Copyright: Copyright (c) FontLab Developers Group, 1996.


Introduction

Thank you for purchasing TypeTool 1.0 - a new product from the creators of FontLab. With TypeTool you can create or edit any font in Post Script or TrueType format. TypeTool is easy-to-use application, but it can produce very professional results.

The key features of TypeTool are:

•	Outline editor with more than 10 tools and 100-level undo and redo

•	Importing and exporting of fonts in TrueType and PostScript Type 1 formats

•	Importing and exporting of individual characters in EPS format

•	Metric and kerning editing module with customizable autospacing and autokerning features

•	Importing and exporting of font metrics files in PFM and AFM format

•	Support of multiple encoding tables

•	Easy-to-use drag/drop interface

•	Popup menus and property panels everywhere


System Requirements

TypeTool requires one of following hardware and software configurations:

1.	PC computer capable of running Windows 95 with Windows 95 installed.

2.	PC computer capable of running Windows NT 3.51 or Windows NT 4.0 with one of those systems installed

3.	PC computer with the following configuration:

486 or Pentium processor
At least 8 Mb RAM
VGA or better video system
HDD and mouse

Windows 3.1 and Win32s 1.30 installed.


A Note on Intellectual Property

Digital fonts are complex computer programs created with a good deal of hard work by individuals and companies. They are valuable intellectual property and are protected by trademark, copyright, and patent laws. The details and extent of this protection varies in different countries, but the basics are as follows:

Trademark: A font name (and only the name) may be trademarked. Only the trademark owner or licensees may use the name to describe a font.

Copyright: Computer programs are copyrighted. In the U.S.A. this happens automatically as soon as the program is written. Further rights may be secured by registering the copyright.

Patent: Some fonts, if they are distinctive and unusual enough, may be granted a design patent. Only the patent holder or licensees may use this font design.

If you purchase a font and then modify it for your own use you are probably within the bounds of “fair use” and the font licensing agreement. However, if you modify a purchased font and then sell or distribute it you may be in violation of copyright, patent or licensing laws. Please read your font license agreement carefully or contact the licensor to determine your rights and obligations.


Trademark Information

All trademarks used in this manual are the property of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged. In particular:

FontLab Composer, FontLab, ScanFont, VectorPaint, and TypeTool are trademarks of Pyrus North America Ltd.

Windows, Windows 95, and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Adobe, PostScript, Type Manager, and Illustrator are trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc.

IBM is a trademark of the IBM Corporation.


Font Window

The Font Window is used to show a font. You can open the Font Window by selecting the Font command in the Window menu. Font Windows opens automatically when you open a font.

The Font Window consists of the header, which includes a little toolbar and combo box (used to choose one of the available encodings), and a table of characters, where each character is represented by a single cell:

Each cell has a caption showing the name of the character or it’s code in various forms, from a decimal to an octal number.

The characters’ cells may be of a gray or white background and have a white or yellow caption.

A gray cell means that there is no character in this place in the font. Instead of the character, a sample template character from one of the system fonts is shown in the empty cell. You can select a font for the templates or switch off the templates using the Font Window page in the Options dialog box.

A yellow frame and caption in the character’s cell means that this character is in the top 256-characters range. Characters whose codes are above 256 have a gray caption and no yellow frame.

See also:

Encoding Vectors


Encoding Vectors

A font is a collection of characters that have a common design. Each font has a header that stores top-level information, such as the font name and style, in an organized way. To let a program have direct access to characters, each character has unique identifiers. In most fonts, identifiers are names.

Because accessing characters by names is a very time consuming operation, a more simple identification is used – codes. With codes you can directly select the characters in a font. To transform character codes into the names that must be used to actually select characters, a special table exists called the Encoding Table.

The Encoding Table declares references between character codes and names. The table is loaded and stays stored in memory while the font is used. Character selection processing consists of two parts:

The Encoding Table can also add more flexibility to fonts. Only 256 characters of a font may be used at a time, because in most operating systems only 256 characters may be accessible. You can put many more characters into one font, assign a unique name, and supply several encoding tables that will allow you to select different characters of that font.

For example, in symbol fonts the Greek characters take places that are usually occupied by Latin characters. With the encoding tables, you can include both characters. Just assign the correct names (like alpha for the ‘a’ character and A for the ‘A’ character) and later you can choose the symbol encoding to work with the Greek version of your font or choose Roman encoding to use the Latin characters.

In TypeTool you can include any number of characters into a font. You can also select any of the predefined encodings to examine a font and then include it as the default encoding upon export.

To select the encoding for the font, use the Encoding combo box. When you open it you will see the following available encodings:

Imported

The encoding that was loaded with an imported font

Default

The default encoding for all the applications in the FontLab family. This provides the best support for Windows.

Adobe Standard

Adobe Standard Encoding. This is useful if you want to create a PostScript font.

ISO Latin 1

Adobe ISO Latin 1 standard encoding.

Macintosh

Standard encoding for the Macintosh computers.

Adobe Cyrillic

Standard encoding for supporting Cyrillic characters on PostScript printers and in Windows.

Macintosh Cyrillic

Standard encoding for supporting Cyrillic characters on Macintosh computers.

Symbol

Standard encoding for supporting fonts that include mathematical and other characters.

ANSI

Standard encoding used in Windows.

All encodings that you select are stored in text files that can be edited in any text processor. This is not recommended, but may help if you find that our standard encodings do not work for you.

If you want to define a non-standard encoding, this can be done by saving this file in a TypeTool directory:

To create custom encoding files:

1.	Copy the .enc file located in the TypeTool directory to use it as base for your encoding file.

2.	Open the copied file in any text editor (Windows Notepad will do) and then edit it, following the same structure that you found in the original file.

3.	Change the name of the encoding in the first line of the file.

4.	Save this encoding file with the different name but be sure to use the .enc file extension. Put this file into a directory where all the other .enc files are located.

The new encoding will appear in the Encoding selection combo box the next time TypeTool is used.


Customizing a Font Window

To change the look of the chart section of the Font Window, use the Preferences dialog box:

1.	Select the Preferences command in the File  menu.

2.	Switch to the Font Window page.

Select the desired size of each character cell in the combo box. Possible sizes vary from 16x16 up to 64x64 pixels. Smaller cells occupy less space but hide details.

Use the check boxes to switch on or off the cell captions and the template in the empty cells. Use the Choose font buttons to select the fonts that appear in the caption and as templates in the empty cells.

All template characters appear according to the current system language, so you can choose the desired language script in the font selection dialog box (this option exists only in Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0).

Use the Caption text combo box to select the type of information that appears in the caption of the cell. You can select Name, several types of code representation, and ANSI characters to show a character from the caption font. All cells that are above the 256 character limit will have a decimal code in their captions.

 Related Topics


Using the Font Window

The character chart in the Font Window is a visual representation of all the characters in the font. To modify the font you have to learn how to use the character chart: navigate, select characters and select commands.

See also:

Navigating

Selecting

Deleting Characters

Moving Characters in the Font Window


Navigating

To move to different places in the font chart you can either use the vertical scroll bar or the autoscroll mode. If you place the mouse anywhere in the chart, press the mouse button and move the mouse cursor above the top or bottom of the chart. It will scroll up or down accordingly.

• ALTERNATIVE•

You can use the keyboard keys to navigate in the font chart.

Arrow keys

Moves the current character mark one cell right, left, up or down, according to the key used

Ctrl+Right arrow

Moves 2 cells right

Ctrl+Left arrow

Moves 2 cells left

Page Up and Page Down

Moves the character mark one screen up or down

Home

Moves the character mark to the leftmost character on the current row

End

Moves the character mark to rightmost character on the current row

Ctrl+Home

Moves the character mark to the first character on the chart

Ctrl+End

Moves the character mark to the last character on the chart

See also:

Selecting

Moving Characters in the Font Window

Deleting Characters


Selecting

To select one or more cells, press the left mouse button on the first or last cell of your selection and drag the mouse. You will see the selection highlighted. If you drag the mouse cursor outside the visible part of the chart, it will scroll accordingly. To cancel your selection, click the left mouse button on the gray area between the rightmost cell and the scroll bar.

