Category: Tutorials

Square Kufic (kufi mrabba’), sometimes known as bannâ’i (“masonry script”) is a particular style of Kufic that’s going to allow us to create a composition using the basic structural forms of the letters. Indeed, Square Kufic (abbreviated SK) is the barest of all Arabic writing styles, and an interesting precursor to pixel art, although it was originally made up of bricks and tiles and used on a large scale in architecture.

This style is absolutely not concerned with legibility: it’s understood that the message, the Word, is there, and gazing upon it is enough to receive its blessing. Literacy may have been limited in the past, but beauty was always accessible to all, and it’s the beauty of the pattern that matters.

In its simplest form, SK is austere and derives its beauty from the purity of its austerity; but it lends itself to clever, even playful variations only limited by one’s creativity. More than any other calligraphic practice, creating in SK feels very much like solving a puzzle, giving it a particular appeal for problem-solvers.

The beautiful Kufic art style is used in Kufication. It’s a Kufic Arabic font that adapts the Latin alphabet to work within the boundaries of the traditional art. You can read more about the Kufication Arabic square font and other Arabic calligraphy styles after this tutorial.

The following selection of examples gives an idea of the possibilities offered by this style.

Basic of Square Kufic

One Rule

Square Kufic has only one strict rule: absolute evenness of full and empty spaces. We can observe this in the following classic design for the word Allah, where the initial Alif is placed horizontally over the rest of the word (a liberty typical of SK) so that the overall shape is a square.

Nowhere is the black or white thicker than the unit (which is one square of the grid). This is evenness. Contrast this with the following two errors:

On the left there is a block of four empty spaces, on the right a block of four full spaces. Either way, the evenness is lost. In a larger and more complex composition, such accidents would stand out as they break the overall balance. This, then, is the one big mistake to watch out for when composing in SK. It can be trickier to notice than in these examples. 

Below, for instance, is an early composition of mine with one serious (and unsolvable) mistake that I never noticed at the time. Can you find it? (The answer is in the downloads folder, spot-the-error.png)

What this rule implies for the creation process is that we must find ways to fill all the space so that no irregular white is left. To this end, the following exceptional liberties are taken.

Liberties in Square Kufic

Change of Direction

In a Square Kufic art text, each word can face in a different direction. Every horizontal and vertical in the grid is a potential baseline. Not only this, but the direction can change mid-word, as seen here in a rendering of “Allahu akbar”: after the Kâf in ????, the connecting line rotates 90º and continues upward, so that the last two letters are on a baseline that’s perpendicular to the original. This effectively fits the sentence into a square (a desirable shape both because it looks complete, and because it can then be used as a tiling unit). In fact, this change of direction can even take place mid-letter, for the more elaborate letters such as Sâd or Sîn.

Here is a much more complex composition where I have assigned different colours to the four different orientations of the words (as best I could make it out) and circled sudden rotations. What this doesn’t show is the direction of reading (only possible for one who already knows the verse!), which is in a clockwise spiral that begins in the lower right corner and ends in the centre.

Placement

The following composition, from the façade of the Royal Mosque in Isfahan, is just legible enough to recognize the sentence: “???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??”. Knowing this, we notice that the three circled Alifs are placed quite liberally, where they conveniently fill the space, not where they’d normally be in the word.

That said, the words themselves are arranged liberally (in addition to being rotated) so that they fit. The displaced letters are still adjacent to the word they belong to, and the displaced words to those they precede and follow in the sentence: as long as this condition is fulfilled, order and direction can be manipulated.

Letters

Letters still need to connect as they normally would, and take on the form appropriate to their place in the word, but they can be distorted to often extraordinary degrees to fill the space. The following chart shows some (by no means all) examples of forms distorted beyond the normal use of letters.

Notes:

1. The isolated Alif can grow a head or a foot as needed.
2. Some letterforms are no longer distinct: the differences between ? and ?, or ? and ?, are no longer relevant.
3. Letters that would normally be extended, such as ? or ?, can be extremely compressed. Conversely, narrower letters can find themselves very stretched.
4. Tails or heads can fold in to make a letter into a rectangle, and that can be stretched at will. 
5. What would normally be a discreet and optional notch is here emphasized into a filler extension, changing the silhouette of the letter altogether.
6. The relationship of the letter to the baseline no longer matters.
7. Despite being in final or isolated position, these letters have no tail, making them easier to fit.
8. Mid-letter change of direction.
9. The ascender has here been moved to an unconventional position.
10. The initial form of ? can here also be used in a medial position, where it can be helpful because it’s a rectangular shape that can stretch upwards.

Dots

The diacritic dots (the dots that differentiate letters) are often left out of SK compositions altogether. When included, they can add visual interest, and this can be enhanced by giving them a contrasting colour or shape. Like letters and words, they can be placed with a certain amount of liberty.

Omitting diacritic dots, on the other hand, opens the door to using filler dots: they’re not part of the script at all, but serve to fill spaces when that can’t be done otherwise, such as the bottom left corner in this rendering of Rahmân.

Sometimes it’s unclear whether such dots are really fillers, or diacritics included when and if convenient—for instance, does this dot above actually belong to the Nûn that sits on top of the word? In complex compositions where legibility is jettisoned, it may be pointless to try and find out. When composing, out of artistic perfectionism, I’d personally outline two rules of thumb:

• Either use diacritic dots in full, or none, in which case filler dots can be used.
• Diacritic dots can be made to stand out by a change of colour or shape; filler dots should blend in with the design.

