User manual FONTLAB FONTLAB 4.6

FontLab 4.6 ® for Windows® User Manual FontLab 4 Copyright ©1992-2003 by FontLab, Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Any software referred to herein is furnished under license and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such license. FontLab, FontLab logo, ScanFont, TypeTool, SigMaker, AsiaFont Studio, FontAudit and VectorPaint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of FontLab, Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Apple, the Apple Logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh and TrueType are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Adobe, PostScript, Type Manager and Illustrator are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Macromedia, Fontographer and Freehand are registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. Other brand or product names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. THIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS FURNISHED AS IS, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY FONTLAB, LTD. FONTLAB, LTD. ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES, MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND (EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY) WITH RESPECT TO THIS PUBLICATION, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES AND NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. User manual release 4.60 [8/2003] 2 Contents Contents CONTENTS INTRODUCTION About this Manual System Requirements 3 15 16 18 FONTLAB USER INTERFACE Basic Terms Getting Started Customizing FontLab's User Interface Customizing Toolbars Customizing Menus Customizing Individual Items Converting a Menu to a Toolbar Customization of the Keyboard Links to External Programs Faster Method to Customize Commands 19 20 24 26 27 29 30 32 33 35 36 FontLab Windows Font Window Glyph Window Metrics Window 37 38 40 44 Panels 48 EDITING FONTS Opening Fonts Font Formats Import Options 51 52 55 56 Creating a New Font The Font Window Encoding Modes Characters, Codes and Glyphs Names Mode The Unicode Standard 61 62 66 67 71 74 3 FontLab 4 Unicode Ranges Codepages 75 78 Using the Font Window Navigating Selecting Context Menu 82 83 84 85 Moving Glyphs Saving the Font Autosave 88 90 92 Copying and Pasting Glyphs The Paste Special Command Copying Glyphs to Another Font Appending Glyphs to the Font Copying Composite Glyphs Duplicating Unicode Indexes 93 94 95 96 97 98 Deleting Glyphs Creating New Glyphs Highlighting Glyphs Marking Glyphs Glyph Collection 99 100 101 101 103 Searching for Glyphs Renaming Glyphs Reencoding the Font Unicode-Related Operations Generating Unicode Indexes Generating Names Removing Unicode Information 106 108 110 113 113 115 116 The Font Map Panel Managing Double-Byte Codepages 117 119 Notes Sorting Glyphs Working with Multiple Fonts Windows List Fonts Panel Merging Fonts Saving and Opening a Workspace 120 121 122 123 124 126 127 Applying Actions Blending Fonts Exporting and Printing 128 129 132 4 Contents Font Formats Export Options Type 1 Export Options TrueType Export Options OpenType Export Options Recommended Export Options 132 135 137 141 146 148 Printing Fonts Font Window Options View Options Tuning Options 149 151 152 153 THE FONT HEADER Font Info Dialog Box Command Bar Copying Font Info 155 156 158 159 Font Names Basic Identification and Names Accessing MyFonts.com Database OpenType-Specific Names Non-English and Special Names Copyright Information Font Embedding Designer Information License Information 160 161 164 166 167 171 172 173 174 Font Identification Version Information Basic Font Identification PANOSETM Identification Other Identification Systems 175 175 176 178 180 Metrics and Dimensions Font UPM Value Basic Font Dimensions Advanced Vertical Metrics Superscript and Subscript 182 182 183 184 187 Encoding and Unicode Supported Codepages Supported Unicode Ranges 188 189 191 Hinting Settings Alignment Zones Type 1 Standard Stems Global Hinting Parameters 192 193 195 197 Format-Specific Options Type 1 Export Options TrueType Export Options TrueType Mapping Settings Device-Dependent Metrics 199 200 201 202 203 5 FontLab 4 Font Smoothing Control [head] Table Settings Basic PCLT options PCLT Identification PCLT Metrics and Font Description PCLT Codepages 205 207 208 209 210 211 THE GLYPH WINDOW Glyph Window Contents The Glyphs Bar 213 214 217 Selecting a Glyph for Editing Changing the View in the