• ALTERNATIVE•

Using the navigating keys on the keyboard, set the current cell marker on the first (or last) cell of a selection, then press the SHIFT key. Move the current cell marker and select the cells.


Popup Menus

Most commands available in the Font Window can be selected from the popup menu.

To open the popup menu, press the right mouse button anywhere in the chart area.

• ALTERNATIVE•

Press the spacebar on the keyboard.

The commands in the menu duplicate the commands from other menus, but in the popup menu they are concentrated and may be instantly used.


Moving Characters in the Font Window

You can change the positions of characters in the font chart and move them to a new place.

To move characters in the font chart:

1.	Select the characters that you want to move.

2.	Position the mouse cursor on the selected characters.

3.	Press the left mouse button.

4.	Drag the characters to the new place. Release the button to finish moving or click the right mouse button to abort.

If you move characters over existing characters, you will see a dialog box prompting you to replace the existing characters or save them by moving them to the end of the encoding.

Leave the Keep replaced symbols under new names checked to save characters or clear it to replace them.

See also:

Navigating

Selecting

Deleting Characters


Deleting Characters

To remove characters from the font

1.	Select the characters that you want to remove.

2.	Select the Delete command from the Edit menu or from the popup menu. Or, press the DEL key on the keyboard.

3.	A dialog box appears asking you if you are sure that you want to delete.

Note:
Deleting characters from the font is not undoable, so save your work before deleting characters.

See also:

Navigating

Selecting

Moving Characters in the Font Window


Opening Fonts

You can use TypeTool to create new fonts or to modify existing ones. To modify an existing font you must open the font in TypeTool. Be sure that this does not violate copyright laws. Carefully read the license agreement that comes with every font.

To open the font for editing, select the Open Font command in the File menu. If you have not saved a modified font, TypeTool will prompt you to do so. If the Font Window is active, the Open Font command appears directly in the File menu. If another window is active, Open Font will be located in the Font submenu of the File menu.

Another way to open a font is to press the [image] button on the toolbar area of the Font Window (not in the Standard toolbar of TypeTool).

You will see the standard Windows Open File dialog box where you can select a font file to open. (Note that in this dialog box you will see all the fonts that can be imported: TrueType (TTF), Type 1 in binary (PFB) and ASCII form (PFA) and fonts in FontLab format (VFB)). If you want to list only fonts in a particular format, select the format in the combo box located at the bottom of the Open dialog box.

Note:
In Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 you cannot open fonts located in the Windows\Fonts directory (“Windows” may be replaced with the actual path where Windows is installed) - the default directory where Windows stores all the installed TrueType fonts. If you try to open this directory you will see that the fonts' names instead of their file names appear in the Open dialog box. If you double-click on any of these fonts you will see the Font Preview window instead of the font opening into TypeTool. To open fonts installed in Windows you must copy the font files into another directory and open them in TypeTool from that directory. Or you can simply drag-drop the font files from Windows Explorer into TypeTool.


Editing Font Info Fields

Every font may be recognized at one of three levels: as a common information unit, as a collection of characters, or as a collection of mathematically determined outlines. The Font Window lets you modify fonts at the second level. The Glyph Window discussed below handles the third level. To edit fonts at the first level, you have to use the Font Info dialog box.

Font Info is a collection of information that defines a font. The best example of this information is the Font Name (the text string that you see in font menus and font selection dialog boxes). Font Info data also includes the typeface (or font family) name, copyright information and other registration data.

When you run TypeTool, an empty font is automatically created. To create a proper and usable font, you must review the Font Info and enter the proper values into all fields.

If you use TypeTool to modify an existing font, you may want to change some Font Info data fields so that the modified font will not replace the original one.

To open the Font Info dialog box you must select the Font Info command in the File menu. As with all other font related commands, this command is located directly in the File menu if the Font Window is active, or in the Font submenu if another window is active.

The Font Info dialog box can also be opened by pressing on the [image] button located in the Font Window toolbar.

The Font Info dialog box includes three pages: Names, Copyright and Version & Identification. All the pages are important, but the Names page contains the most critical information.

 Related Topics


Names Page

The names page includes the most important font-registration information. All programs use the information on this page to refer to a font. Be sure to enter all the values very carefully and use the automatic features where available.

Family Name

Name of the typeface to which the font belongs. All fonts that are from the same typeface must have the same Family Name field. The Family Name is used as the root of the Font Name, so we recommend that you fill this field first.

Weight

Weight of the font. You may enter a custom value in this field or select one of the predefined weight names in the box. Values in this list are sorted by increased weight value. Choose Normal or leave this field empty if you do not care about the font’s weight.

Width

The average width of the font’s characters. Enter a custom value or select one of the predefined width values from the drop-down list. Leave this field empty or select Normal width if you don’t care about the font’s width

Font is Italic

Switch on this check box if you are creating an italic font

Build Style Name

Press this button to automatically generate the Style Name field. Style names are based on the Width, Weight and Italic information.

Style Name

Contains complete style information about the font. We recommend that you fill in the Weight, Width and Italic data, to automatically generate this field using the Build Style Name button and edit this field if necessary.

Font Name

Complete font name. This name will appear in the font selection menu and dialog boxes of applications which use fonts. Do not include spaces.

Full Name

More detailed font name. May include spaces as well as any other characters.

Build Names records

Press this button to automatically generate the Font Name and Full Name fields. If you are creating a new font, we recommend that you fill in the Family Name field, generate or manually fill in the Style Name field and press this button to create the Font and Full names. If necessary you can edit the names.

See also:

Copyright Page

Version & Identification Page


Copyright Page

On this page you can enter information about the creators of the font. If you have created a new font, you should enter your copyright notice here. If you have edited an existing font that was not your creation, you must not change the information contained on this page, or you may violate copyright laws:

Created by

Name of the company that created the font. If you create a new font enter your name or the name of your company here

Creation year

Year when font was created

Copyright

Copyright message. Must include (c) sign or “Copyright” word, name of company that owns the copyright and copyright year.

Build Copyright record

Press this button to create the standard Copyright record based on Created By and Creation Year fields

Notice

Additional information that you want to include into Font Info

See also:

Names Page

Version & Identification Page


Version & Identification Page

On this page you can enter information about the font’s version and sub-version. Also enter the special identification codes necessary for programs that will use this font to distinguish it from other fonts.

Version

Version of the font

Revision

Revision of the font. Version and revision numbers are combined and build a complete version record that appears in the Type 1 fonts’ headers.

TrueType Version record

TrueType fonts’ version records have a different format. You may enter the TrueType version record here or just press the Recalc button at the right of the field to fill this record automatically. You must have the Names and Copyright pages filled to use the automatic features on this page. Press the Apply button at the bottom of the dialog box to enter new Font Info values into the font’s header.

TrueType Unique ID record

This field is necessary to identify TrueType fonts. Usually it includes the creator’s name, family name and creation year. The format of this field is free, but we recommend that you use the Recalc button to fill this field automatically.

Type 1 Unique ID Record

Integer number identifying the font. Unique ID numbers must be registered with Adobe Systems. However, you may leave 0 in this field or enter a value from the users Unique ID zone that varies from 4000000 to 4999999. If you enter this value and plan to export Type 1 fonts, be sure not to have more than one font with the same Unique ID value because that may cause a problem with PostScript printers or Adobe Type Manager software.

Type 1 XUID Numbers

More advanced identification codes for Type 1 fonts. This number may be used only in PostScript Level 2 printers. Please, refer to Adobe documentation for more information concerning the XUID field.

TrueType Vendor Code

Up to a four letter length code that is assigned to most TrueType producers to identify their fonts. An uppercase vendor code must be registered with Microsoft or Apple. All registered Vendor codes known at the time of TypeTool’s release are placed in the drop-down list box. If you want to identify yourself without registering you may enter a lowercase four-letter vendor code.

See also:

Names Page

Copyright Page


Saving Fonts

When you have finished working on your font or want to save intermediate results, you must save your font.

To save to the same file (from where it was imported and in the same format) you must use the Save Font command in the File menu. If a window other than the Font Window is active, you will find this command located in the Font submenu of the File menu.

Note:
If the font was imported from Type 1 or TrueType format and you want to save the intermediate results, we strongly recommend that you save it in FontLab (VFB) format. FontLab format can be opened and saved instantly. It also stores much more information than any of the standard formats.

To save the font under a different name or in another format, you must use the Save Font As command located in the File menu. When you select this command, the standard Windows Save As dialog box appears. You may select this exporting format in the combo box located at the bottom part of the dialog box. Enter the file name and select the directory where you want to save your font.

Available export formats are:

FontLab 3.0 (vfb)

FontLab font format - fastest format available. Fonts in this format may be opened by any application in the FontLab 3.0 family.

Type 1 (pfb, pfa)

Type 1 font format. You must enter a pfa extension to choose ASCII (used in most Unix systems and may be directly downloaded into PostScript printers) or a pfb extension to use Binary (used in Windows and OS/2 operating systems) format.

TrueType (ttf)

TrueType font format. Used in Windows, OS/2 and Macintosh operation systems.

Note:
TypeTool has a unique feature called “Transparent TrueType Export”. This feature stores all the important TrueType information when a TrueType font is opened in TypeTool and restores it when it is exported in TrueType format. “Transparent” means that the characters that were not edited in TypeTool are completely unchanged after export. All the internal information (called instructions or hinting data) remains unchanged. This additional data is stored if you save your font in the FontLab format, but it will be lost if you export the font in Type 1 format. In addition, touching any portion of any character in the Glyph Window will force TypeTool to drop out all the TrueType data for this character. It will be changed after exporting even if it does not look modified.

See also:

Opening Fonts


Editing Glyphs

When you create characters and place them into a font, you may want to edit them to get the best result. Editing an individual character is a very hard and time-consuming job, but it is the only way to get the perfect font.

We do not recommend that you edit characters that were generated from hand-written originals. The autotracing algorithm always keeps details of the original, and additional manual editing may make the characters look unnatural. If you have converted typographic fonts you should check the results that the autotracer produced to create top-quality fonts.

TypeTool includes professional character-editing tools. These same tools are found in professional font-editing packages that are several times more expensive.

You can edit any character in a font by double-clicking on its cell in Font Window or, by selecting the desired character in the characters chart and selecting the Edit command from the Operation menu or from the Font Window popup menu. You will see the Glyph Window with the contour of the selected character.

Continue


What is a Glyph?

When we speak about characters we assume two things: the image that we see and the symbolic information that relates to this image. The specific form (shape) of a character is called a glyph.

A glyph is a minimal unit of font information. Each glyph may be defined in two ways: information about the character for which this glyph stands and specific information about the glyph. For example, we may define the character “H” as “two vertical strokes with one horizontal stroke that connects them at half their height.” All possible shapes of the character H may be defined that way. To get a glyph definition, we would add the following words (for the Times typeface): “The vertical strokes are wider than the horizontal strokes and each of them is finished by thin rounded serifs."

That same image may have many meanings, for example the character “H” means one letter in the English language and a very different letter in the Russian language (very close to an English “N”). To avoid additional notations for a character’s shapes we will call every character shape a glyph.

See also:

Glyph Structure


Glyph Structure

All glyphs consist of several information groups:

1.	Information about the glyph’s shape.

2.	Information about the glyph’s metrics.

3.	Information about the character-level hints that are used to improve the rendering quality of a glyph on low-resolution devices.

See also:

Units of Measurement

Contours

Metrics

Hints


Units of Measurement

The coordinates of any object in the font are presented in a standard measurement system. One unit of this system is called a font unit and is equal to 1/1000th of the font height. The font height is equal to the height of eM squared. Formally, the width of eM squared is equal to the width of the character ‘M’, but usually it means just the height of the font. The Font height is not equal to the height of the tallest character of the font, but includes some space to cover the characters’ parts that are below the font baseline and some free space above the uppercase letters, like ‘H’. Usually, the height of the uppercase letters of the Roman alphabet is about 700 font units. The font height is always 1000 units. There are fonts in which the height of ‘H’ is 500 font units, and fonts where it is 950 font units. The difference in the height of the characters in different fonts will result in different heights of characters when printed. The font height is used as the basis of font scaling.

When a font is printed, the point size of the text string that is printed is used to scale characters of the font. And the value of 1000 font units (the font height) is used to scale characters to produce the desired point size.

See also:

Glyph Structure

Contours


Contours

The most important and most complex information is the glyph’s shape. All glyphs are defined as a series of contours. All contours consist of a series of graphical primitives: straight lines and curves. All graphical primitives are defined by nodes - points that know their type.

Some details:

1.	Contours may be of two types: black or white. They may also be of two directions: clockwise and counterclockwise. The rule is simple: clockwise-directed contours are white and counterclockwise contours are black. A simpler form of the rule, known as the rule of the left hand, is: if you face along the direction of a contour, black will be on your left side.

2.	All contours have a startpoint. The startpoint is the first node of the contour. The last node of the contour is automatically connected to the startpoint with an arrow-like straight line. Thus, all contours are closed. The color of the start point in the Glyph Window is blue.

3.	All graphical primitives are of two types: straight lines and curves. Straight lines (we will call them vectors) are just straight lines that connect two sequential nodes. Curves are Bezier curves (3rd order). To modify the form of the curves two additional subnodes are used.

These subnodes are called control points and the vectors that connect control points with the curve’s ends are called control vectors. In the Glyph Window vectors (straight lines) end in red dots and curves end with green dots.

4.	The type of connection between the graphical primitives is very important if you want to keep the contour smooth where it is necessary. There are two major types of connections: sharp and smooth. With a sharp connection, two connected graphical primitives (curve and curve or vector and curve) are absolutely free in their movements. With a smooth connection, the direction of the vector and control vector of a curve or control vectors of two sequential curves are preserved collinear (lie on the same straight line).

It is very important to maintain smoothness of the glyph’s contours where necessary. Small corners (sharp connections which are invisible when characters are small) become visible (and ugly) when you print large text. Furthermore, rasterizing programs that convert outline characters into bitmap images on paper do not like outlines where corners present in places where the outline should be smooth.

See also:

Glyph Structure

Units of Measurement


Metrics

The Metric data of a glyph includes information about the horizontal and vertical width. Glyphs have an origin point, a baseline, and left and right margins.

The baseline is used to align characters in a series. Left and right margins are used to declare the positions of sequential characters in a series when the horizontal writing mode is selected. In the vertical writing mode the left and right margins are used to horizontally align characters and the top margin is used to vertically align characters.

In TypeTool, the position of the origin point is equal to the position of the left margin in the horizontal direction, and the position of the baseline in the vertical direction. However, you can modify the position of any of the four margins. If you move the baseline or left margin line you will shift the entire glyph, but as a result the left margin is moved.

See also:

Glyph Structure

Units of Measurement


Hints

Usually you will not have to worry about hints, because TypeTool will create hints automatically when it exports the font. However, if you want to create fonts of a very high quality, manual hinting may be necessary.

There are two hinting methods applied to Type 1 fonts (hints for True Type fonts are always generated automatically): font-level hinting and character-level hinting. Font-level hinting is generated automatically in TypeTool, so you not have to edit it manually.

Character-level hinting is applied to the characters stems:

All important stems in a character are declared with stem hints, a pair of vertical or horizontal lines. The information about the hint includes not just the position of each of the two lines that “builds” a hint, but it stores the position of one (major) line and the width of a hint.

