Opentype features sometimes working and sometimes not

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Cazzac
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri May 07, 2021 10:51 am

Opentype features sometimes working and sometimes not

Post by Cazzac »

Firstly, let me thank you for the amazing FontCreator, which I have been using for over ten years to create handwriting fonts for schools.

I'm trying to achieve a joined handwriting effect (this particular one uses dotted letters for for handwriting practice). I'm adding an entry and exit stroke to each letter, then using ligatures to convert an exit followed by an entry stroke into a specific joining stroke.

The joins all work as expected in the OpenType font designer window:
Working in OpenType Designer window.jpg
Working in OpenType Designer window.jpg (130.83 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
In the test desktop font window there are clearly some problems:
Partially working in Test Desktop Font window.jpg
Partially working in Test Desktop Font window.jpg (81.2 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
In the test web font window it seems to work fine:
Working in Test Web Font Window.jpg
Working in Test Web Font Window.jpg (144.84 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
I've also noticed that the letters don't display correctly in the Windows font preview window:
Not working in Windows Font Preview.jpg
Not working in Windows Font Preview.jpg (137.93 KiB) Viewed 2163 times
So clearly I'm doing something wrong, but I have spent hours on this and tried so many different variations that I'm tearing my hair out.

Any ideas?
Bhikkhu Pesala
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Re: Opentype features sometimes working and sometimes not

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

Open the Font Test Window (F5), and note the font name in the top left corner.

Leaving the font test Window open, switch to your word-processor, select the font and test it there. Ignore the Windows Font Viewer — it probably does not support OpenType features like Contextual Ligatures.
My FontsReviews: MainTypeFont CreatorHelpFC15 + MT12.0 @ Win 10 64-bit build 19045.2486
Cazzac
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri May 07, 2021 10:51 am

Re: Opentype features sometimes working and sometimes not

Post by Cazzac »

Thanks Bikkhu - I have tried what you suggested and the font works correctly in my word processor.

So I can safely ignore the test window problems?
Bhikkhu Pesala
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Location: Seven Kings, London UK
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Re: Opentype features sometimes working and sometimes not

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

Cazzac wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 1:43 pmSo I can safely ignore the test window problems?
Yes, the Test window supports some OpenType features, but not all. The important thing is to check in the application(s) in which your font will be used.
My FontsReviews: MainTypeFont CreatorHelpFC15 + MT12.0 @ Win 10 64-bit build 19045.2486
Cazzac
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri May 07, 2021 10:51 am

Re: Opentype features sometimes working and sometimes not

Post by Cazzac »

That's good to know. Thanks for your help.
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