Re: Questions about fonts

Stuart Wineberg wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 3 Dec 2003 01:52:29 -0000, "Bastet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
> >Stuart Wineberg wrote:
> >> Dear Experts
> >>
> >> A few questions about fonts
> >>
> >> 1 Type 1 fonts come with 2 main files *.pfb & *.pfm. Do they have to
> >> go in the same folder?
> >
> >PFB is the actual font - PFM stands for Printer Font Metrics and contains
> >the information necessary to create each glyph (character). You will require
> >Adobe's Type Manager installed before you can utilise T1 fonts on Windows
> >versions lower than XP (though I did think that the 2000 handled them
> >natively too).
> >
> >
> >> 2 What are *.inf files? Are they necessary to use the fonts?
> >
> >Inf files are merely information - usually a form of EULA (End User Licence
> >Agreement). May also contain registration details for a shareware/demo font.
> >
> >> 3 What are *.reg files? Are they necessary to use the fonts?
> >
> >Never seen a font package with a reg file - do you mean as in a registry
> >(cube with smaller cubes breaking off) file?
> >
> >
> >> 4 What are *.otf files?
> >
> >A joint project between Adobe and Microsoft to produce a hybrid between Type
> >1 and TrueType fonts, with additional features. Fonts consist of one file,
> >ending in .otf and can contain both Latin and non-Latin characters, expert
> >and extended characters, and additional styles such as old-style figures,
> >small capitals etc. The same file can be used on PC or Macintosh. Built into
> >Windows 2000 and XP, and available on earlier versions of Windows via Adobe
> >Type Manager.
> >
> >This was shamelessly plagiarised from the ABF Glossary available here
> >http://www.abf.jamesgoffin.co.uk/.
> >
> >
> >> 5 My wife is a calligrapher and has developed her own style of
> >> writing. How can I turn her style into a font? I'd need fairly
> >> detailed insrtructions in how to do this for both Type 1 and truetype.
> >
> >First you'd need to purchase a font creation package (something like FontLab
> >or Fontographer). Be warned though, they're not cheap!
> >
> >> Many thanks in advance
> >>
> >> Stu Wineberg
> 
> Thanks for the information. However you did not answer one question:
> Do PFM & PFB files have to go into the same folder.

Sometimes. To view a non-installed font, yes. But if you install it, ATM
defaults to putting them in separate directories. I strongly suggest
overriding that default and keeping them together - it makes it much
easier to manage without forgetting one or the other.
 
> Also a further question: What are *.afm files?

Adobe Font Metrics

You didn't read the FAQ that was suggested, or google for the
information; if you had, you wouldn't have to ask the question.
http://www.abf.jamesgoffin.co.uk/ 
It's not just a glossary.
BTW - the .inf files are NOT just information - ATM can install a font
from a pfb / inf / afm combination.
 
> I already have Fontographer but would like simple detailed
> instructions on how to use the package to create the font from my
> wife's lettering.

For help with a given product, go to that product's forum or support
website. Fontographer and FontLib can output in either Truetype or
Type1.
FWIW, you'd do better with Scanfont and Fontlab. Scanfont can convert
graphics into font elements.
There's also a product called "Your Handwriting" from DataBecker that's
made specifically for what you have in mind.

- Character