Repetitions and Rotations

Many of the historical examples we’ve seen tend to fit a word or sentence in a square, or at least a rectangle. This is not a necessary feature of SK, but an easy way to create large patterns (as opposed to using a long text). Squares, indeed, can be tiled, whether by repetition or rotation, or a combination of both, with no trouble—just make sure to leave half a unit all around. When two tiles are put together, this will add up to one unit, preserving the rule of evenness.

Rectangles can also be tiled, but it’s not so simple to create a finite pattern with them. If the rectangle’s ratio is random, all we can really do is repeat it in one direction, for instance as a cornice, or rotate it and assemble it as shown below right, to create a square composition. Bear in mind that the longer (or narrower) the rectangle, the bigger the space left in the centre. Unless you intend to create a design in that space, you really want it to be as small as possible. 

Rectangles with a regular ratio (1:2, 1:3, 1:4 etc) are preferable to work with, because they can be assembled into squares, which can then be rotated and so on more freely. For instance, here’s a complex composition made possible (and simple) by a 1:2 rectangle.

Important: Don’t forget to include the extra unit that runs around the word in your calculations! If you count the height and width of this last design, it’s 11×23; only by adding the extra unit do you get 12×24, which is the 1:2 ratio proper. The calligrapher who designed this motif was experienced and aware of this. If he had made the text into a 1:2 ratio prior to adding the surrounding space, it would have completely messed up any attempts to tile it.

As a matter of interest, here’s the composition of this last tile, and a similar neighbouring one: they’re both made of one sentence that has been rotated and added to itself to create the rectangle.

Deliberate Spaces 

I have said above that evenness is a rule that must not be broken in SK, because it creates unsightly irregularities in the overall pattern. However, leaving regular spaces, so that they create a pattern within the pattern, is a skillful bending of that rule, as is leaving a large central space where something different can happen. Such is the case below, where the ascenders are skillfully connected to create a geometric knotted pattern. The diagonal positioning of the pattern, contrasting with the text, only adds to the striking overall effect.

Taking It Further: Other Grids

The downloadable Exercise folder that accompanies this course contains a square grid template for you to print out and work on. You will also find there a triangular grid and different angles of skewed grids, because the principles of Square Kufic can be applied on any grid, including bent ones!

Skewed Grid

A skewed grid functions the same as a square grid because its units are also four-sided—all that changes is the angle at which the two sets of lines are set (so the square units become diamond-shaped). This produces an isometric effect, or fake perspective. If we take, for instance, our earlier ???? ???? design and draw it on a skewed grid, the result seems to be seen in perspective. (The reason this perspective is “fake” is that the lines are parallel and will never meet in a vanishing point.)

In the design below, the direction of the grid is different in each of the arms of the star, resulting in an optical illusion: we see a folding effect. A similar feel can be achieved by combining a skewed with a square grid.

Triangular Grid

This is slightly different, as this grid requires three sets of lines, set at 60º to each other (the unit is an equilateral triangle). Rather than squares and rectangles, this grid frames compositions in triangles and hexagons. You can see the grid behind the following design (and note in passing the central name, Ali, which is repeated six times in both white and red!)

The triangular grid is confusing at first because we are really not used to working with a triple axis. To get accustomed to it, print out Triangular-grid.pdf and start by isolating a single triangle in it. You can’t go wrong—any triangle you draw along the grid lines will be equilateral.

So, instead of just vertical and horizontal, we have three possible directions: leaning forward, leaning backward, and horizontal. How do our letterforms translate into this new frame of reference?

Here’s a rule of thumb (but not cast in stone): Horizontals are still horizontal, verticals translate as leaning forward, and closing angles translate as leaning backward.

Try a few words in the reference triangle, making sure to fill it completely: that’s the equivalent of fitting a word into a clean square.

More Grids

There is no end to the grids that can be created, once we start feeling comfortable with the logic of SK. The design below, for instance, seamlessly morphs from a square to a concentric grid. There is no set method to it: the calligrapher drew concentric circles based on the square grid (looking at the vertical and horizontal white lines, we can see how the distance between the circles is equal to a square unit), and used visual judgment to estimate when the straight lines could begin to follow the curves instead. The transition is subtle and the overall effect surprisingly successful.

Step-By-Step Creation of a Square Kufic Art Design

Here’s a walkthrough of the creation of a design from a sentence. For this I selected two lines from a poem by Lebanese master calligrapher Samir Sayegh:

??? ??? ????????? ????? ??????

“[The letter] Qâf is the end of the road [tarîq]; Qâf is the end of the lover [‘âshiq]”

For clarity of the diagrams, the process was drawn in Adobe Illustrator, with View > Show Grid and View > Snap to Grid activated. It can just as well be done the traditional way, however: on gridded paper. A fine grid (such as in the attached file Square-grid.pdf) is better to ensure the design fits your paper.

Step 1: Visualizing

The very first thing I do is write the word or sentence in square characters, without trying to solve anything, just to see what I’m working with. Since the word ??? occurs twice, I tried writing it two different ways. I’m unsure at this point whether I’ll use the dots or not.

