return of the jedi font

A long time ago — or maybe more recently — "Star Wars" fonts became sought after by web designers and fans everywhere. Whether you've been a fan since the first "Star Wars" movie was released in 1977 or you've come on board more recently with the prequel and sequel trilogies, there's no denying it has a tone and look that's distinctly otherworldly. From the moment Mark Hammil appeared on film as Jedi fighter Luke Skywalker, "Star Wars" began permeating our culture and the way we saw outer space.

The first film, "A New Hope," started with a logo that was wide yellow typography with a tapered top. The familiar scrolling words "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away …" naturally moved the logo toward that slanted look.

However, before the film was released, creator George Lucas asked for the logo to be reworked. The final result was an outlined type that lost the slant and a logo that extended out on the ends, making the words look as though they are almost in motion.

Designer Suzy Rice put the final touches on the logo after Lucas told her to make it look "fascist" and used Helvetica Black as her starting point.

As graphic design and cinematography advanced, the logo and credits became more refined, but future titles still kept the fat letters. The franchise also handles subtitles for subsequent series by placing an open frame around it and the "Star Wars" logo.

"Star Wars" fonts have a distinct look to them that is instantly recognizable. If you're looking for the best font for your project, here are several choices that might help you get the same look and feel as your favorite movie.

1. Star Jedi

If you're looking for "Star Wars" fonts that are an exact copy of the original logo, then Star Jedi is an excellent option. Note the heavy weight of the font and the extended serifs on either end. It leaves the inside of the letters open and transparent so they'll show the background, which is a nice technique for logos and headers.

Cost: Free

2. Star Jedi Logo Monoline

Also created by Boba Fonts, the Star Jedi Logo Monoline offers a frame containing the lettering for the title of the series and an open frame with the subtitle in the middle. Out of the various "Star Wars" fonts on the internet, this is one of the most advanced, allowing designers to create a logo similar to any of the prequels or sequels with minimal effort.

Cost: Free

3. Star Wars Embroidery

Star Wars fonts for embroidery need to be a bit different so the sewing machine translates it into something readable. Take a look at the Star Wars Embroidery font in SVG format. It's made specifically for embroidering cloth products such as T-shirts, bags and blankets.

Cost: $2.95

4. StarWars Kit

StarWars Kit by Tom Mouat features silhouettes of some of the main characters appearing in "Star Wars." If you're looking for icons or images to enhance other things you're doing, this is a good choice. A map on the download page shows what letter aligns with what character. For example, a small G is R2D2 and the Z is Darth Vader.

Cost: Free

5. Episode One

If you're looking for "Star Wars" fonts used in movie subtitles, then Episode One is very similar to the font used in "The Phantom Menace." This font gives a hint of "Star Wars" for fans without being quite as obvious as some of the other choices. If you are looking for a good subtitle font, Episode One offers a lot of flexibility. Note the tall axis of the letters and the extended serif of the letters J and Q. The other serifs are thin and tapered, providing an elegant look.

Cost: Free

6. Jabba the Font

Need "Star Wars" fonts that don't exactly repeat the logo's look but still give a taste of the movie saga? Jabba the Font is a fun poke at Jabba the Hutt, who originally appeared in "Return of the Jedi" in 1983. Jabba the Font is a jumbled mess, similar to the character himself. It isn't an easy font to read, so use it sparingly for effect. Jabba the Font was designed by typographist Michael Moss.

Cost: Free

7. Soloist

Soloist font offers a nod to the infamous space smuggler Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford in the original trilogy. The font has the fat, bold letters of the "Star Wars" logo, but they are a bit shorter. The entire font is also slanted slightly to the right. Some of the versions include a broken line version, with several lines going through the top to add some movement to the letters, and both open and closed type.

Cost: Free

8. SF Distant Galaxy Symbols

Courtesy of DaFont

SF Distant Galaxy Symbols offers more symbols to enhance your overall "Star Wars" design. With sets like this one, you gain access to movie titles and subtitles, as well as "Star Wars" type to create headers and logos.

Cost: Free

Keep in mind that while many "Star Wars" fonts are free to use, you have to be careful about commercial use and check the licensing agreements for each one. Some will let you use it for a business website and only ask you not to resell it in a package.

9. Death Star

An all caps, 80's style round font as evil as the Death Star. When the credits to additional Star Wars trilogies first rolled onto the big screen, this is very similar to the font audiences saw. The geometrical curves scream 1980s typography. The width variation is limited, giving the font a retro look reminiscent of the big hair and boldness of the era.

Cost: Free

10. Mando AF Classic Font

Mando AF Classic font is a classic Mandalorian script, based on Attack of the Clones. The font would work well as a highlight but is unreadable as a primary font, so you'll need to combine it with other text for those not up on their Mandalorian.

Cost: Free

Other Font Choices

You might think "Star Wars" falls into the science fiction category, and searching for space fonts will certainly turn up some choices that might work. However, many consider the series a fantasy, so don't rule out fonts that fall into that category either. When all else fails, you can start with a basic choice such as the Helvetica Black and add in elements to make it your own. With a bit of practice, you'll find the perfect "Star Wars" fonts for your projects.