Why doesn't FontCreator 14 save color glyphs?

[Philipp]

 Сan't figure out what the bug is and how to get around it? Why doesn't FontCreator 14 save color glyphs to the the project file? Unfortunately, the poor manual is silent about this. Here's the project file.

TMP.fcp

(9 KiB) Downloaded 225 times

After reopen the file, the changes are not saved. Is it the FontCreator crooked, or am I missing something?

And since video files cannot be attached, I upload a video screenshot of the actions to the link:
http://www.himlenes.com/FILES_2/BugFont ... IDEO_1.mp4
http://www.himlenes.com/FILES_2/BugFont ... IDEO_1.wmv

Why doesn't FontCreator 14 save color glyphs in project file?

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

When I opened your project file the glyph "ear" had no glyph members.

I added them, saved and reloaded the file, and they were still present.

Check for updates to make sure that you're using the latest version in case some relevant bugs have been fixed.

Changelog.

[Erwin Denissen]

You seem to be using an older version (FontCreator 14.0.0.2794) from June last year, while we did solve an issue related to storing color glyph members in FontCreator 14.0.0.2814 [August 20, 2021].

In the mean time we have fixed numerous other bugs and added several improvements, so we strongly recommend you to update. You can do this with FontCreator. From the main menu, select Help -> Check for Updates.

[Guenther]

Hi, I'm chiming in on this thread because of a question about creating colored fonts. I downloaded TMP.fcp and see some colored glyphs at the end in FontCrea-tor. For example, I deleted EAR_1 and wanted to insert my own image via >Tools >Import Image. However, the import button is grayed out even if I don't delete the existing image.

FC 1a.jpg (290.6 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

If I go to any other glyph, e.g. "A", I cannot delete it, the corresponding context menu entry is grayed out.

FC 3.jpg (130.21 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

But I can insert an image via >Tools >Import Image

FC 4.jpg (63.67 KiB) Viewed 2568 times

but it is not displayed in color

Maybe you can give me a hint.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

Switch to monochrome to import the image, edit the glyph in points mode, then switch back to colour mode.

Monochrome.png (6.31 KiB) Viewed 2552 times

[Guenther]

Hi Bhikkhu, thanks for your help.
have now imported the image into letter A in Monochrome mode, set the desired size in Points mode.

FC 5.jpg (87.06 KiB) Viewed 2530 times

now when i switch to Color mode nothing is visible.

FC 6.jpg (76.44 KiB) Viewed 2530 times

I guess I am still doing something wrong

regards Günther

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

Read the help file on Coloured Glyphs and the Tutorial on Creating OpenType Colour Fonts.

[Guenther]

Hi Bhikkhu,
I use FontCreator only occasionally to create or change fonts and due to my lack of typography knowledge I always reach my limits very quickly, even more so because the program offers so many possibilities. Now I actually just wanted to display two colored symbols in a font.

FC 9.jpg (55.83 KiB) Viewed 2508 times

Unfortunately I couldn't do that even with the nice tutorial, probably because of the lack of background knowledge.
Thanks for your help
best Regards
Günther

[Erwin Denissen]

The easiest way is to right-click and select colorize to add the glyph as color layer.

[Guenther]

Hi Erwin,
I hope I am not too cumbersome. I load the template TMP.fcp in FontCreator and select e.g. the glyph EAR_1

FC 10.jpg (87.81 KiB) Viewed 2504 times

set Monocrome and delete the image

FC 11a.jpg (248.1 KiB) Viewed 2504 times

I import the desired image via Import image
and set Selection Mode to Point
right mouse button - context menu - Colorize is grayed out

FC 13.jpg (53.61 KiB) Viewed 2504 times

best regards - Günther

[Erwin Denissen]

Then the glyph already contains color, as you already showed in the screenshot with the circled EAR_1.

You can see what glyphs are used to construct a color glyph through the Members panel.

[Guenther]

Hi Erwin,
thank you, I have to process that first. I will contact you again if necessary

[Guenther]

Hi Erwin,

I have carefully read the explanations of the Tutorial on Creating OpenType Colour Fonts (I have extra translated into German, so that I understand it better), the help file on Coloured Glyphs and also the toolbar for Color Glyph Members, but unfortunately I get no further with my modest knowledge.

I downloaded the template file TMP.fcp from Bhikkhu in the second post of this thread. When I open this in FontCreator, I see some colored glyphs. Replacing them with my two bitmaps or inserting my bitmaps as, say, letter A and B, unfortunately doesn't work for me.

If it's not too outrageous, could you give me a quick guide on how to accomplish this, i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd ....

Otherwise I live also without colored glyphs

[Erwin Denissen]

I am not sure what part is unclear, so let me try some basic steps:

Start a new font
Open an empty glyph
Import an image
Select Colorize

From here you will now have the monochrome glyph outline and for the same glyph you will have a color variant that is made out of the monochrome outline, but with a defined color.

There are two panels that help with adding other glyphs as members for your color glyph as well as defining color for the members, Palette and Members.

[Erwin Denissen]

And in case you missed our video about creating color fonts, here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4BSK_ASOlw

It is a bit outdated, as it is already nine years ago since we made it, so the old tool windows are replaced with panels, etc.