash your font to your PSP. There is no need to backup your current font as it will be backed up prior to the flash. If you haven't already, connect your PSP to USB Mode, and make sure it is reading from the memory stick. When connected, go back to FontHacker, and set the Disk Drive to whatever drive your PSP is. You should get this when FontHacker recognizes your PSP.

If you don't get this message, yet FontHacker recognizes the PSP, it will install the font flash app for you. When you get either of the two messages, click on 'Install font to PSP'. This will copy the font files, and anything else needed to flash the font to your PSP. Once done, you will get a message instructing you what to do. The thing is that its after you run the flash program.

Once you get this message, disconnect USB Mode, head over to GAME > Memory Stick, and launch FontHack. If you use a Slim, launch eLoader first. From there, you can launch FontHack. When FontHack is launched, it will begin the backup process, and flash your new font. Wait for a couple seconds. When it tells you to reboot, manually turn off your PSP and then turn it back on.

When you reboot, you should have a nice looking font waiting for you.

Restoring the default font

If for any reason you want the default font back, run FontHack again after you have flashed a font.

[Dark_Sabre]

awesome! tried a few fonts, metal gear solid had no numbers but "2" and resident evil had none at all XD

[ImBakinBacon]

this is probably a stupid question, but am i allowed to delete the app (FontHack Installer) after the font is "on"

[Demonchild]

Yeah. Fonthacker will just install it back afterwards if you want to flash a font again.

[davido31]

Thank you for this tutorial ....

I have every time the same error : building failed, try using a larger font size

some do so am I always I am trying this error ....

Could you convert these 4 fonts and explain how and why its not work with me ....

please

fonts