What I note at once is that the second sentence is much longer than the first, and cannot be compressed (there is no long letter I could shrink). If I want to make it shorter, I’ll have to move these groups of letters (circled red) on top of the preceding ones, but that would add a lot of height; or I can omit the second ??? (circled green). On the other hand, there is a ? in the first sentence which I could stretch (circled blue) to make that sentence longer. For now these are just possibilities I bear in mind, because I don’t have a set idea of what I want the result to look like; I’m exploring what these two lines can offer.

Step 2: Solving the Spaces (First Attempt)

Next, I see what I can modify in the first line to fill those empty spaces.

Not bad, but the ? doesn’t work. However, if I raise the overall level by one more square, I can make its ascender bend back over the letter to fill that space, like so.

This does work: I have succeeded in making a rectangle out of the first sentence. Yet I’m not happy with this, because I’m working with two sentences, and if I isolate them both as closed shapes like this one (which is relatively easy), there will be “seams” in my final composition; it won’t be an integrated whole. So I backtrack a bit and return the letters in this test to proportions that I find pleasing. The bottom works well so I keep it. I give the word ??? a different colour so I can see it.

Step 3: Second Attempt, Differently

Now, this is almost luck, but the gaps above the words are quite clean and can be filled by straight lines, as shown below in pink. They also measure an odd number of units, which is desirable because, as shown here, lines inserted from above would fit in neatly and respect the gap-full-gap-full sequence. The only place where there’s a clash is over the ?, but as I can easily extend that letter to get the additional space I need, there’s no problem here at all.

So, just to see how that pans out, I bring up my second sentence and rotate it 180º, to see whether it could fit in the gaps of the first. Much of the process in SK is trying possibilities until you hit on something you can work with—in time that becomes streamlined as you come to instinctively ignore directions that would lead to a dead end.

I colour the individual words so I can see better, position the top sentence so there’s no clash, try to fill the gaps with the dots I hadn’t included so far… An obvious problem is the difference in length which I spotted earlier.

Step 4: Solving Length Disparity

I already know there’s nothing I can compress to solve this, so it’s time to try some directional changes. I rotate the word on the far left to see if that would help. This has potential, as filling the remaining gaps wouldn’t be difficult, and as for the circled letters, which stick out so badly, I can swap them both for a form that’ll be flush with the rest of the line—that’s why I’ve been ignoring them so far. 

In the meanwhile I have decided there would be far too many diacritic dots if I included them all (21, to be exact), so I make a decision that’s only appropriate for this specific text: I’ll only include the dots that belong to the letter Qâf ? (which appears four times), since these two lines are about this letter. This way, I can enjoy the visual interest that dots bring, while making Qâf stand out in the design, which makes sense here.

Step 5: Trying Something Else

At this point I have an idea and start a different sketch to try it out: can I have the ? in the centre, with the four other words of the poem wrapping around it in a square? 

After some moving around and modification of letters, I manage to form a block around the Qâf. The remaining blank space can be filled by its two dots, which I had originally omitted. But this shape is not a square, nor a good rectangle.

To make it a square, I’d have to reduce its height by four units so it fits the red square…

… or reduce its height by two and increase its width by two, to fit this other red square.

This I manage to do, but the result is frankly not exciting. Also, I’ve had to do some extreme manipulations that, while not forbidden, just don’t sit well with me: the extra-compressed Tâ’ ?, the Râ’ ? so tall it looks like a Lâm ?, the Alif ? nowhere near where it should be, and the two dots that you’d never guess belong to Qâf.

Step 6: Return to the Original Plan

I therefore abandon this idea and return to the two lines fitting together. A few modifications are enough to fully fill the gaps and merge both lines into one rectangle.

Step 7: Finalizing the Module for Rotation

The word at the left end can easily be fixed to be part of it, as below…

… but I decide to leave it out. The longer the rectangle, the bigger the central space when it’s rotated to create a square, so leaving that word out to have a shorter rectangle makes for a tighter final composition.

Step 8: Enhancing the Composition

Now I bring back, in a different way, my idea of having Qâf, the subject of the poem, at the centre. This central space is an entity of its own and could contain anything, even an image or a different calligraphy style. Here I’m going to stick to SK, but I am free with the scale, so I can create a design and then scale it up to fill the space. Only the space is square, so once again I’m looking for a square-fitting design. While the Qâf on the left is neat and a perfect square, I very much want to include the dots, so I’m going to go with the one on the right…

Here’s how it looks after being made to fit the space. I’m not satisfied—it just looks too blocky in this size—so I’m going to try something else.

I rotate the design and scale that up: much better. There is a pleasing contrast in scales, but the central design is still small and intricate enough not to jar.

Step 9: Colours

I finalize it with colours, picking out the pattern of dots in a contrasting hue.

Top Arabic-Inspired Fonts From Envato Elements

There’s no doubt that Kufic art is a joy to look at and create. But if you want an Arabic-looking font for your projects when you’re short on time, then head to Envato Elements. There you’ll find some of the best fonts with Arabic calligraphy styles that you can download and use now.

Let’s look at a few Arabic-inspired fonts, along with a cool Kufic Arabic font below.

1. Khodijah: Arabic Style Font (OTF, TTF)

Khodijah takes strong cues from Arabic calligraphy styles in its design. The elegant look of the type was created by a digital flat pen and through using gothic typography techniques. It all results in a classy Arabic style font download that can be used for posters, book covers, and more.