Therefore, the font-rendering algorithm knows the positions and widths of all the important stems in the glyph and can keep the correct form of the stems under all conditions.

You can declare stem hints in TypeTool very easily, just by dragging them and modifying their width. Because hints in TypeTool are very “intelligent,” they automatically snap to the contour minimizing your work. In most cases, however, the autohinting algorithm that is included in TypeTool produces good results, usually not any worse than the results of manual hinting.

See also:

Glyph Structure


Editing Layers

In TypeTool, you may use many special layers to help you edit glyphs. All layers are switchable through the Options bar on the top part of the Glyph Window.

The first layer is the glyph’s contour. It may be presented in an outline or filled mode. These modes are absolutely equal for all editing operations, but the filled mode is a little bit slower. However, in the filled mode you always see how the glyphs will look in the resulting font. Previewing modes are switched with the [image] button on the Options bar.

You may choose various options for previewing the contour layer:

Nodes

To show nodes or not

Control vectors

To show curves’ control vectors or not

Connection mode

To show connection mode marks

All modes of contour presentation may be combined in any way.

Other layers are:

Grid

Allows you to show gridlines. Gridline options (snap or not and distance between gridlines) may be edited in the Options dialog box that will be described later.

Guidelines

Allows you to show guidelines - special lines that are used to mark specific elements of a glyph. Guidelines may not only be vertical or horizontal, but slanted at any angle. Guidelines are presented as blue dashed lines. All nodes stick to guidelines during editing.

Hints

Allows you to show stem hints. Hints are presented as pairs of green dashed lines. As with guidelines, nodes will stick to hints, so you can use hints to mark a glyph.

See also:

Glyph Structure


Changing a View in the Glyph Window

To change the view in the editing field of the Glyph Window, use the zoom mode and scroll bars. By using the scroll bars, you can scroll the viewing field of a symbol. With the zoom mode, you can define how the symbol coordinates are converted to screen coordinates and vice versa. So, if you choose a bigger zoom mode, you will see a more detailed symbol and you can do the editing operations more precisely. However, in the larger zoom modes not all of the symbol will lie inside the editing field, so you will have to use the scroll bars to examine the different parts of the symbol.

There are fixed zoom modes and custom zoom modes. You can select one of the fixed zoom modes in the Zoom combo box located in the upper part of the Glyph Window: . When you choose the fixed zoom mode TypeTool will return to this glyph mode on every Zoom Out command.

To magnify part of the glyph, select the Zoom tool ( [image] button on toolbar or the ‘+’ key on the keyboard) and declare a custom zoom mode. This mode is temporary and you always can return to the previously selected fixed zoom mode by pressing on the [image] button (or by clicking on the ‘-’ key).

When you select the zoom tool, move the mouse pointer in one of the corners of the rectangular area that you want to zoom in and click the left mouse button. Then, holding the button, define the zoom-in area with the rectangle that appears. Release the button and the new zoom mode will be selected.


Tools and Operations

There are several ways to modify glyphs in TypeTool: tools, operations and actions.

Tools are permanent and are used to do the most common things.

There are four tools:

Edit tool

Main tool used to move everything in the glyph, from guidelines to nodes to glyph margins

Erase tool

Used to quickly delete unnecessary nodes

Contour tool

Used to draw new contours in freehand mode. Can be used to modify existing contours.

Meter tool

Used to measure contours

All tools may be selected in the toolbar on the top side of the Glyph Window.

Operations are temporary tools used to perform special interactive routines. A good example of an operation is the Transform operation - used to modify part of a contour - scale it, rotate it, move or slant it.

There are three operations in TypeTool:

Transform

Used to modify part of a glyph

Set startpoint

Used to change startpoints of contours and renumber contours

Change direction

Used to reverse contours

The last way to modify glyphs in TypeTool is to apply actions. Actions are simple operations that do not require interaction with the user. A good example of an action is the Autohint. You select the action in the menu and the action occurs.

Here is a list of all available actions:

Remove overlap

Removes overlapping parts of a glyph’s contours.

Snap to guides

Snaps nodes that are close to the guiding elements (like guidelines, grids or hints) to them.

Remove all hints

Removes all stem hints

Autohinting

Automatically generates stem hints. Autohinting options may be set up in the Options dialog box

Nodes at extremes

Automatically inserts nodes at the extreme points of curves.

All tools, actions and operations are described in full detail later.


Edit Tool

The Edit tool is the most important and most used tool in TypeTool. It is used to modify contours, hints, guidelines and metric lines (baseline and margins).

All operations that you perform with the edit tool may be undone with the Undo command of the Edit menu, or just by clicking the Undo button [image] on the toolbar at the top of the Glyph Window. You can undo 102 operations. All undone operations may be redone with the Redo command of the Edit menu or with the Redo button [image] on the toolbar.

Note:
You may undo operations for one glyph only. If you switch to another glyph and modify it, the undo information for the first glyph will be lost.

See also:

Moving Nodes

Selections

Editing Guidelines

Editing Hints

Popup Menu Commands

Property Panel


Moving Nodes

The most important editing operation is the modification of the contours that build each glyph. You can modify contours by three ways: moving nodes, editing graphical primitives using non-node editing and selecting several nodes and moving them together.

Moving individual nodes

To move individual nodes:

1.	Make nodes visible.

1.1	Switch on the nodes layer in the Options bar. You will see all the nodes of the glyph.

• ALTERNATIVE•

1.2	Move the mouse cursor onto the graphical primitive that contains the node that you want to move and click the left mouse button. Hold down the Ctrl key to stop modifying this primitive using the non-node editing method (described later). You will see that the nodes at both ends of the primitive appear.

2.	Move the mouse cursor onto the node that you want to move and press the left mouse button. You will see a gray crosshair that shows the position of the node. The node coordinates appear on the edit status bar in the bottom part of TypeTool’s main window.

3.	Move the node with the mouse to the desired place. The node will stick to all guiding elements, such as the grid, guidelines or hints.

Tip:
Hold the SHIFT key to constrain the direction of the node’s movement in 15 degree increments and snap the cursor to the original node’s position.

4.	When you position the node in a new place, release the left mouse button.

See also:

Contours

Non-nodes editing

Changing Connection Type

Deleting Nodes

Inserting Nodes


Non-nodes editing

Sometimes you may want to modify a contour in a more flexible way than by moving nodes. For example, to adjust the shape of a curve in node editing you would make the control points of a curve visible and move them to modify the curve. A better way would be to “grab” the curve somewhere between the ending nodes and move this imaginary “inside” point. The curve’s shape should change accordingly. We call this method “non-node editing”. It means that you can move not only nodes, but every point of a glyph’s contour. You can even switch off nodes and still be able to edit the contour as you wish.

To modify a curve or vector with the non-node editing method:

1.	Move the mouse cursor onto the place on the curve (vector) that you want to move.

2.	Press the left mouse button. You will see a small color point that will show you the temporary point that you are moving.

3.	Drag the mouse and observe how the shape of the curve changes. After several experiments (which can be undone) you will have enough experience to use this method of editing.

Several notes that you should remember:

1.	In non-node editing, guiding objects aren’t sticky. So, temporary points do not snap to the grid, guidelines, hints or anything else.

2.	 If you choose a temporary point near one of the ends of a curve, you will move that end, not just change the curve’s shape. This is a useful method to locate the curve’s endpoints.

3.	When you press the mouse button to begin non-node editing you will see that the endpoints of the curve as well as the control vectors appear, simplifying editing of this primitive.

 Related Topics


Changing Connection Type

The type of connection between graphical primitives is a very important thing in maintaining the smoothness of the contours. Connections may be of two basic types: smooth and sharp.

Smooth connections may be free or fixed. The differences between free and fixed smooth connections occur when you use the non-node editing method when editing a curve that is connected to another curve. With a free smooth connection, changing a curve’s shape means changing the positions of the control vectors of that curve. This also means that the neighboring curve will change too. With a fixed connection, the direction of the control vectors of only the edited curve will change.