Glyph Window Quick Zoom Selection 219 220 222 Tools and Operations Edit Mode Editing Layers Easier Way to Control Editing Layers 224 226 228 231 Outline Layer Contours Outline Appearance FontAudit Moving Nodes Using the Keyboard Non-node editing Changing Connection Type Deleting Nodes Deleting Lines and Curves Eraser Tool Inserting Nodes Using the Drawing Tool Adding Points to a Contour Converting Primitives Breaking and Joining Outlines Node Commands Node Properties Previewing Glyphs 232 234 240 245 248 251 252 254 255 256 257 258 259 261 262 263 264 266 268 Selections Using the Magic Wand Tool Moving the Selection Copying the Selection Transforming the Selection Selection Commands Selection Properties Panel Transformation Panel Find and Replace Operation Building an Outline From Blocks 276 277 278 278 281 285 286 287 289 291 6 Contents Outline Actions Creating Contours Merging and Intersecting Contours Outline Optimization 296 297 301 302 Metrics Editing Metrics Baseline Properties Panel Metrics Properties Panel 303 304 306 306 Grid Layer Guidelines Layer Editing Guidelines Guidelines Popup Menu Guidelines Tracking Guidelines Properties Panel 307 308 309 311 312 313 Mask Layer Editing Mask Mask Operations Assigning a Mask Specifying Mask Appearance 314 315 316 317 318 Template Layer Background Layer Background Positioning 320 321 323 Hints And Links Layer Links Editing Hints Hints Tracking Editing Links Hint and Link Popup Menu Hint Commands Autohinting Options Hint Properties Panel Link Properties Panel 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 333 333 Anchors Layer Moving Anchors Removing Anchors Renaming Anchors Changing Anchor Color Anchor Properties Using Anchors to Build Composites Using the Anchors Panel Creating Composites and Ligatures Aliases Table 334 335 335 335 335 336 337 340 342 344 Vertical Metrics Alignment Zones 345 346 7 FontLab 4 Sketch Mode Moving Points Changing Point Type Removing Points Inserting Points Reversing Contours Selecting Points Moving the Selection Transforming the Selection Selection Operations Breaking and Joining the Sketch Outline Converting to Outline 347 350 350 350 351 351 352 353 353 354 354 355 VectorPaint Mode Freehand Select Tool Pen (Contour) Tool Brush Tool VectorPaint Options Line Tool Polygon Tool Ellipse and Rectangle Tools Text Tool 356 358 359 360 362 363 364 365 366 Meter Mode Setting Guidelines, Anchors and Sidebearings 367 369 Outline Operations Interpolation Envelope Curve Set Reversing a Contour's Direction Rearranging Contours Working with Composite Glyphs Adding a Component Decomposing Component Positioning Component Properties 370 371 375 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 384 387 Using the Primitives Panel Importing and Exporting Glyphs Printing a Glyph 388 391 393 EDITING FONT METRICS What are Font Metrics? 395 396 8 Contents Kerning Metrics Files 397 398 Metrics Window Selecting a String for Previewing or Metrics Editing 399 402 Editing an Underline Editing Metrics Manual Metrics Editing Using the Keyboard Using the Metrics Table The Measurement Line Automatic Metrics Generation 407 408 409 410 411 413 414 Quick Save and Quick Open Editing Kerning Manual Kerning Editing Using the Keyboard Using the Table Using the Kerning Dialog Automatic Kerning Generation Resetting Kerning 416 417 418 419 420 421 423 425 Adjusting Metrics and Kerning Class-Based Kerning Classes Panel Class Definition Defining the Class Key Glyph Editing Class-Based Kerning Kerning Assistance Metrics Assistance Class-Based Kerning and OpenType Fonts 426 428 429 431 432 433 434 435 438 440 Opening Metrics Files Saving Metrics Files Printing a Sample String 441 443 444 TRANSFORMATIONS The Transform Dialog Box Transformation Actions Outline Transformation Hints and Guidelines Transformation Metrics Transformation Effects 445 446 448 449 457 459 462 Transform Range Dialog Box Transformation Range 468 469 9 FontLab 4 Transformation Program Using the Preview Window Saving and Opening a Transformation Program 471 472 473 Transforming Fonts 474 HINTING Font Scaling, PPM Coordinate Rounding, Gridfitting TrueType And Type 1 Hints Type 1 Hints Font-Level Type 1 Hints Alignment Zones Standard Stem Widths Additional Control Data 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 487 490 Stem Hint Programming Type 1 Hinting Tool Inserting And Removing Replacement Points Adding and removing hints Editing Hints Autoreplacing Preview Panel 492 