2. Kufication Kufic Arabic Font (OTF, TTF)

The designers behind Kufication succeeded in creating a Kufic Arabic font that looks great for displays. This Arabic square font includes a full set of upper and lowercase letters, as well as symbols and decorative characters. If you love the look of Kufic art or want to show your appreciation for Arabic culture, try Kufication.

3. Assyam Arabic Themed Typeface (OTF, TTF, WOFF)

Assyam is a unique Arabic-looking font. It borrows from traditional Arabic calligraphy styles but infuses it with a modern flair. This Arabic font style download has extensive multilingual support. It also includes a web font file, letting you use Assyam effortlessly online. You’ll have fun playing around with the different applications of this Arabic style font.

4. Tharwat: Arabic Looking Font (OTF, TTF, WOFF)

If you’re looking for an elegant sans serif Arabic-looking font, try out Tharwat. It’s a wonderful typeface that works in a variety of programs. It also includes:

• upper and lowercase Latin characters
• number and punctuation glyphs
• web font file
• simple install process

It’s a nice option to have if you want Arabic-inspired fonts to feature in your projects.

5. Musandam: Arabic Looking Font (OTF, TTF, WOFF)

We wrap our list of typefaces with Arabic calligraphy styles with Musandam. It shows its influences lightly and is more playful than other fonts featured here. You’ll get OpenType, TrueType, and web formats in this Arabic font style download. Use it for promotions, social media, or anywhere your creative sees fit! It’s a highly versatile Arabic style font.

Conclusion

This was an insight into how composing in Square Kufic may go. Work processes are highly personal and develop organically with practice. All you need to begin exploring this style are the grids included here, a pencil, and an eraser—and patience, as it requires much trial and error in the beginning. I recommend starting with individual words on a square grid before moving on to multiple-word compositions, skewed grids, and finally the triangular grid!

If you’re interested in learning more about Arabic calligraphy styles, check out the rest of this tutorial series. It’s a great way to get a deeper understanding of what makes up great Arabic calligraphy. You’ll even be able to create for yourself and find Arabic-inspired fonts to download.

• 
  Arabic Calligraphy
  Creative Arabic Calligraphy for Beginners: Introduction
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• 
  Arabic Calligraphy
  Creative Arabic Calligraphy: Anatomy of the Letterforms
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• 
  Arabic Calligraphy
  Creative Arabic Calligraphy: Proportions and Spacing
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• 
  Arabic Calligraphy
  Creative Arabic Calligraphy: Kashida, Ta’jîm and Tashkîl
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• 
  Arabic Calligraphy
  Creative Arabic Calligraphy: Designing the Letters
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• 
  Arabic Calligraphy
  Creative Arabic Calligraphy: Ornamentation and Symmetry
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• 
  Arabic Calligraphy
  Creative Arabic Calligraphy: Putting It All Together
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Let’s take a look at some of the most popular sans serif fonts for 2021. What is a sans serif font? We’ll show you, with some inspiring sans serif font examples you can download now. So sit back, enjoy the type inspiration, and pick out the best sans serif fonts for your next design project. 

What Is a Sans Serif Font?

So, what is a sans serif font? First, we need to talk about what a serif is. When looking at fonts, serifs are extensions at the end of a letter’s stroke. Here’s a visual example to help explain.

Serifs can come in many different shapes and sizes, from tapered to blocky. However, in this article, we’re going to focus on sans serif fonts. The “sans” in sans serif means “without”. 

Let’s take a look at more examples, to further clarify. This is an example of a sans serif font with various different weights. This means that there are thinner variations, medium ones, and thicker ones too. Notice how it makes for a really clean, sleek, modern aesthetic.

Then, let’s take a look at a serif example to further clarify. See the difference now? This font family has extended lines at the end of each stroke; those are its serifs. This can vary by letter, but generally speaking, it’s unified throughout the font. 

Sans serif, as a description, can include a lot of different fonts. For example, some script fonts could also be considered sans serif because they don’t have a traditional serif. Modern type design has a lot of crossover and “rule-breaking”; it’s a good thing.

Generally speaking, the most popular sans serif fonts are clean letterforms without “extras” at their strokes. The resulting aesthetic tends to be quite versatile and can have a degree of neutrality.

For example, many sans serifs can be used for both large and small text, as we see in this example below. It works well as a supplement and for emphasis.

Sans serifs can take on other aesthetics, however. Here’s an example of a sans serif font that embraces a retro aesthetic. 

As you may have guessed, there’s a world of possibilities when it comes to sans serifs and type design.

If you’re looking for even more typography info and sans serif font examples, look into type classifications. They’re like a system of describing different font characteristics (and they’re fun for design history buffs too!) Humanists, geometrics, and grotesques are all different types of sans serifs.

Check out these sans serif font examples to learn more:

• 
  Typography
  33 Best Humanist Fonts to Download Now!
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• 
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  42 Best Geometric Fonts (Geometric Sans Serif Typefaces to Download)
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• 
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  34 Best Grotesque Fonts (Typefaces Ready to Download)
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20 Popular Sans Serif Fonts to Download Now

Now, let’s take a look at some of the most popular sans serif fonts for 2021, from Envato Elements. If you’re unfamiliar, Envato Elements has an amazing font library. One low fee gets you unlimited access to thousands of fonts. 

Check out these inspiring sans serif font designs, and consider downloading them today.

