How to match font metrics between PC and Mac

FontCreator - Font Editor FontCreator - Support
1

After using PC my whole life, I’ve started using a Mac laptop as a second device.

I’m finding the software I use causes differences in the renderings of fonts between PC and Mac, which you can see demonstrated here: https://forums.steinberg.net/t/inconsistent-export-between-mac-and-pc/153224/11

This is a big problem for me. I want to be able to render files on both PC and Mac with no differences.

What font metrics should I be matching? Somehow I can’t get it to match correctly, no matter what I try.

Thanks in advance!

2

This is a tutorial about metrics:
https://www.high-logic.com/font-editor/fontcreator/tutorials/font-metrics-vertical-line-spacing

Let us know if this works for you.

3

Thank you Erwin, I read through it and it’s very helpful. What I’m still not totally clear on is how to fix it.

To explain: I have thousands of files that have been rendered on PC. Now that I’m using a Mac as a second device, I want my Mac renderings to match the PC renderings.

Although I haven’t tested it, I am told the program I’m using (Dorico) renders Academico font the same on Windows and Mac:

Here are the metrics for the font I am using:

I assume I should change the values for Ascender/Descender/Line Gap? Should they be 700/-300/140? I hope to understand the correct solution before trying it, and causing a mess across multiple machines and files… Thank you!

4

Sorry for bumping this thread, but I’m really desperate for a solution. Could anyone give advice about how to modify the font metrics so that the Mac installation will match existing Windows files?

Thank you!

5

FontCreator 15 has a button that calculates the values. It is mostly based on the suggestions from the tutorial.

Do give it a try and let me know if that works.

6

Thanks, I upgraded to 15, but I’m still not sure what to do.
Untitled.png
I need to keep the Windows values unchanged, but only change the Mac values so they match.

I have read through the tutorial, but I don’t know what to do with the “Calculate” button.

I’m really quite desperate. Thank you!

7

I am afraid it will only work if you use the calculate button, but then most likely all values are updated.

There are numerous other attempts to streamline metrics; for example:

https://github.com/googlefonts/gf-docs/blob/main/VerticalMetrics/README.md

https://typedrawers.com/discussion/4554/on-vertical-metrics-in-the-context-of-a-biscript-tamil-and-latin-font

8

Ok, I found a solution. It didn’t use the calculate button, and I didn’t need to upgrade to 15, although I was happy to support the development of this wonderful program.

I simply set the values of Ascender and Descender to match Win Ascent and Win Descent, and set the Line Gap to 0. It causes the font to render exactly the same on Mac as it does on Windows:
2024_04_12_08_42_02_SAMPLE_1_MAC.pdf_Adobe_Acrobat_Pro_32_bit_.png

9

Do you foresee any potential complications from the way I did this?

10

I am glad you continue to support our software and I am pleased you seem to have found a solution!

Not really, but I am sure there are situations where it no longer matches. Probably when used in Adobe software…

11

Thanks. But doesn’t Adobe use Typo values? So it wouldn’t be looking at Win Ascent/Descent and Ascender/Descender then?

I didn’t change the Typo values.

12

I think there are 3 shaping engines that are used in the last years, a default one, a composer, and Harfbuzz. Not sure if all use the same metrics.