I need to create a large number of composites, since I am limited to using only standard ligatures to produce things like this:
I’m planning on accomplishing it by something like this:
…where each of the three positions could be a number, a line, or a space. I would make an @ prefix for each ligature, so user would input:
at_seven_five_three.liga
at_hyphenminus_hyphenminus_hyphenminus.liga, etc
@—
@-4- @6!- (! for a space)
@!!2
but obviously there are a lot of combinations, since each position could be a number up to 9, a line, or a space! That’s more than a thousand combinations. Ugh…
Is there a way I could batch this process? I need to use composites, but generate ligatures from them automatically.
You could try Insert Glyphs by Name and then provide a formula for each new glyph like:
at_seven_five_three.liga=at+seven+five+three
Etc.
Then the feature generator available from the upper left toolbar in the OpenType Designer should be able to create the ligature (if all glyph components within the glyph name exist in the font). Here is the generated fea code:
lookup latn_liga { # GSUB lookup type Ligature
sub at seven five three by seven_five_three.liga;
} latn_liga;
Well, I don’t think (if I remember correctly) that I can use 7, 5, 3, etc in the actual .liga code. Those have to be written out in full. But the glyphs the ligature is referencing can be named anything.
Thanks, I will look into anchors again. That part is still confusing for me.
Sorry to be dense, but I can’t figure it out. I combined superior 7, baseline 5, and subscript 3, and got this:
But I want them to be stacked. I tried to add a cursive anchor, but I couldn’t figure it out. Also, is this an OT feature? If so, the software this will be used with can only use standard ligatures. Thanks…
Sorry, but in my speedy reply I mixed up cursive with regular anchors. Even though it might also be possible with cursive (entry and exit) anchors, it is probably easiest to work with regular anchors. Your way of making glyphs is rather unusual, but this tutorial might help: https://www.high-logic.com/font-editor/fontcreator/tutorials/arabic-font-design
To make base to mark work, the second glyph should be a Mark glyph.