495 497 498 499 500 500 Some Examples TrueType Instructions Font Parameters Visual TrueType Hints 505 506 508 509 TrueType Hinting Tool Toolbar Layers 510 512 514 Options Panel TrueType Preview Panel Program Panel Alignment Instructions Alignment Zones AlignTop and AlignBottom Instructions Hinting Alignment Zones Align Instruction 515 516 518 521 521 522 523 524 Links Standard Stems Single Links 527 528 529 10 Contents Double Links 534 Interpolation Delta Instructions Middle Delta Instructions Final Delta Instructions 538 540 541 546 Removing Instructions Standard Stems Advanced Options Context Menu Hinting Sidebearings Hinting Composite Glyphs Automatic TrueType Hinting Working With Bitmaps Importing Bitmaps Editing Bitmaps Highlight Differences Exporting Bitmaps 548 549 554 555 561 562 563 564 565 566 568 569 Hinting Strategies Middle Delta or Final Delta Single Link or Double Link Hinting White Space Hinting Serifs Hinting Diagonals Hinting Symmetrical Characters Interpolate or Not 570 570 572 574 576 577 578 579 MULTIPLE MASTER FONTS Multiple Master Fonts Theory Design Axes and Dynamic Range Standard Axes Design Coordinates and Weight Vectors Extrapolation Anisotropic Interpolation The Axis Graph 581 582 584 586 589 591 592 593 Multiple Master Fonts in FontLab Creation of MM Fonts in FontLab Defining an Axis Selecting a Master Font Using an Axis Panel Previewing the Intermediate Design Designing Master Fonts Multiple Master Metrics 594 595 596 598 600 604 605 614 11 FontLab 4 Editing Axis Settings Removing an Axis Multiple Master and Font Info Multiple Master Font Metrics Editing the Axis Graph Generating a Single-Master Font Expanding the Master Hinting Multiple Master Fonts Generating a Multiple Master Type 1 Font 615 616 617 619 620 623 624 625 626 OPENTYPE FONTS Font Features Features and Lookups 627 628 630 Scripts and Languages OpenType Font Formats OpenType Tables 631 632 634 Feature Definition Language Language Syntax 635 636 OpenType and FontLab Importing OpenType Fonts OpenType Panels OpenType Panel Adding and Removing Features Reordering Features Entering the Glyph and Class Names Renaming Glyphs and Classes Compiling the Feature Definitions The Output Panel OpenType Features Preview Panel Converting the Kerning Feature Development Process 647 648 649 649 651 652 653 654 655 657 658 660 661 Substitution Lookups Single Substitution Ligature Substitution Alternate Substitution Context-Dependent Substitutions 662 663 665 667 668 Positioning Lookups Glyph Geometry Value Record Single Positioning Pair Positioning 672 673 674 675 676 Known Features OpenType Glyph Properties Caret Positioning 679 683 684 12 Contents Exporting OpenType Fonts FontLab and VOLT 685 687 MACRO PROGRAMMING The Python Programming Language Installing Python Macro Toolbar Assign to Keyboard 689 690 691 692 694 Integrating into Menus Macro Tool Edit Macro Panel Naming the Programs First Steps 695 696 697 698 699 FontLab Python Classes FontLab Font Glyph 701 702 704 706 INDEX 709 13 Introduction Introduction Thank you for purchasing FontLab 4.6 ­ a new version of our professional font editor. The key features of FontLab 4.6 are: · Outline editors with more than 20 tools and 200-level undo/redo · Import and export of fonts in OpenType, TrueType and PostScript Type 1 formats with up to 6,400 characters. · Import, export and native-mode editing of Multiple Master fonts · Import and export of individual glyphs in EPS format · Multiple Master-enabled metric and kerning editing module with customisable autospacing and autokerning features · OpenType feature editing and testing · Import of OpenType features from existing fonts · Import and export of font metrics files in PFM and AFM format · Professional-level manual and automatic Type 1 and TrueType hinting · Automatic transformation of glyphs with more than 25 filters · Library of predefined customisable graphics primitives · Automatic testing of gl yph outlines with our unique FontAudit technology · Integrated Macro language based on the industry-standard Python language · New Unique Sketch mode with easy drawing tools · VectorPaint tools · Support of 4 encoding modes and an unlimited number of encoding tables · Easy-to-use completely customisable drag/drop-based user interface · Popup menus and property panels everywhere · Sample printing of fonts, sample strings and individual glyphs · Automatic Multiple Master-compatible font blending · OpenType-based Kerning and Metrics