Really long list of different requests... =)
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 3:04 pm
I don't visit this forum very often but I've been using FontCreator for a long time and I have gathered also a long list of missing features over the years.
FontCreator basically does what it should but I miss many shortcuts that would speed up my work. I should probably also mention that I am still using version 9.1 but I have tested several newer versions too and these features seems to be still missing (or I just have not noticed them yet).
I don't really expect all these things to be included but it would be nice to get made at least some of them.
Here's the list:
1. Hotkeys!
That's the most painful item on my list.
The first detail si that functions from toolbars does not display their keyboard shortcut and I think they definitely should.
(K - Knife, M - Measure) Why is it burried only in Help?
Some other don't have hot keys at all (Selection, Lasso) and I have no idea why.
I would like to have shortcuts for many items in menu too:
- Make simple
- Optimize Contours
- Align left / right / top / bottom (CTRL+ALT+Shift + Left / Right / Up / Down) - I use this all the time.
- new function Apply last settings of Glyph Transformer on current glyph
Of course, the best solution would be the option to set my own hotkeys for each existing function in FC.
2. Custom settings
I would really like ho have the possibility to change the colour and size of point handles because I don't like their current look.
3. Mass transformation of selected points
FC can transform the whole curve so I think it should be able to transform a set of selected points too. It could be enabled e.g. by holding Alt while in point mode and the rectangle handle could appear.
4. Customizable reduction of number of points
I noticed that the latest versions include some functions for simplification (Simplify and Compress, I think) but they both seems to me "too nice". I often edit weird fonts with hundreds points per glyph and I would like to reduce the number more drastically.
It would be really nice to have an option in Glyph Transformer how many points should disappear - or many points it should keep.
Even better would be a live version of it (Illustrator way) and the best version should work even on a selection of points.
5. Free / perspective transform
That's an old Photoshop function. Pressing Alt enables you to drag corner point of selection handle and perspectively stretch the selection.
This should work in Glyph Transformer too.
6. Math transformation
Useful and more versatile addition for Glyph Transformer would be Math transformation where we could simply type two function that would move all points to their new positions.
Something like this:
New X: "x + y/2 * sin(x)"
New Y: "y - x/2"
7. Batch import
It is very annoying to import a long set of glyphs one by one so it would be nice to a function ar wizard for that.
You could choose source folder, format of input files and the right filename-to-glyph mappings (e.g. filename == glyphname, filename == ASCII code, etc.) and FC should handle the rest.
8. Font Validation Wizard rework
FVW is my long term enemy. It's nice to get a list of possible errors but there is not easy way how to get to the point.
It should basically look like the list of compiler errors in Visual Studio - i.e. it should be an optional panel that could stay open all the time (!) and clicking on each error item should open the glyph and set the cursor on the problematic location.
I also think that all functions does not follow the setting of validation in Options (definitely in version 9.1). I set "off-curve extremes" to "global detection" but FC still adds points that are unnecessary with this setting.
9. Left panel
I really like the left panel and I use mostly Tags and Find in it but I feel it misses some features.
- The section with tags should definitely include folder called "Untagged" too because that's the default status of all glyphs.
- It seems that latest version removed the option with "Find to left panel". I quite liked it and I even often wanted to save it somehow (i.e. created a new category or tag) for future use.
For example I would like to have a category for all glyphs derived from A (A, Aacute, Agrave, ...). I often create such classes in OpenType Designer so it could be interconnected too (i.e. one section of left panel should be "OpenType classes).
- Of course, all custom tags or groups (OpenType classes?) does not have to work exclusively. (Let's say I've got "d" which is "tall lowercase" that "needs review" at the same time.)
10. New PANOSE Wizard
Every time I try to fill the exact PANOSE parameters I am angry how long it does take to measure glyphs and I think it could be made much more convenient and faster using a Wizard.
The basics should be set manually by letting the user choose from some sample pictures (Family, Tool) but I think TC should be able to count parameters for Weight, Aspect Ratio, Contrast and so on all by itself.
