How do I use ligatures and extra characters from a font in Webflow? Can you explain how to enter them?
TL;DR
- Ensure your font supports OpenType features, then copy ligatures or glyphs from design software like Illustrator or Font Book.
- Paste them into Webflow text elements, and use custom CSS if needed to enable extra OpenType features.
To use ligatures and extra characters (glyphs) from a font in Webflow, you need to make sure the font supports them and then enter those characters manually, since Webflow doesn't have native support for picking alternate glyphs via its Designer UI.
1. Verify Your Font Supports Ligatures and Glyphs
- Make sure the font you're using contains OpenType features like ligatures, stylistic sets, or alternate characters.
- Fonts like Adobe Fonts, Google Fonts (with limited features), or a custom OpenType .woff2 file can support these features.
2. Use Design Software to Copy Glyphs
- Open your font in a design program that supports OpenType features, such as:
- Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop
- Font Book (macOS) or Character Map (Windows)
- Locate and copy the alternate glyph or ligature you want to use.
- Examples include fancy versions of letters, discretionary ligatures (like “ct” or “st”), or swashes.
3. Paste Glyphs into Webflow Text
- In Webflow Designer, select a Text element, then paste the copied glyph directly into the text content.
- Webflow will render the glyph if the font supports it and it was uploaded or included properly.
4. Enable Ligatures with Custom CSS (Optional)
- Webflow does not expose OpenType settings in the UI, but you can apply them using custom CSS.
- Add a small CSS snippet in the Page Settings → Inside
<head>or via Embed element: - Example:
<style> .ligatures-on { font-feature-settings: 'liga' 1; } </style> - Then, apply the custom class ("ligatures-on") to the text element in Webflow.
5. Upload Fonts with Full OpenType Features (if Needed)
- If using a custom font, make sure it includes a full .woff2 file with OpenType features baked in.
- Go to Project Settings → Fonts, upload the font, and assign it in Webflow.
Summary
To use ligatures or extra characters in Webflow, copy them into your design from a supported app, and optionally apply OpenType features using custom CSS. Webflow doesn't offer in-app controls for alternate glyphs, so external tools and manual input are required.