To change the type of connections between primitives:

1.	Switch on the connection marks [image] layer to see the current types of connections.

2.	Make the node that you want to change visible. Switch on all nodes, or only that node (by clicking left mouse button on it).

3.	Hold the SHIFT key and click on the node. You will see that the type of connection changes every time you click on the mouse button.

• ALTERNATIVE•

1.	Make the desired node visible (with this method it is not necessary to switch on the alignment marks in the whole contour).

2.	Position the mouse cursor on the desired node.

3.	Press the right mouse button. You will see a popup menu with a sub-menu Connection. Open that submenu and change the connection type.

 Related Topics


Deleting Nodes

To delete nodes using the Edit tool:

1.	Begin moving the node by dragging it.

2.	While you hold the left mouse button, click the right button. The node will be removed.

• ALTERNATIVE•

1.	Move the mouse cursor onto the node and press the right mouse button.

2.	In the popup menu that appears, choose the Delete node command.

Note:
If you click the right mouse button while editing the curve using the non-node editing method or while you are moving the control points of a curve, the curve will not be removed. Instead, it will change to a straight line.

See also:

Inserting Nodes


Inserting Nodes

To insert a new node on a vector or curve:

1.	Position the mouse cursor on the primitive where you want to insert the node.

2.	Press and hold the right mouse button. You will see a mark that shows you the current position of the mouse cursor. This mark will stick to all objects in the editing field, including nodes and glyph contours.

3.	Position the mark on the point where you want to insert the node and click the left mouse button. The new node will appear in that place.

Note:
You can insert nodes on a closing vector that automatically connects the first and last nodes of a contour. If you insert nodes on the first half of a closing vector (closer to the ending node of a contour), then the new node will be added to the contour. If you insert the node on the last half of the closing vector, then it will be inserted before the starting point.

See also:

Deleting Nodes


Converting Primitives

Sometimes you may want to convert a curve to a vector or vice versa. To convert a curve to a vector you should “delete” (right mouse button) one of the control points of that curve, or “delete” the curve while you are in the non-nodes editing mode.

To convert a vector (normal or closing) to a curve, try to drag an inside point of the vector while holding down the SHIFT key.

To convert a curve to a 1/4 part of an ellipse (the curve’s control vectors will be treated as an ellipse axis), press the SHIFT key and click on the curve.

 Related Topics


Selections

Many operations may be applied not only to nodes or graphical primitives, but to several nodes together. For example, you may want to move many nodes or delete part of a contour. First, select the nodes that you want to process.

To select nodes:

1.	Position the mouse cursor somewhere on the editing field near one of the nodes that you want to select.

2.	Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse. You will see a marquee rectangle, that will follow the movement of the mouse cursor.

3.	Surround the nodes that you want to select with the rectangle and release the left button. If you press the SHIFT key, the newly selected nodes will be added to any existing selection, if not the new selection will replace the existing one.

To select the whole contour double click the contour with the left mouse button.

To select all the contours in a glyph use the Select all command from the Edit menu.

To Unselect nodes click the left mouse button somewhere in the free place of the editing field.

 Related Topics


Editing Guidelines

As mentioned above, guidelines are used to mark specific parts of a glyph’s contour and to simplify the creation of well-aligned characters. Guidelines may be vertical or horizontal and are nothing more than straight lines that lie through the editing field of the Glyph Window.

All guidelines may be slanted at any degree from -45 to +45 from a vertical or horizontal direction. Slanted guidelines may help to mark italic characters, or specific slanted elements in normal characters, like the inner bar in the letter ‘N’.

To start learning all the guideline-related commands, switch on the guidelines layer [image] on the Options bar at the top of the Glyph Window.

To add a new guideline:

1.	Position the mouse cursor on the horizontal ruler bar (for a horizontal guideline) or on the vertical bar (for a vertical guideline).

2.	Press the left mouse button. The bar will become “pressed” and the new guideline appears.

3.	Holding the left mouse button, drag the guideline to the desired place and release the button.

To move the guideline:

1.	Move the mouse cursor onto the guideline that you want to move. Be sure that no other objects (such as nodes or hints) are near that point.

2.	Press the left mouse button and drag the guideline to the new place.

To slant the guideline:

1.	Move the cursor onto the guideline near one of the sides of the editing fields of the Glyph Window.

2.	Press the left mouse button. The mouse cursor will change to a pair of curved arrows [image] that shows you the guideline slant direction.

3.	Moving the mouse, slant the guideline to the angle that you want. Hold down the SHIFT key to constrain the slanting angle to 3 degree increments.

To remove the guideline:

1.	Start moving or slanting the guideline.

2.	While holding the left mouse button, click the right mouse button.

• ALTERNATIVE•

1.	Position the cursor on the guideline and click the right mouse button.

2.	In the menu that appears, select the Delete command.

See also:

Editing Layers

Moving Nodes

Editing Hints


Editing Hints

Editing hints is very similar to editing guidelines. You can add new hints through the ruler bar of the Glyph Window, drag them with the mouse, and delete them by using the menu command or by clicking on both mouse buttons.

In contrast to guides, hints consist of two lines that can be moved together or separately. Hints cannot be slanted.

To add a new hint:

1.	Position the mouse cursor on the horizontal ruler bar (for horizontal hint) or on the vertical bar (for vertical hint).

2.	Press and hold the CTRL key. Press the left mouse button. The bar will become “pressed” and a new hint will appear. Release the CTRL key.

3.	Holding the left mouse button, drag the hint to the desired place and release the button.

To move a hint:

1.	Move the mouse cursor on one of the hint’s lines.

2.	Press the left mouse button and drag the hint to its new place. Both hint lines will move together.

To move a hint’s lines separately hold down the SHIFT key while dragging one of the hint’s lines. Using this procedure, you can change the width of the hint.

Note:
While you are editing the hint, its parameters are shown on the status bar.

To remove a hint:

1.	Start editing the hint.

2.	While holding the left mouse button, click the right button.

• ALTERNATIVE•

1.	Position the cursor on the hint and click the right mouse button.

2.	In the menu that appears, select the Delete command.

See also:

Hints

Moving Nodes

Editing Guidelines


Popup Menu Commands

As explained in previous paragraphs, several commands that can be performed on various objects in the Glyph Window, can be accessed through the popup menu that appears when you put the mouse cursor on the object and press the right mouse button.

All menus begin with Cancel and end with the Properties command. If you select Cancel, nothing happens. If you select Properties, the property panel for that object appears allowing you to interactively change its parameters.

See also:

Node Popup Menu

Guideline and Hint Popup Menu

Selection Popup Menu

Baseline and Margin Popup Menu

Common Popup Menu


Node Popup Menu

As with all popup menus, this can be accessed by positioning the mouse cursor on the node and pressing the right mouse button. The node menu contains two groups of commands: those relating to the selected node and those relating to the contour that includes the node.

The first group of commands is related to the operation of the node and the primitive to which that node belongs.

Make node first

Begins the contour from the selected node. This command is gray if the node is already at the startpoint of a contour. See also: Rearranging Contours.

Delete node

Removes a node. See also: Deleting Nodes.

Select node

Selects current node. See also: Selections.

Convert

Changes a curve to a vector and vice versa. See also: Converting Primitives.

Connection

Pops up a connection menu where you can change the connection type between primitives. This command is gray for nodes that are between two vectors. See also: Changing Connection Type.

The second group of commands deals with the contours that include the selected node.

Make contour first

Begins the glyph from the selected contour. Renumbering of contours is important for hint-substitution programming. See also: Rearranging Contours.

Delete contour

Removes the whole contour

Reverse contour

Reverses the direction of the contour

Subtract contour

Subtracts the contour

Select contour

Reverses the selection state of the contour


Guideline and Hint Popup Menu

Both menus include only one command (except the Cancel and Properties command) Delete. If you select Delete, the active guideline or hint will be removed.

