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I get a lot of emails asking how I make my printables, especially the chalkboard ones. I, personally, use Photoshop CS5, but you can do just as well with Photoshop Elements, or even PicMonkey (I can’t say from experience because I haven’t used PicMonkey, but this is what I’ve heard).
Designing a chalkboard print is a lot of fun, for several reasons. My number one reason: NO DUST! (I’m not a fan of messy!) The rules are a little different from basic graphic design, where you wouldn’t want to use more than three fonts, leave lots of white space, yada, yada, yada. But one of the keys to making a beautiful chalkboard is to fill available space! When you’re designing a chalkboard it’s truly all about being creative and artistic, and as such, there are no definitive “rules.” Just make it look pretty! If it looks beautiful to you, that’s what matters.
Here are some of my favorite fonts to use for chalkboards:
I use several different fonts in different sizes, caps, no caps, and add dingbats like banners and hearts and other doodles. There are some fonts that are specifically chalky and handwritten (Chalk line, Blockography), and others that are simply decorative (Platform Shoes, Birmingham). For those fonts, you can add some styling in Photoshop to make them appear more “chalk like.”
I think chalkboards are the easiest to design, because you almost can’t go wrong! Just stick to decorative or chalk fonts, alternate sizing, add some dingbats and you’re good to go
Need the background? Download a printable chalkboard background here.
Love the printable chalkboards but don’t think you can make your own? Download some for free:
Check out all of my free printable downloads here.
This is great! Thanks so much for sharing!
Brilliant information. Thanks for good info.
Photo Retouching Service
Love this! Thank you so much!
Just wanted to say that I’m pretty sure I love you….I know this is a little sudden, but there it is 😉 I have LITERALLY looked ALL morning for a cool way to do fonts for an Oz birthday party and the fonts to do it with. Then BAM! Here you are. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I am indebted and will be back to this site often.
If I design a large chalkboard sign, how do I print it?
I’d suggest having it printed on photo paper… I usually send it to Costco Photo, but any online photo printing service would work.
I am so new to this idea and I LOVE IT. But, my question is much like Jacqui’s. Do you porint it all out and paste it on a board? I am not sure what to do with this. I want to make a board for my sons first birthday..
Hi, I’m new to all this fun so I’ve got a question that may be really obvious – I’ve just made my own big chalkboard (1.2mx1m) and I’d like to use some kind of stencil or pattern to write up some cool quotes – can I use the ones you have shown here? Or do I need something else? How do you transfer the fonts etc? Thanks
Reading your adoption story helped me rethink a lot that I have been second guessing about. I just gained custody of my cousin 2 year old and have had a hard time making sure she gets the attention and love like my own daughter. She didn’t have anything before I got her except the clothes on her back. My husband cousin has been wanting to get full custody of her since she can’t have anymore kids and wants a daughter but some days Im okay with it because like you said I miss the simple days, but then other days like today I don’t know what to do without her because I love her to pieces even if she is just going through terrible twos! Thank you for your story!!
Amberly
“chalkboard” hehe
These are gorgeous! I love chalkboard, and I agree, less mess is best. Could you tell me what font “Chalboard” is in the very first picture on the post? Thanks!!
What if you don’t have Photoshop…is there a way to use Word or Publisher?
Downloaded the fonts. Now what do you do?? Not savvy to this stuff but I love it!
Thank you sharing these! You Rock!
Looking forward to learning how to make them.
Super cute, gfriend (:
What font is that dingbat with the pennant banner? Please let me know! Thanks!
Nevermind! Figured out its KG Flavor & Frames! THanks 🙂
Love all of these fonts. I think I just spent the last 15 minutes downloading fonts… can’t wait to make a printable now!
LOVE this!!
thanks for the shout out about my tutorial!!! your signs are always so fun!
xoxo
kellie
Love all of your chalkboards, and am currently trying to make one of my own. My Photoshop skills are a little rusty though, how do you make the straight line and the dots? I have tried just making an underscore in different fonts, but couldn’t really nail it.
And would you like to share the name of the “Chalkboard” font you used on the sign “How to make your own chalkboard sign”?
Thank you!
-Eli
The straight line and the dots on top and bottom of the Springtime chalkboard, that is!
-Eli
Thank you for sharing, I can’t wait to make one!