We have limited resources and right now it seems you are the only customer who needs it. Don’t get me wrong; we would really like to implement this, but even basic support for it would take weeks.
As a software developer myself I can understand that it may not seem like a priority for you. Nevertheless, Format 14 cmap subtable is supported by other font editors, and Unicode variation sequences are getting more and more widely implemented, especially for CJK fonts as the Ideographic Variation Database defines many thousands of ideographic variation sequences. Variation sequences are now also used for emoji, to specify whether a character should be rendered in text style or emoji style, and as you may be aware emoji are extremely hot at present, and implemented as a priority on all platforms. By not supporting the Format 14 cmap subtable you are severely restricting the market for FontCreator among developers of CJK and emoji fonts. It may take several weeks’ development time, but I think the benefits to you will make it worthwhile in the long run, and so I urge you to reconsider your decision.
We will add support for it, but don’t expect some advanced way of editing such variation sequences yet. Maybe just a dialog to see all variation sequences, and a way to import and export them. Nothing fancy as we’re going to invest a week in something that is requested by a single person
Dear Erwin,
Thank you very much! Having a way to import and export the sequences in text format is all I need.
Best wishes,
Andrew
Hi Erwin,
I tried out the test version you sent me, and it looks great. I loaded a few fonts with Unicode variation sequences for various scripts, and the dialog lists them all correctly. With the addition of import/export functionality it will be all I need.
Thanks,
Andrew
I have only just noticed this thread.
Erwin wrote:
Nothing fancy as we’re going to invest a week in something that is requested by a single person
Ah, but you also receive my admiration for being responsive to customer need.
There are also second order effects to consider. There may be people looking for a font editor that will do that and when they find that FontCreator will do it, they may choose to buy a licence. I wonder how many people that will be. Maybe the investment in programming time will prove to be finacially of benefit as well.
High-Logic was a leader in implementing colour font technology. Now High-Logic is implementing this facility.
Is this feature necessary for implementing the use of variation sequences in explicitly choosing between a monochrome emoji glyph and a colourful emoji glyph to display?
William
Is this feature necessary for implementing the use of variation sequences in explicitly choosing between a monochrome emoji glyph and a colourful emoji glyph to display?
Yes, it is. Support for Unicode variation sequences is required by font developers working on emoji fonts, as well as those working on CJK fonts. I agree with you that adding this feature to FontCreator may result in more font developers choosing FontCreator.
Andrew
Although not available through the regular download page, here is a first public release which includes support for both cmap format 13 and 14.