See also:

Editing Guidelines

Editing Hints

Guideline Property Panel

Hint Property Panel


Selection Popup Menu

If you press the right mouse button on any of the selected nodes (or selected primitives that are red), you will see the following commands in the popup menu:

Cut

Works like the general Edit and Cut command: removes the selection and puts it onto the Clipboard

Copy

Copies the selection to the clipboard

Delete

Removes the selection

See also:

Selections


Baseline and Margin Popup Menu

These menus are the simplest and have only two commands: Cancel that does nothing, and Properties that opens the property panel.

See also:

Baseline Property Panel

Metrics Property Panel


Common Popup Menu

This menu appears if you press the right mouse button somewhere on the free space of an editing field in the Glyph Window.

Undo

Undoes the last action

Redo

Redoes the previously undone action

Remove overlap

Removes the overlapping parts of contours and resolves self-intersections

Snap to guides

Sticks all nodes to close guiding elements (Activates Snap to guides action)

Remove hints

Removes all hints (activates Remove hints action)

Autohinting

Automatically generates hints for a glyph (activates Autohint action)

Transform selection

Activates the Transform selection operation

Reverse contours

Activates the Reverse contours operation

Set new startpoint

Activates the Rearranging Contours operation


Property Panel

The easiest way to edit various objects located in the Glyph Window, from nodes to guidelines to hints, is to use the property panels. The property panel is a small window that allows you to modify the parameters of objects with which it is linked.

If you open the property panel for a node, you will see the coordinates for that node and all the other options that are available for those nodes. A different set of parameters will be available for hints, guidelines and selection areas.

To open the property panel for one of the objects, move the mouse cursor onto that object (node, hint, guideline or selection) and press the right mouse button. Select the Properties command in the popup menu that appears. Another way is to click the left mouse button on the object while holding down the CTRL key on the keyboard.

See also:

Default Property Panel

Node Property Panel

Hint Property Panel

Guideline Property Panel

Selection Property Panel

Baseline Property Panel

Metrics Property Panel


Default Property Panel

This panel appears if you open the select Property command from the Edit menu.

This includes information about the current font and glyph selected for editing in the Glyph Window.


Node Property Panel

In this property panel you can control the position of the node, the alignment type, the selection status of the node and the position of the control points of the curves.

To change the position of a node:

1.	Select the origin point from where you want to measure and set the coordinates of the node. By default, it is the glyph’s origin point. With the radio buttons you can select the previous or next node as the origin point.

2.	Modify the coordinates of the node in the edit boxes. You can use the spin buttons to increase or decrease the coordinates. New coordinates will be applied to the node when you press the ENTER key on the keyboard or move the focus from one edit control to the other or when you close the property panel by clicking on a free space in the edit field.

To change the connection mode for a node: select the new mode in the combo box in the lower part of the panel.

To change the selection state of a node: modify the state of the selected check box.

To edit the position of the curve’s control vectors: switch on the Control vectors check box (it will be gray if you are editing a node between two vectors) and modify the relative position of the previous or next control point that belongs to that node.

See also:

Moving Nodes

Selections

Changing Connection Type


Hint Property Panel

In the hint property panel, you can modify the position of a hint in the left edit box and modify the width of the hint in the right box.

See also:

Editing Hints


Guideline Property Panel

In this property panel you can change the position and slant angle of a guideline.

See also:

Editing Guidelines


Selection Property Panel

The Selection Property Panel allows you to apply several simple transformations to the selected area.

To transform the selected area:

1.	Select the center of the transformation in the Center combo box. It can be one of the following: the origin point of the glyph, the center of the selected area, or the bottom left corner of the bounding box of the selected area.

2.	Select the transformation in the To Do combo box. You can choose Horizontal move, Vertical move, Uniform scale, Horizontal scale, Vertical scale, or Rotate and Slant.

3.	Select the amount of the transformation in the Amount edit box.

4.	Press the Apply button to apply the transformation to the selected area.

See also:

Selections


Baseline Property Panel

With this property panel you can easily adjust the position of the glyph’s baseline. To open it, press the right mouse button on the baseline and select the Properties command in the popup menu or left-click the baseline holding down the CTRL key on the keyboard.

To change the position of the baseline:

1.	Select the base level of the modification. It can be the old position (for relative offset) the top of the glyph, or the bottom of the glyph.

2.	Change the position of the baseline relative to the base level.

3.	Press the ENTER key or click anywhere in the editing field to apply changes.


Metrics Property Panel

To open the metrics property panel, position the mouse cursor on the left or right glyph margin, click the right mouse button and select the Properties command, or CTRL-click the left mouse button on one of the margins.

In this panel you can easily modify a glyph’s sidebearing and/or width.

 Related Topics


Eraser Tool

The eraser tool can be used to quickly remove nodes. Sometimes this is necessary, for example, when contours are the result of an auto-tracing program. The eraser tool may work in two modes: like a real eraser or as a rectangle eraser. In the first mode, all nodes that are inside the rectangle of the eraser mouse cursor are deleted. In the second mode, you define a rectangle (as when you select nodes with the Edit tool or change the zoom of a Glyph Window) and all the nodes inside that rectangle are removed.

The first (eraser-like) mode is the default for the Erase tool. To switch to the rectangle mode, hold the CTRL key.

See also:

Deleting Nodes


Contour Tool

With the Contour tool you can create new contours or modify existing contours in a more artistic manner than with the Edit tool. When you use the Contour tool, you can draw new contours just as you do on paper. TypeTool will approximate your drawing with a series of curves and lines.

How to create a new contour

If you begin a contour in a free space (the cursor will have its ordinary form [image]), you will define a new contour. If you want to begin a new contour and its starting point is on an existing contour, press the CTRL key to force TypeTool to create a new contour.

How to modify an existing contour

When you move the cursor of a Contour tool onto an existing contour or node, it changes to [image]. This means that if you begin drawing (without holding down the CTRL key), a new contour will be inserted into the existing one. If the finishing point of your drawing is on an existing contour also, and the starting and finishing points are on the same contour, then the new drawing will replace that part of the existing contour that lies between the starting and finishing points.

How to draw a single curve

Hold the SHIFT key while you release the mouse button after drawing a new line. Your drawing will be approximated by a single curve. This is a good way to draw a new contour step-by-step.

 Related Topics


Tools; Meter Tool
Meter Tool

With this tool you can measure any distance and angle in your glyph. It is very useful if you want to create very precise, extremely high quality symbols.

To measure distances between two points:

1.	Select the Meter tool [image]. The Meter tool panel appears.

2.	Position the mouse cursor on the first point.

3.	Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the second point. In the Meter tool panel you will see the vertical, horizontal and direct distance between two points and the angle of the vector connecting these points. Hold down the SHIFT key while you drag the mouse to constrain the measurement to 15 degree increments.

While you are dragging the mouse, you will see that the Meter tool sticks to any object that it can find in the editing field.

To measure the distance from a contour:

1.	Put the mouse cursor on the contour from which you want to measure.

2.	Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse. Hold down the SHIFT key and the direction of the mouse’s movement will be constrained to the normal direction of the contour starting point.

3.	When you’re done, release the button.

 Related Topics


Transform Selection

This is a very useful operation. When using it you can modify selected nodes in many ways; from a simple offset move to rotation around a selected center.

To activate the Transform operation, select the Transform Selection command from the Tools menu or select the Transform Selection in the editing field common popup menu.

Or you can double-click on any selected node or graphical primitive to activate the Transform operation.

When this operation is activated, you will see a command panel with two buttons: OK and Cancel.

and a transformation rectangle surrounding the selected area. If nothing is selected, the entire glyph will be subject to transformation.

So, what do all these handles mean, and how can they be used?

