Dathadorne wrote:Does anyone know if it would be possible for the program to integrate multiple images per character, and then randomly select one live while one types?
As far as I know, this facility is not presently available. The idea did get me thinking and I have started a new thread in the Specification Forum about the theory of the possibility. A new thread so as not to disrupt this present thread. In case anyone is interested in that discussion, here is the link to the new thread.
viewtopic.php?t=2216
Dathadorne wrote:
I'd like to make a font that looks like handwriting, without repeat images for the same characters in close proximity.
It is possible, however, to do that with a specially made TrueType font and using one of some common applications, such as Microsoft WordPad. However, inserting an alternative glyph of the character would need to be done manually within WordPad and the way of doing it means that such things as spell checkers would not work with the text (though I think that WordPad does not have a spell checker, so no problem there!). However, if you are simply wanting to set text using a font and then producing a hardcopy printout or maybe a graphic file for the web then you can achieve good results: the process is strange yet that does not show in the results.
What one needs to do is to insert the alternative designs for glyphs in the Unicode Private Use Area.
For example, I have done that with a few alternative designs for a letter g in the following font.
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~ngo/SONNETRL.TTF
The font has its own thread in the Gallery forum.
viewtopic.php?t=1476
The
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~ngo/SONNETRL.TTF file can be downloaded to local storage and then opened in FontCreator.
There are five alternative versions of the letter g in the font.
Please note that these are mapped at U+E421, U+E422, U+E423, U+E424 and U+E425. These are codepoints within the Unicode Private Use Area. I chose those codepoint values myself. Someone else could use those codepoints for something else if he or she chose to do so. That is in the rules of the Private Use Area, anyone may make a codepoint assignment, yet no one may claim exclusivity of a codepoint assignment. That may sound problematic, and it can be problematic at times, yet in many ways the system works well and allows many opportunities which would not otherwise be possible.
Installing the font on a local PC allows the following tests to take place within Microsoft WordPad.
First you need to know that the decimal equivalent values of the hexadecimal codepoint values E421, E422, E423, E424 and E425 are 58401, 58402, 58403, 58404 and 58405 respectively. These were calculated using Microsoft Calculator in View Scientific mode.
Please try typing the following, at 24 point.
testing
testin
Now hold down the Alt key, key 58405 on the number keys that are at the right of the keyboard and then release the Alt key. The fifth alternative g should appear.
If that test is repeated yet using the following text, the tail of that g clashes with the descender of the p.
Spring
Sprin
So, using Alt 58404 is better in that case as no clash then takes place.
I hope that this helps.
William Overington
10 April 2008