1. Zenzero Sans Regular and Rounded Sans Serif Font

This stylish sans serif font comes in two styles: regular and round. It has a really generous amount of ligatures too, perfect for creating beautiful compositions.

2. Cheddar Gothic Bold Sans Serif Fonts Family

It’s no wonder this font download is so popular. Not only do you get these bold sans serif fonts, you also get a ton of really cool extras. 

3. Bergen Text 

This font has so many possibilities. It’s clean, sleek, and pairs well with so many different aesthetics too. A sans serif font like this one has a lot of potential to be a staple in your collection.

4. RNS Sanz

Here’s another beautifully clean sans serif font. Isn’t it elegant in a minimalist example like this one? Try this font in a variety of design projects. 

5. Maxwell Sans Small Caps Book

This sans serif font comes in both a regular style and small caps. If you’re looking for a clean sans serif font with some extra length, this style might be right up your alley.

6. Morton Grotesque Font Family

A modern font with a grotesque aesthetic, this font would be an excellent addition to any type collection. It has nine weights that you can mix and match, or pair it with other fonts to push your aesthetic. 

7. Brinnan Sans Serif Font Family

If you love geometric sans serif fonts, you’re going to enjoy this typeface. It has a bit more width than other choices, but still maintains high legibility at a variety of sizes.

8. Carter Layered Sans Serif Font

How about trying out a layered, retro-inspired look? This font has plenty of potential, and it’s easy to see why this one is such a popular sans serif font choice.

9. Arson Sans Serif Typeface

Here is a different spin on a vintage aesthetic. The letterforms take on some interesting visual elements, making this a fun and memorable choice for display type.

10. Fast Track: A Speedy Display Font

Isn’t this display font fun and full of energy? Check out all of the included glyphs; they all have the “speed lines” that play into this display font’s namesake. 

11. Visby Geometric Sans Serif Fonts

Love geometric sans serif fonts? Then you’ll probably enjoy these modern sans serif fonts. Eight weights are included in this versatile font family. 

12. Coffee Morning Sans

Many hand-drawn or handwriting fonts also fall into the sans serif font category. Check out this popular font download. It’s got such charming personality.

13. Breymont Sans Serif Font

If modern sans serif fonts are your preference, then there’s a lot to admire about this sans serif font. It’s an all caps typeface, but its clean aesthetic makes it really versatile. 

14. Sign 45 Typeface

This font download really packs a punch. Download all six font styles and use them in a variety of design projects. Love a retro vibe? Push it that way or keep it neutral; these fonts can do both.

15. Frank Sans Serif Font Family

20 fonts all in one download sounds pretty amazing, right? Well, this sans serif font has a lot to offer and plenty of versatility. It’s an excellent all-around font for regular design use.

16. Helios Typeface

Modern sans serif fonts, like this stylish design, are an excellent choice for points of emphasis. The curves all have a stylish radius that makes for a memorable look. 

17. Reiju Type Duo

Isn’t this font duo stylish? Choose between styles to mix and match where you’d like strokes visible or missing. It’s a simple but effective way to create some visual interest.

18. Blocklyn Font Family + Mockups

This blocky sans serif font has so much texture. It’s an awesome choice for headlines, titles, and other points of emphasis. This font download even includes some free mockups too.

19. Venditum Typeface

Sleek and stylish, with some digital influence, this sans serif font has a memorable aesthetic. Try this display font out on T-shirts, posters, and more.

20. Liner Rounded Sans Serif Font

Do you prefer a rounded sans serif font? This popular sans serif also has some interesting length, making a memorable choice. Try it out in regular and bold styles today.

What Are the Best Sans Serif Fonts for Your Project?

There are so many awesome sans serif fonts out there to choose from, and it’s easy to see why these are some of the most popular sans serif fonts. Which were your favorites, or which are some of your favorite sans serifs in your collection?

If you’re looking to download some new fonts, remember to check out Envato Elements. One low fee gets you unlimited access to thousands of modern sans serif fonts, as well as so many other aesthetics too. One price, unlimited downloads, and this also includes stock photos, illustrations, audio, and much more. 

Love fonts? Check out these other collections for even more font downloads and inspiration. 

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Looking to create a DIY door hanger template? In this article, we’ll take a look at some stylish door tag template designs and door hanger ideas. 

When using a door hanger template, word gets out for you: it’s as simple as your audience interacting with the door. This can make it an appealing project for marketing, small business, and even for advertising events. You could even make custom wedding door hangers for guests, events, or even a special “do not disturb” for the wedding couple.

Rather than starting with a blank door hanger template, why not try using a complete door hanger template design? Even better, how about access to a whole collection of door hanger templates? That’s exactly what you get with Envato Elements. 

Download a Professional Door Hanger Template on Envato Elements

Envato Elements is an awesome deal. One low price gets you unlimited access to thousands of downloads, including an entire gallery of door hanger template designs. This means you can download as many as you like, because they’re all included.

It’s easy to design a door hanger template when you’ve got a printable door hanger template to give you a head start. These templates are fully customizable, so you can take this as far as you like. Want to add your info and call it done? Great! Prefer to push it in an entirely new direction? You can do that too.

You can even use these designs as a Cricut door hanger template for personal projects. When it comes to making your own door tag using a door hanger template, Cricut makes more challenging cuts a breeze. Or send your customized door tag template to a printer to have plentiful copies of a professional design in a snap.

There’s plenty of other content on Envato Elements too, like fonts, graphics, photos, and much more. You can even find mockup templates, perfect for seeing your designs in action. For example, if you’re looking for a blank door hanger template, try something like this design below. It’s perfect for testing (and showing off) your design ideas. 

Download These Door Hanger Template Designs on Envato Elements

Let’s take a look at some of the inspiring designs over on Envato Elements that you can download right now. Enjoy these door hanger ideas or consider downloading these designs today for your next project.

1. Beauty Salon Door Hanger Template Vector (PSD, AI, EPS)

This beauty door hanger design is a great fit for salons, services, and more. Use it to advertise a newly opened business or special. 

2. Swimming Template For Door Hanger Sign (AI, EPS)

This summery design could work well for kids’ events, summer camps, lessons, and much more. You could even use it to showcase photography services.

3. Do Not Disturb Wedding Door Hanger Template (AI, PDF)

If you’re looking for a pretty but versatile do not disturb wedding door hanger template, give this one a try. You can also try this one out as a Cricut door hanger template; it includes vector files.

4. Sushi Door Hanger Template Creative Promotion (AI, EPS)

Door hangers can be a great way to advertise a restaurant. You can even fit extended menu items on the back of the template design. 

5. Fitness Door Tag Template (Custom Door Hanger Template) (PSD, JPG)

The same goes for fitness services; door hangers can be a great way to get the word out about your personal training business or workout venue.

6. Door Hanger Template Vector Illustrator (AI, EPS, PSD)

Door hangers can be a great way to get the word out about a service or event taking place at conventions too. Use them to share info or distribute reminders.

7. Laundry EPS Printable Door Hanger Template (AI, EPS)

Laundry and cleaning services can also really benefit from incorporating door hanger designs into their marketing strategy. Try listing your services or even including a coupon.

8. Business Door Knob Hanger Template (PSD, JPG)

Businesses can benefit from using a door hanger design in several ways. Include a QR code to allow your audience easy access to your digital platforms too.

9. Photoshop PSD Cloth Laundry or Carpet Cleaning Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

Consider distributing your door tags, like this door hanger template, in key places you know your target audience will see. Hotel rooms and relevant venues can be a great strategy.

10. Business Management Adobe Illustrator EPS Door Hanger Dimensions Templates (PSD, AI, EPS)

A business door hanger template, like this one, can be a versatile choice, because you also get vector files with the template download. Scale it up or down to meet your needs. 

11. Fitness Vector EPS Flower Door Hanger Template (AI, EPS)

If your fitness business is more the meditation or mindful stretching type, try out a door hanger template like this one. You can swap out the imagery with any you prefer. 

12. Business Small Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

This neutral door hanger template could be adapted for a number of industries. Change the colors, add your own content, and make this design your own.

13. Repair Device Photoshop PSD DIY Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

Repair services can also benefit from adding door hangers to their marketing materials. Spread the word about your service directly with these door tags.

14. Door Hanger Template (Cricut, DIY, Small Business, and More) (JPG, PSD)

The effectiveness of a door tag will often depend on the radius of the campaign. Use a door tag template like this one as you plan your strategy.

15. Seo Specialist PSD Business Small Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

One of the benefits of door tag designs is their cost-effectiveness. It’s an easy and effective way to get the word out. Need to list your services? Try a design like this one.

16. Delicious Food Vector EPS Door Hanger (PSD, AI, EPS)

Restaurants and food delivery services are such a great fit for door hanger designs. Make your services and specials clear and easy to read. Consider including key items too.

17. Auto Repair Photoshop PSD Door Hanger (PSD, AI, EPS)

Imagine placing a door tag reminder on your client’s steering wheel. You can get creative with placement when it comes to door tag designs. Here’s a great example for auto repair.

18. Vote Politician Illustrator AI Door Hanger Promotion (AI, EPS)

Door tag templates are all about getting the word out, and that’s why they can be a great fit for political campaigns too. This design is bright, stylish, and commands attention.

19. Photoshop PSD Property Open House Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

Real estate also benefits from using door tags. Use them to promote open houses for local property within your target audience. 

20. Cleaning Service EPS File Door Hanger Promotion (AI, EPS)

Looking for a carpet cleaning door hanger template? Check out this fun, colorful design. Include your service and your contact information, and your design is complete.

21. Industrial Construction Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

Construction and development services are other industries that might benefit from this marketing strategy too. Try out this stylish door tag design for your project.

22. Island Trip Illustrator AI Photoshop PSD Door Hanger (PSD, AI, EPS)

Vacations, travel, and lodging are other areas that can benefit from door tags. Try sharing them with potential customers staying in local accommodations. 

23. Modern Home Photoshop PSD Open House Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

Here’s another stylish design perfect for real estate and open house events. Keep in mind that these are fully customizable, so you could remix this for any industry or project you like.

24. Cake Decor Door Hanger Vector EPS Template (AI, EPS)

How about trying a cute, sweet design like this one? It’s a perfect fit for bakeries, restaurants, and more. Use this design to help promote your project.

25. Admission Agency Door Hanger Design Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

Even academic programs can benefit by getting the word out this way. Try out a door tag template for your school, classes, and other upcoming educational event. 

26. Traveling Now Vector EPS Door Tag Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

It can be very beneficial to include an enticing offer in your door tag design, as we see in this template. QR codes make for convenient access to your website too.

27. Business Startup Photoshop PSD Door Hanger (PSD, AI, EPS)

Try a door tag template design like this one. It has plenty of space for eye-catching imagery, and you can add supplemental content to the back too.

28. Business Innovation Illustrator AI EPS Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

Download and edit this door hanger template in either Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop. It’s easy to jump in, edit, and make this design your own.

29. Photoshop PSD Mockup Blank Door Tag Template (PSD)

Prefer a blank door hanger template you can experiment with? Try out this door hanger mockup. Easily place your design in the template to see it in action.

30. Business Door Hanger Template Design (PSD, JPG)

This fun, bubbly design has plenty of space for your photos. Import them into this design, add your contact information, and you have a professional door hanger design.

31. Relaxation Photoshop PSD Spa Flower Door Hanger Template (PSD, AI, EPS)

Let your audience know about your beauty services with this door hanger template. Will you include a special offer or coupon? How will you entice your audience?

32. Bakery Adobe Illustrator AI Door Hanger Template (AI, EPS)

Doesn’t this door hanger template look delicious? Photography can make a huge difference, and visuals are very communicative. Keep this in mind with your door hanger design.

33. Vacation Trip Door Hanger Dimensions Templates (PSD, AI, EPS)

A great door hanger design template portrays vital information without overwhelming the viewer. This door tag is a great example. 

Check Out Even More Door Tag Template Designs on GraphicRiver

Looking for a great door hanger template, but you’re not necessarily looking for a library of content? Then check out GraphicRiver. It’s a perfect choice for a la carte downloads.

GraphicRiver has an awesome library of content, created by professional designers from all over the world. It’s a great choice if you’re just looking for one file. One download, one price, and you’ve got what you need. 

Take a look at some of these inspiring door hanger ideas from GraphicRiver.

1. Door Hanger Mockups and Designs Blank Door Hanger Template (PSD, JPG)

Here’s an awesome download if you’re looking to experiment with a door hanger design. Try out the included designs, but also take advantage of the included mockups, perfect for testing out other designs too.

2. Do Not Disturb Photoshop PSD Door Hanger Template (PSD)

“Do not disturb” door hangers are a classic. Use them for your business, event, wedding, or even as a fun reminder around the house when you need some quiet time!

3. Laundry Services Photoshop PSD Door Hanger (PSD)

Have a local laundromat or cleaning service? From dry cleaning to carpet cleaning, these services can benefit from directly engaging with their target audience via door tags.

4. Snow Removal Service Door Hanger Template (PSD)

Snow removal might be pretty niche, but door tags can prove to be very targeted too. Even smaller businesses and side gigs can benefit from door tags. They’re a great way to get the word out. 

5. Photoshop PSD Restaurant Door Hanger (PSD)

Check out this tasty restaurant menu, clearly on display on this door hanger template. Enticing imagery can spark interest, and listing the price can help seal the deal.

6. Business Door Hanger for Adobe Photoshop (PSD)

Love a focus on eye-catching imagery? Then a design like this door tag template might be perfect for you and your business. 

7. Fitness Photoshop PSD Door Hanger Template (PSD)

Here’s another stylish template you can download and customize today. Remember, all of these elements are completely customizable. Use it as a starting point to create the perfect door tag for your project. 

8. PSD Photoshop Real Estate Door Hanger Bundle (PSD)

Use this door hanger template to advertise a house for sale or open house. Or you could repurpose it to get the word out about your garage sale, block party, or other event. 

9. Fashion Photoshop Door Hanger Design (PSD)

Check out this fashion-inspired door hanger template design. Swap out the image and this can work for any number of industries too.

10. Internet Broadband Photoshop PSD Promotion Door Hanger Template (PSD)

Do you offer a tech service? Let your audience know with a door hanger. It’s a great opportunity to incorporate QR codes, coupons, and more. 

Which Door Hanger Ideas Are Your Favorites?

When you use a door hanger template, word gets out for you. That’s why it’s so important to put your best foot forward and make a great impression. What kind of door tag template would be perfect for your project?

Remember, you can take advantage of unlimited downloads on Envato Elements. This means you can choose from over 100 door hanger template designs, and you can download as many as you like! This unlimited access also includes fonts, graphics, and much more.

Or, if you prefer single downloads, remember to check out GraphicRiver. There are so many stylish door tag template designs over there to admire too.

Want to learn more about materials you can design for your business? Check out these free tutorials, here at Envato Tuts+:

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Today, we will be learning how to make a gold statue in Photoshop using gradient maps and some lesser-known Photoshop image effects! We will be adding extra shine, as well as a color grade that will turn our image icy blue to complement the golden orange tones of our model. 

If you are looking to dip a subject in gold and you’re in a hurry, try a gold statue Photoshop action! Turn any item, person, or animal into a highly detailed gold statue that’s dripping in chromed-out goodness!

What You Will Learn in This Adobe Photoshop Tutorial

• How to add noise in Photoshop
• How to make a gold statue in Photoshop
• How to create a color grade in Photoshop

Follow along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

What You’ll Need

To complete this project, you will need the following resources:

• Woman on an LA Rooftop

Find more resources on Envato Elements!

1. How to Add Noise to an Image 

Step 1 

Let’s start by creating a quick base for our image! First, a Color Fill layer set to a pale blue #a9c9dd color. 

Step 2

Next, let’s Right-click > Create Smart Object, just in case we want to change these upcoming settings later on. Now let’s go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter. Then, under Effects, we are going to set Grain to 27. 

