Book Cover Illustrations

As some readers may know, I often alter typefaces, and sometimes even design new fonts.

I’ve made one of these typefaces available (free for personal use) at dafont.com. I named it “Back In the USSR” due to its Russian influence on its design (and as a backhanded salute to the Beatles’ song by that title). There’s no sign-up necessary to download and use this font; just go to the link and download the free font.

The typeface was originally created for Issue 4 of Critica Grafica magazine and I added a number of “extras” to the letter set for use in graphic design, including the faces of well-known Soviet leaders, hammer/sickle, star, and an AK-47. Oh, and a stylized “DL” monogram with a bit of vanity.

I never expected many people would have a need for a font like this, but according to dafont.com’s count, last time I checked the typeface had been downloaded 50,250 times, currently at the rate of 40-some downloads a day. I guess my next question is what people are using it for.

I do know that at least one rock band is using it for lettering their logo and so forth. Perhaps with a bit of ironic twist, they perform “Back In the USSR” in their sets.
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When not designing typefaces and fonts for customers and fans to use, Duncan Long is a freelance book cover illustrator for HarperCollins, PS Publishing, Pocket Books, Solomon Press, Fort Ross, and many other publishers and self-publishing authors. See his cover illustrations at: http://DuncanLong.com/art.html
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