assistants · Smooth outline preview 15 FontLab 4 About this Manual This manual covers the Windows version of FontLab 4.6. The following chapters describe all of FontLab's features in full detail. They are organized to cover all the functions in their usual sequence. FontLab User Interface This chapter covers the basic definitions of the FontLab user interface and its customization and gives a short description of all the FontLab editing windows and panels. Editing Fonts This chapter explains how to modify fonts, copy characters, change encoding tables, select characters for editing, and edit font info fields. The Font Header This chapter provides a detailed description of the Font Header data and the FontLab tools intended to manage it. The Glyph Window FontLab includes powerful outline-editing tools that are described in this chapter. Editing Font Metrics If you want to create a professional-looking font you have to edit the font's metric data. The glyphs' widths, sidebearings, and kerning can be edited in FontLab automatically or manually. This chapter shows you how. Transformations From scale to drop shadow, from autohinting to autospacing - more than 25 transformation filters can help you instantly expand your font collection. This chapter gives detailed descriptions of all the transformations and their usage in FontLab. 16 Introduction Hinting To make your Type 1 or TrueType fonts look great everywhere you have to set hints. FontLab includes hinting tools that were previously available only in high-end font editing systems. Hinting can be a complicated process, so read this chapter carefully to get the best results. Multiple Master Fonts Opening, editing and exporting Multiple Master fonts; adding and removing design axes; editing the Design Map Graph ­ everything you ever wanted to know about multiple master fonts is in this chapter. OpenType Fonts This chapter covers FontLab tools, panels and features that deal with creation and editing of OpenType font features: ligatures, small caps, fractions, alternative glyphs, etc. Macro Programming This chapter includes a short description and demonstration of the Python programming language and its integration into the FontLab user interface. Python can be used to create custom tools and operations within FontLab. A brief description of the FontLab classes exported to Python is provided. 17 FontLab 4 System Requirements The Windows version of FontLab requires one of the following hardware and software configurations: A PC computer capable of running one of the following versions of Windows: Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 or Windows XP with one of these operating systems installed. At least 10Mb of free space on the HDD and at least 64 Mb RAM. FontLab will start on 32Mb RAM but you will need more RAM to open bigger fonts. 18 FontLab User Interface FontLab User Interface Before we start talking about fonts and the FontLab font-editing features let's spend some time learning the FontLab user interface. For the most part it is a standard Windows interface so if you know how to navigate in Windows or in Microsoft Office you will feel comfortable with FontLab. In other parts it is unique and that is where we will focus. Most of the interface elements in FontLab 4 are completely customizable and from this chapter you will learn how to change the FontLab interface so it will best fit your needs. Please note that further in the book we will refer to menu commands, toolbar buttons and keyboard shortcuts as they appear in the default FontLab environment, prior to any modifications you may make. 1 19 FontLab 4 Basic Terms We cannot go any further without defining a few terms that are critical to understanding FontLab and fonts in general. Character The minimal unit of the written language ­ a part of the alphabet, a symbol. Any picture that can be recognized as having the same meaning represents the same character: All the pictures above mean the character `A' Please note that sometimes pictures that look the same represent different characters: Latin `A' Cyrillic `A' Greek `Alpha' Characters have codes that are used to store text data on a computer. Glyph The basic element of the font, literally ­ an image that is printed. All glyphs are unique, even if they represent the same character. Glyphs are used to represent characters. Please note that many different glyphs may be used to represent the same character, even in the same font: 20