2. How to Make a Gold Statue in Photoshop

Step 1 

Let’s start our gold effect in Photoshop by placing our extracted subject. Use any extraction method you’d like, but you do need to make sure it’s 100% extracted!

Step 2

Duplicate your subject, and hide the original—we’ll be needing it later! Now, let’s go to Image > Adjustments > Black and White to turn the image greyscale. 

Step 3

And then Filter > Camera Raw Filter again, where we are going to adjust two settings. First, go into Basic and set the Texture to -59. Second, go into Detail and set Noise Reduction to 100. 

This will smooth out your image. This image originally had a fair amount of noise and smaller skin details, so we had to smooth those out substantially. Some images may need much less, or if you want a gold foil Photoshop effect, you can keep more of the skin’s natural texture. 

Step 4

Let’s Right-Click > Rasterize Layer.

Now, if your subject has a layer mask from being extracted, feel free to skip this step, but if not then hold Control and click the subject’s layer icon. This will create a selection in the shape of the subject. 

Add a layer mask, and the mask will form the shape of the subject. 

Step 5

Now, let’s go to Image > Apply Image. Set the Layer to Merged, the Channel to RGB, Invert Checked, and the Blending to Difference. 

Hit OK. 

Step 6

We are going to repeat Image > Apply Image one more time, keeping the same settings. 

Step 7

Next, you are going to select any areas where you may need to repeat the Apply Image setting to intensify the effect. For this image, I reapplied the Apply Image to the back of the head, ear, and upper neck region using the Lasso Tool set to a Feather of 50 px so it created a nice blended transition. 

Step 8

Next, let’s take a soft round brush and on a New Layer fill in any odd-looking highlights with white—like on the subject’s nose and ears. 

Step 9

Time to create a Gradient Map adjustment layer, clip it into the subject layer, and then set it to the following colors and placements.

Colors

• Brown 1 #180e0a
• Brown 2 #3d2013
• Orange 1 #87461c
• Orange 2 #ca9d40
• Yellow 1 #e7d63e
• Yellow 2 #fffbcb
• White #fff

Step 10

Underneath the Gradient Map layer, create and clip a Levels adjustment layer. Use this layer to fine-tune your gold effect, making it either brighter or darker—whichever you prefer!

Step 11

Sandwiched in between the Gradient Map and the Levels layer, create a New Layer set to Overlay. Use this layer to add any additional brightness or darkness. 

Step 12

Now, we are going to flip back on our original subject layer, the one we did not turn black and white. 

On the golden subject layer, we are going to mask out any areas we don’t want to be gold—like clothes, glasses, or heavy shadows. You can also create different designs or effects here, like a dripping effect. 

3. How to Add Shine to Metal in Photoshop

Step 1 

Once you’re happy with your gold subject’s mask, create and clip a New Layer above all of its current clipped layers, setting it to Screen. 

Now, using a medium soft round Brush, paint a light orange #ffcf71 color along the rim of the subject, focusing on the areas where the light would be hitting them the hardest. 

Step 2

Now let’s add some final shine by creating two New Layers, setting one to Screen and the other to Overlay.

On these layers, we are going to paint some star-like reflections. I am using a simple six-pointed star brush, though any brush will work, and you can also just paint them in by hand. 

I like to layer the stars on top of each other, so I will paint a star on the Screen layer, and then a similar star over the top of it on the Overlay layer. 

4. How to Create a Color Grade 

Step 1 

Let’s finish things off with a color grade! 

First, a Color Lookup layer set to Bleach Bypass, at 24% Opacity.

Step 2

Second, a Color Lookup layer set to Horror Blue, at 75% Opacity.

Step 3

Third, a Color Lookup layer set to the second Kodak option, at 50% Opacity.

Step 4

And finally, a Selective Color layer affecting the Reds, Yellows, Cyans, Blues, Magentas, and Whites. 

Step 5

Group all of these adjustment layers, naming the group Color Grade and then bringing down its Opacity to between 20% and 50%. 

The amount is up to you! I ended up liking it at around 25% Opacity. 

You’re Done

That’s how to make a gold statue in Photoshop! These same steps can be used to create other metal effects as well, including chrome, silver, and even a dark black metal effect. Spot treat certain areas, or guild whole images—the possibilities are endless!  

Master the Gold Effect in Photoshop!

Mixed Texture Photo Effect (ATN)

Create an edgy gold and black design with this gold statue Photoshop action. The mixed texture photo effect action can create both black and white cement, as well as gold and silver textures. Use them to create accents or to guild a whole statue!

Fancy Gold Text Effect (PSD)

Apply a gold texture Photoshop text effect to any word! Just plug in your own text, and choose a fancy script font to get the full luxurious feel. This PSD includes a high-res cement texture to feature your golden words on. 

Goldish Kit For Photoshop+Extras (EPS, ASL, AI, PNG)

Get 28 different seamless gold foil Photoshop layer styles, as well as eight patterns, nine ink splatters, and a whopping 38 gold textures for Photoshop! The goldish kit has everything you need to create gold designs. 

Gold Glossy Text Effect (PSD)

The gold glossy text effect takes a different approach to gold, choosing to pair it with a sleek black, keeping the gold as an accent! Easily input your own text, and pair it with one of the free full-res textures included with the PSD!

Looking to learn even more? Check these out!

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