To move a selection:

1.	Position the mouse cursor somewhere inside the transformation rectangle but not on the center handle.

2.	Press the left mouse button and drag the rectangle to its new place.

3.	Release the button. The selection will be moved.

To scale or skew a selection:

1.	Position the mouse cursor on one of the scale handles [image].

2.	Press the left button and drag the mouse. You will see that the transformation rectangle is scaled. Hold down the SHIFT key on the keyboard to constrain the scale proportions.

3.	Release the button when you are done. The selection will be modified.

To rotate a selection:

1.	Move the mouse cursor onto the rotation handle [image].

2.	Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse. The transformation rectangle will be rotated around its center. Hold down the SHIFT key to constrain the rotation angle to 15 degree increments.

3.	Release the button to accept the rotation.

To move the center of the rotation just drag the center handle [image] by the mouse to its new place.

To slant a selection:

1.	Move the mouse cursor onto the slant handle [image].

2.	Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse. The transformation rectangle will be slanted. Hold down the SHIFT key to constrain the rotation angle to 15 degree increments.

3.	Release the button to accept the slanting.

Click the OK button on the command panel to accept the completed transformation or click the Cancel button to reject it.

 Related Topics


Reversing a Contour's Direction
Reversing a Contour’s Direction

Sometimes you need to reverse the direction of a contour. In TypeTool you can do this in one of two ways: click on each contour that you want to reverse with the right mouse button and select the Reverse Contour command in the popup menu, or activate the Reverse Contour operation.

To activate the operation select the Reverse Contours command in the Tools menu.

When you are using the Reverse Contour operation, you will see a command panel with two buttons: OK and Cancel.

By clicking OK, you can finish the operation and accept all the changes that you just made. By clicking Cancel you finish the operation and reject all the changes.

Tip:
If you press Cancel, but change your mind and want to accept the changes of the last operation, you can use the Redo command in the Edit menu.

When you activate the Reverse Contours operation, you will see that all the contours now have arrows that show their direction.

You can reverse any contour by clicking on it with the left mouse button.

Tip:
We recommend that you switch to the Preview mode when you use this operation. Directions of contours change the contours’ “colors," so in the Preview (filled) mode you will see the changes immediately.

 Related Topics


Rearranging Contours

To simplify the programming of hint substitution, sometimes you need to change a contour’s sequence. You can do this by selecting the Make contour command in the node’s popup menu which sets contours on top of each other; but an easier way is to use the Rearranging Contours operation.

Select the Rearrange Contours operation in the Tools menu.

When you activate this operation, you will see the command panel (as with all operations).

and yellow marks that show the contour’s numbers.

To change a contour’s startpoints just click on a new startpoint position.

To change a contour’s sequence:

1.	Locate the mouse cursor on the contour that you want to move in the contour’s sequence.

2.	Press the right mouse button. The selected contour will be highlighted.

3.	In the popup menu choose one of these commands:

Move contour up

To move the contour one step up (contour #3 will be #2)

Move contour down

To move the contour one step down (contour #3 will be #4)

Make contour first

Move the contour to the top of the sequence (contour #3 will be #1)

Make contour last

Move the contour to the bottom of the sequence (contour #3 will be the last contour in the sequence)

 Related Topics


Actions

An Action is the simplest thing that you can do to a glyph. Just select an action in the Actions menu or select an action in the common popup menu.

Here is a list of available actions and their descriptions:

Remove hints

Removes all hints

Autohinting

Automatically generates stem hints for a glyph

Remove overlap

Removes overlapping areas of a glyph’s contours and resolves self-intersecting contours

Snap to guides

Sticks all nodes to nearby guiding elements (grid, hints or guidelines)

 Related Topics


Copying Glyphs and Their Parts

Sometimes you need to copy glyphs or a glyph’s parts to another place in the font or even into a different font. With TypeTool, you can put any part of a glyph, or an entire glyph (with hints, guides, etc.) into the Windows Clipboard and paste it in a different place.

To do this you use the commands from the Edit menu:

Cut

To copy a selected part of the glyph into the Clipboard and delete it from the glyph.

Copy

To copy a selected part of the glyph into the Clipboard.

Paste

To place a contour part copied to the Clipboard into the current glyph.

Delete

To remove a selected part of a glyph’s contour.

Copy Glyph

To copy an entire glyph to the Clipboard

Paste Glyph

To replace the current glyph with a glyph copied to the Clipboard.

Because the Clipboard is used as a buffer for copying contours, you can paste glyphs and their parts not only to the current font, but to any glyph of any font of any application that is compatible with TypeTool. FontLab Composer or FontLab 3.0 are good examples of such applications.


Importing and Exporting Glyphs

The most common format for contour-based data is Encapsulated PostScript (EPS). Because this format is a native format of a well-known contour-manipulation program, Adobe Illustrator, another name for it is Adobe Illustrator format (AI). If we go deeper, we will see that EPS is much more common than AI, but due to a well-defined internal structure, AI became a standard way of exchanging contour-based graphics.

With TypeTool, you can export any glyph as an AI-compatible file and use it in any other program and you can import any EPS/AI file (compatible with Adobe Illustrator) to add a picture to any glyph of your font.

To export a glyph as an EPS/AI file:

1.	Select the Save EPS command from the File menu.

2.	Select the exporting directory and enter the name of the EPS/AI file in the standard Windows File Save dialog box.

To add an EPS/AI file to the current glyph:

1.	Select the Open EPS command from the File menu.

2.	Choose the file that you want to add in the standard File Open dialog box.

3.	Press the OK button in the File Open dialog box, and the EPS/AI file will be imported, added to the current glyph, and selected to simplify its modifications.


Editing Glyph Window Preferences

Some options of the glyph-editing process can be adjusted in the Glyph Window-related pages of the Preferences dialog box. You can open the Preferences dialog box by choosing the Preferences command in the File menu.

The Preferences dialog box consists of many pages, two of which we will discuss now: Glyph Edit and Autohinting.


Glyph Edit Options

The Glyph Edit options page consists of several groups of controls: Grid/Margins, Vertical Alignment and Remove Overlap.

The first group of controls lets you choose the steps of gridlines and switch on or off the snap-to-grid feature. If you check the Snap to Margins check box, then all the glyph margin lines will work as guidelines.

The second group is used to declare the vertical dimensions of the fonts that you work with. These dimensions are used to calculate the 100% zoom mode and to calculate the size of the sample icons that you see in all the chart windows. Ascender defines the top size of the font, usually 900-1000 units. Descender declares the bottom size of the font, usually it is equivalent to the position of the bottom line of the lowest part of a character in the font. The general value is 200-300 units.

The last group of commands deals with the Remove Overlap command. The Correct contours orientation check box lets you switch on or off the automatic correction of the contour’s orientation after the application of the Remove Overlap command. So, if you draw a simple circle and direct it in the wrong direction (clockwise), the Remove Overlap command will not “remove” any overlap. But, if the Correct Contours Orientation check box is activated, Remove Overlap will reverse the contour to the correct direction.

Two other options (ATM fill mode and PostScript fill mode) may be easily explained by this example:

See also:

Autohinting Options


Autohinting Options

The Autohinting option lets you fine-tune the algorithm for automatically building stem hints. Improper use of this option may cause autohinting to work incorrectly or not work at all, so be careful with any modifications.

Width limits

Declares the minimum and maximum width of hints that the autohinting algorithm is allowed to create.

Min. length

Declares the minimum length of the nearest vertical (or nearest horizontal) vectors (or curve control vectors) that can be a candidate for building a hint

Minimal length/ width aspect ratio

Declares a critical correlation between the width of a candidate for the hint and the length of the vector that builds that candidate.

Remove all existing hints before autohinting

Allows you to remove all existing hints before autohinting the glyph. If this option is switched off, new hints will be added to the existing hint set. Of course, a hints substitution program will be built.

See also:

Hints

Glyph Edit Options


Editing Font Metrics

The tools that you can use to edit the metrics data in TypeTool are common to all FontLab applications, so if you have learned how to use these tools in TypeTool you will be ready to use those same tools in any of the FontLab programs.

