How to achieve this font appearance?

Question

How can I acheive a font like this?

alt text

It's the name below icons on the iOS platform. Is it Helvetica, and how can I achieve the soft shadow that it has in code? Thanks in advance!

[This answer](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1274168/drop-shadow-on-uitextfield-text/1537079#1537079) may help. And yes, it's Helvetica. — BoltClock, Dec 21 '10 at 05:44
I think you'll find it's Helvetica on the iPhone/iPhone 3/GS, and Helvetica Neue on the iPhone 4. — Steven Fisher, Dec 21 '10 at 07:51
@Steven Fisher Both Helvetica and Helvetica Neue are available on the iPhone, as I understand it: http://iosfonts.com/ — Matthew Frederick, Dec 21 '10 at 15:20
@Matthew Fredrick I think Steven meant that the font on the title below icons on the three phones have a different font, although they all have the capability to use both Helvetica and Helvetica Neue. — sudo rm -rf, Dec 21 '10 at 15:23

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 21 '10 at 05:46

you can do it using Quartz 2D.

A shadow is an image painted underneath, and offset from, a graphics object such that the shadow mimics the effect of a light source cast on the graphics object, as shown in Figure 7-1. Text can also be shadowed. Shadows can make an image appear three dimensional or as if it’s floating.

look here:

http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/GraphicsImaging/Conceptual/drawingwithquartz2d/dq_shadows/dq_shadows.html%23//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30001066-CH208-TPXREF101

good luck

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:48

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EDIT

BoltClock answered it already in a comment. Follow his link.

(I just discovered he said the same thing, but I want to draw attention to it so I'll leave this answer -- just don't check it, or BoltClock, add it as answer.)

This answer to a previous similar question explains how to do it. Turns out it's pretty simple.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:48

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answered Dec 21 '10 at 06:01

Matthew Frederick

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I voted you up, actually :) (I don't like posting these kinds of links as answers, but if someone does I'll definitely give them my vote.) – BoltClock Dec 21 '10 at 15:26
@BoltClock If you could add your comment as an answer I'd accept it as the right one since I believe you got the answer first. – sudo rm -rf Dec 21 '10 at 15:27
@BoltClock Yeah, I'm just now realizing that links to perfectly good answers here on SO are more appropriately comments. It's taken a bit to pick up some of the unstated protocols. :) – Matthew Frederick Dec 21 '10 at 15:30
Since both of you requested I add it as my own answer, how could I say no? I'll leave my vote on your answer there though :) – BoltClock Dec 21 '10 at 15:32
Not sure what the standard procedure is here, sorry if it's against standard system to ask for an answer from a comment. :) – sudo rm -rf Dec 21 '10 at 15:35
@sudo rm -rf: It's OK, it's simply my personal policy not to post a link to another answer and call it my own answer. If someone asks me to I guess I won't mind. – BoltClock Dec 21 '10 at 15:39

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:19

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Reposting my comment here as requested:

This answer may help.

As discussed in the comments, that font is indeed Helvetica, at least on standard-resolution devices. I'm not too sure if it's Neue Helvetica on retina display devices.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:19

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answered Dec 21 '10 at 15:31

BoltClock

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Thank you for the link to the answer! I hesitate to use quartz because of speed issues, but it gives the appearance I'm looking for. Thanks! – sudo rm -rf Dec 21 '10 at 15:32
Shouldn't be too much of a problem actually. iPhone draws stuff relatively quickly and smoothly... compared to some other mobile devices. – BoltClock Dec 21 '10 at 15:36

How to achieve this font appearance?

3 Answers3