A new real-world font scanning and automatic color picking device, Spector, may soon be hitting store and/or digital shelves soon — a Shazam for text formatting!
Currently not marketed and lacking a Kickstarter project (in which case, it should definitely start running a campaign soon for its ingenuity because we need it!), Spector has, however, been formally introduced to the internet community as a working prototype that is capable of detecting font faces in the physical world. Simply aim the device at a block of text, like a paragraph with eye-pleasing typography, and let the gadget do its magic.
Reportedly, Spector will automatically scan the text and use built-in algorithms that identify its font family, after which the scanned data will be sent to an online cloud database to verify and download its font pack, making it easier for people to find that specific typeface they've been itching to use. In addition, Spector can also identify the font's kerning, leading and size and display those values to the user if they wish to apply the same formatting.
Of course, users will have to apply for the necessary licenses to use the font packs (wherever applicable) to avoid any IP issues from its original creators. Most reports do acknowledge the device's potential for piracy acts.
While its font-scanning feature is already impressive, Spector can also scan RGB colors in the physical world, as well as CMYK properties, making it function much like Adobe's color picker option in its applications, only this time, in real life. Users with the handy aid of Spector can now get the exact hue of readily available colors in nature to make their designs, like leaves on trees, more realistic.
As of now, the Spector prototype is currently limited to Adobe InDesign and purportedly has a plug-in that users can install in the application. This plug-in automatically displays the data Spector collects so that users can easily apply it to the current project or perform the necessary changes to make the text really pop out.
On top of all that, when we say real life, we really do mean it as Spector can save up to 20 font or color samples in its memory for later use. Users on-the-go will find this a convenient feature to capture any typeface or striking color they encounter while away from their PCs.
Fiona O'Leary, an MA student in design products from the Royal College of Art in London, conceptualized the Spector project and is purportedly still developing the product to add more font packs to its built-in library; Spector can currently only identify seven font types.
There are no announced dates for any public involvement in its development, though, we'll keep you posted once we get more information until hopefully, an official public release.
Spector's announcement trailer may be viewed below:
