We want this prototype that recognizes fonts ASAP

“Spector is a tool that helps bridge the gap between designing on digital screen and the finalised print. It is a hand-held device allowing various print materials to become interactive. Found a typeface you like? Wonder how big it is? Spector tells you straight away and changes the type live on screen” writes Fiona O’Leary.

“Wonder what shade of green that leaf is? It also detects colours and gives specific CYMK, RGB or Pantone values” she continues, explaining her graduation project at the Royal College of Art. “Spector connects to the computer via Bluetooth and has a software interface that shows what colours and type you have collected. When you place Spector on a printed page of type or colour and click the button. This is then sent to the computer and then is communicated to a program such as InDesign, Pages and Word via plugin where there is live text present. The text is then changed to the printed font instantaneously while being able to view information about the font such as size, kerning, leading and where to buy it. Colours are loaded into the swatch palette”.

Spector currently recognizes seven typefaces that it accesses through a font database, including Apercu, Bureau Grot, Canela, and Founders Grotesk, and O’Leary is working to integrate it with a larger font database. The tool can also translate type size (up to 48 point), kerning and leading, by analyzing the white space between the lines and letters, reports WIRED.

If only this handy, handheld tool that captures typefaces was a true product…

For more info click here.