question about contextual chaining context
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 7:02 pm
I'm creating a distressed all caps font and would like to use a chaining context table for the first time to simulate an automated substitution. Each lowercase letter will have 3 alternates. For example (a= a.alt1, a.alt2, a.alt3)
My goal is twofold:
1. For alternate glyphs to cycle in place of letters keyed multiple times. If you were to key the word "Mississipi" for example all 4 lowercase s would be different. s, s.alt1, s.alt2, s.alt3
2. For single letters to cycle sequentially in an automated process. If you were to key "run run run" you would get r/u/n/space/r.alt2/u.alt2/n.alt/2/space/r.alt3/u.alt3/n.alt3
here's a screen shot from a font that does this successfully
I've experimented with an existing DEMO font by examining the code and trying out the subtables and substitutions on my font. My first goal is partially accomplished but stops at the 2nd alternate glyph. So if you were to key "ssss" you'd get s, s.alt1, s.alt2, s. I've also tried adding classes to the existing subtables and that partially solves my 2nd goal but completely ruins the first.
I'm beating my brain trying to figure out how this all works and haven't had any luck searching for anything on the web. I just don't completely understand the process or why certain glyphs are in certain classes.
If there's a good way to do this from scratch I'd love to hear (or even a good tutorial somewhere) Thanks.
My goal is twofold:
1. For alternate glyphs to cycle in place of letters keyed multiple times. If you were to key the word "Mississipi" for example all 4 lowercase s would be different. s, s.alt1, s.alt2, s.alt3
2. For single letters to cycle sequentially in an automated process. If you were to key "run run run" you would get r/u/n/space/r.alt2/u.alt2/n.alt/2/space/r.alt3/u.alt3/n.alt3
here's a screen shot from a font that does this successfully
I've experimented with an existing DEMO font by examining the code and trying out the subtables and substitutions on my font. My first goal is partially accomplished but stops at the 2nd alternate glyph. So if you were to key "ssss" you'd get s, s.alt1, s.alt2, s. I've also tried adding classes to the existing subtables and that partially solves my 2nd goal but completely ruins the first.
I'm beating my brain trying to figure out how this all works and haven't had any luck searching for anything on the web. I just don't completely understand the process or why certain glyphs are in certain classes.
If there's a good way to do this from scratch I'd love to hear (or even a good tutorial somewhere) Thanks.