Thank you for your attention - especially if you have managed to read the whole text. =)
FontCreator basically does what it should but I miss many shortcuts that would speed up my work. I should probably also mention that I am still using version 9.1 but I have tested several newer versions too and these features seems to be still missing (or I just have not noticed them yet).
I don't really expect all these things to be included but it would be nice to get made at least some of them.
Here's the list:
1. Hotkeys!
That's the most painful item on my list.
The first detail si that functions from toolbars does not display their keyboard shortcut and I think they definitely should.
(K - Knife, M - Measure) Why is it burried only in Help?
Some other don't have hot keys at all (Selection, Lasso) and I have no idea why.
I would like to have shortcuts for many items in menu too:
- Make simple
- Optimize Contours
- Align left / right / top / bottom (CTRL+ALT+Shift + Left / Right / Up / Down) - I use this all the time.
- new function Apply last settings of Glyph Transformer on current glyph
Of course, the best solution would be the option to set my own hotkeys for each existing function in FC.
2. Custom settings
I would really like ho have the possibility to change the colour and size of point handles because I don't like their current look.
3. Mass transformation of selected points
FC can transform the whole curve so I think it should be able to transform a set of selected points too. It could be enabled e.g. by holding Alt while in point mode and the rectangle handle could appear.
4. Customizable reduction of number of points
I noticed that the latest versions include some functions for simplification (Simplify and Compress, I think) but they both seems to me "too nice". I often edit weird fonts with hundreds points per glyph and I would like to reduce the number more drastically.
It would be really nice to have an option in Glyph Transformer how many points should disappear - or many points it should keep.
Even better would be a live version of it (Illustrator way) and the best version should work even on a selection of points.
5. Free / perspective transform
That's an old Photoshop function. Pressing Alt enables you to drag corner point of selection handle and perspectively stretch the selection.
This should work in Glyph Transformer too.
6. Math transformation
Useful and more versatile addition for Glyph Transformer would be Math transformation where we could simply type two function that would move all points to their new positions.
Something like this:
New X: "x + y/2 * sin(x)"
New Y: "y - x/2"
7. Batch import
It is very annoying to import a long set of glyphs one by one so it would be nice to a function ar wizard for that.
You could choose source folder, format of input files and the right filename-to-glyph mappings (e.g. filename == glyphname, filename == ASCII code, etc.) and FC should handle the rest.
8. Font Validation Wizard rework
FVW is my long term enemy. It's nice to get a list of possible errors but there is not easy way how to get to the point.
It should basically look like the list of compiler errors in Visual Studio - i.e. it should be an optional panel that could stay open all the time (!) and clicking on each error item should open the glyph and set the cursor on the problematic location.
I also think that all functions does not follow the setting of validation in Options (definitely in version 9.1). I set "off-curve extremes" to "global detection" but FC still adds points that are unnecessary with this setting.
9. Left panel
I really like the left panel and I use mostly Tags and Find in it but I feel it misses some features.
- The section with tags should definitely include folder called "Untagged" too because that's the default status of all glyphs.
- It seems that latest version removed the option with "Find to left panel". I quite liked it and I even often wanted to save it somehow (i.e. created a new category or tag) for future use.
For example I would like to have a category for all glyphs derived from A (A, Aacute, Agrave, ...). I often create such classes in OpenType Designer so it could be interconnected too (i.e. one section of left panel should be "OpenType classes).
- Of course, all custom tags or groups (OpenType classes?) does not have to work exclusively. (Let's say I've got "d" which is "tall lowercase" that "needs review" at the same time.)
10. New PANOSE Wizard
Every time I try to fill the exact PANOSE parameters I am angry how long it does take to measure glyphs and I think it could be made much more convenient and faster using a Wizard.
The basics should be set manually by letting the user choose from some sample pictures (Family, Tool) but I think TC should be able to count parameters for Weight, Aspect Ratio, Contrast and so on all by itself.
Thank you for your attention - especially if you have managed to read the whole text. =)