Optical Metrics

We will move topics to this forum, once we've implemented the requested feature(s) and/or enhancement(s).
Post Reply
PJMiller
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 977
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Contact:

Optical Metrics

Post by PJMiller »

It would be nice if there were an option to let Optical Metrics skip a glyph if one of the glyphs making up a composite glyph has the 'use this glyphs metrics' flag set. This would also speed up the processing of Optical Metrics.

For instance, if all the glyphs which use capital 'A' as the base glyph (A plus various diacritics) had the 'use this glyphs metrics' flag set to use the metrics for 'A' then they could be skipped by Optical Metrics and they would just remain with the same bearings as the 'A' character.
Erwin Denissen
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11108
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2002 12:41 am
Location: Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Optical Metrics

Post by Erwin Denissen »

In general this could work, but sometimes a diacritic requires more kerning.

zeta iota and zeta iotadieresis with the same kern value:
compositeskerning.png
compositeskerning.png (11.75 KiB) Viewed 7419 times
icircumflex:
compositeskerning2.png
compositeskerning2.png (15.43 KiB) Viewed 7419 times
Erwin Denissen
High-Logic
Proven Font Technology
Bhikkhu Pesala
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 9873
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2002 5:28 am
Location: Seven Kings, London UK
Contact:

Re: Optical Metrics

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

I try to resolve this dilemma by not putting glyphs with different shapes in the same kerning class.

For example, I have a class named @i_lc with i, dotless i, and iogonek, and another class @i_lc_top with ï, ĩ, î, ì, í, etc.
My FontsReviews: MainTypeFont CreatorHelpFC15 + MT12.0 @ Win 10 64-bit build 19045.2486
PJMiller
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 977
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Optical Metrics

Post by PJMiller »

If the glyph had a diacritic which required extra width then you wouldn't have the 'use this glyphs metrics' flag set for the base glyph, perhaps it would use the width of the diaresis. But it would be nice to have that option, if it leads to problems with spacing then it would need some manual adjustment.

Optical Metrics is a starting point, not an end point.
Last edited by PJMiller on Tue Jan 31, 2017 11:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Erwin Denissen
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11108
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2002 12:41 am
Location: Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Optical Metrics

Post by Erwin Denissen »

PJMiller wrote:If the glyph had a diacritic which required extra width then you wouldn't have the 'use this glyphs metrics' flag set for the base glyph, perhaps it would use the width of the diaresis.
Take a look at Calibiri and other common fonts. idieresis uses metrics of dotlessi.
PJMiller wrote:But it would be nice to have that option, if it leads to problems with spacing then it would need some manual adjustment.
Expect to see it in the next major release.
Erwin Denissen
High-Logic
Proven Font Technology
PJMiller
Top Typographer
Top Typographer
Posts: 977
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Optical Metrics

Post by PJMiller »

Thank you very much! :D
Post Reply