Continue


What are Font Metrics?

A program that aligns and spaces text calculates the total width of all the characters in a paragraph. It then adjusts the widths of the space characters that separate the words and tries to put as many characters as possible into one line. The information about the words that are used to make a paragraph, and the information about the width of the individual characters is the only information necessary. This is what is known as font metrics.

To position the individual characters, the page layout program must have information about each character's sidebearings. Using this information the page layout program positions all the characters. Kerning information is also necessary for the best results.

See also:

Kerning

Metrics Files


Kerning

Kerning information is used to adjust the space between specific pairs of characters. As you can see in the following picture, some characters may be well spaced with just the bearings rectangle but other characters are not. To fix this problem a special technique called kerning has been developed.

Kerning defines the additional modification of inter-character space in specific pairs. A good example is the AV pair. In the following picture you can see two examples of inter-character spacing, with and without kerning:

With kerning	Without kerning

As you can see, only the kerned image is optically correct, because it can compensate for the special form of the V and A characters printed in sequence.

See also:

Metrics Files

Metrics Window


Metrics Files

Information about a characters’ width usually is located in font files. Kerning information may be also be included in this file. In TrueType and FontLab font formats both metrics and kerning data are located in font files. In case of Type 1 (PostScript) font files metrics and kerning data are located in separate files.

There are two possible formats for metrics files that are used with Type 1 fonts: AFM and PFM. AFM files (Adobe Font Metrics) are text files containing all the metrics and kerning information for a given font. These files are legible and can be edited in any text editor. PFM files (Printer Font Metrics) are metrics and kerning files used by the Windows operating system. They are binary files and cannot be read without special utilities. AFM files are a standard format for the exchange of metrics information for PostScript fonts. This information can be read directly by several operating systems and programs.

TypeTool can import and export metrics and kerning information in any of these formats.

See also:

Opening Metrics Files

Saving Metrics Files


Metrics Window

Metrics Window consists of several parts:

•	The top most area is used to select a mode for the Metrics Window and a string for metrics or kerning editing.

•	The property area includes “live” digital information about metrics or kerning for the current character or character pair.

•	The editing area where the edited string with controls appears.

•	The Bottom toolbar area with controls for importing and exporting metrics files, automating metrics or kerning generation and other commands.

See also:

Previewing a String

Editing Metrics

Editing Kerning


Previewing a String

There are three possible modes of the Metrics Window: Preview, Metrics and Kerning. The default is the Preview mode.

In the Preview mode you cannot edit the metrics or kerning data of the font. You can only preview the sample string and look at the characters’ that are aligned together. This mode is useful when you edit individual characters because it allows you to compare different characters and develop a common design element for them.

In the Preview mode you also can edit the position of the underline line that will appear if the font that you edit is used in the underline mode.

To switch to the Preview mode from any other mode of the Metrics Window, select the Preview option in the mode selection combo box:

or select the Preview command in the View menu;

or select the Preview command in the popup menu that appears if you click the right mouse button in the editing area of the Metrics Window.

See also:

Selecting a String for Previewing or Metrics Editing

Editing an Underline


Selecting a String for Previewing or Metrics Editing

If you are in the Preview mode you may want to enter a string to preview. The easiest way to do this is to enter the string in the editing field of the Metrics Window:

Or, you can open a list box of predefined strings and select one of them for editing:

All strings that appear in the list box are read from the preview.txt file located in TypeTool’s installation directory. This file is an ordinary text file and can be edited in any text editor to add your own strings.

If you want to fill the string selection list box from a different file, press the Open button and select any text file in the generic Windows Open File dialog box.

If you enter a custom sample string in the edit box you can press the Add button to add this string to the list box. To save the contents of the list box in the text file, press the Save button and select the destination file and directory.

Navigating in the Sample String

Use [image] and [image] buttons to move to the previous or next characters in the string if one of them is selected. These buttons are useful if one of the characters has a negative width value.

Entering Special Characters

Some characters are not be represented by the ANSI characters that are standard in Windows. However, by using special rules you can enter ANSI names in the sample string. To enter a character’s name, begin with the slash character (/) and finish with a space character or another slash. To enter a slash, type it twice (//).

The decimal code of a character can follow the slash instead of using its name.

The easiest way to fill a sample string is using the drag-drop method. You can simply drag any character from the Font Window and drop it in the Metrics Window and it will be added to the sample string.

Selecting Previewing Size

In the String Size combo box:

you can select the size of the previewed string. If the string becomes too large to fit in the window, a vertical scroll bar will appear allowing you to view all the editing areas of the Metrics Window.

 Related Topics


Editing an Underline

In the Preview mode of the Metrics Window, you can view and edit the position of the underline that appears in a text editing application when the underline style is chosen. The position and thickness of an underline are considered a font parameter and are part of the font’s design.

To view an underline in the Metrics Window Preview mode, switch on the Show Underline check box located in the property area.

You will see the underline appear in the editing area and underline controls in the property area of the Metrics Window:

The left control is used to edit an underline’s position and the right control the underline’s thickness. If you change values in the control boxes you will see the underline’s position and/or thickness modified.

 Related Topics


Editing Metrics

By “metrics”, we refer to information about a character’s width and sidebearings. In TypeTool you can modify this information either manually or automatically.

To modify a character’s metrics you must switch the Metrics Window to the Metrics mode. To do this select Metrics in the mode selection combo box:

or, select the Metrics command in the View menu or in the popup menu that appears if you press the right mouse button on the editing area of the Metrics Window.

In the Default Mode Property area, the Metrics Window is empty. To make the metrics editing controls visible, click on the left mouse button on a character in the editing field. The metrics editing controls will appear:

and the sidebearings lines with editing handles will appear on the sides of the character.

The numbers at the bottom of the character are the left and right sidebearing values and the character’s width.

See also:

Manual Editing of Metrics

Automatic Metrics Generation

Quick Save and Quick Open


Manual Editing of Metrics

To modify a character’s metrics you can use 3 methods:

1.	Move the sidebearings lines using the left mouse button.

2.	Edit the values in the property area of the Metrics Window.

3.	Drag the character within the editing area.

To move the sidebearings lines just position the mouse cursor on the line, press the left mouse button and drag the mouse. Release the mouse button when you are done.

To drag a character within the editing area, position the mouse cursor on the characters’ image; press the left mouse button and drag the mouse to position the character inside its width. Press the right mouse button while dragging the mouse to modify the character’s width.

You can easily modify the vertical position of the character relative to its baseline. Just press and hold the SHIFT key on the keyboard while dragging the character and you will modify its vertical position.

 Related Topics


Automatic Metrics Generation

TypeTool can automatically detect a character’s metrics using a special algorithm. This algorithm usually produces good results, but it is recommended that you use manual editing.

To detect the metrics parameters automatically press the [image] button in the bottom toolbar area or select the Auto command in the Operations menu or select the Auto Metrics command in the popup menu.

The Automatic Metrics Generation dialog box appears.

This dialog box includes two areas: Area of application and Parameters. In the first area you select the character(s) to which the automatic algorithm will be applied.

The possible choices are:

Current character only

This option is available and is the default if any character is selected in the editing area.

All characters in the current string

This option generates metrics for all characters in the current string in the editing area.

Whole font

This forces TypeTool to generate metrics for all characters in the font, and is not recommended. This operation is not undoable. TypeTool prompts you and asks that you save the current metrics information in a special file from which it may be easily restored if you are not satisfied with the results that the autometrics algorithm produced.

In the Parameters area of the Autometrics dialog box, you can choose the parameters for the algorithm. All the parameters are displayed. We recommend that you experiment with various parameters using the autometrics application.

 Related Topics


Quick Save and Quick Open

You may use these commands to temporarily save the current state of the metrics and kerning information. To quick save a metrics file ~SAVE.AFM in the TypeTool directory, press the [image] button on the bottom toolbar of the Metrics Window or select the Quick Save command in the Operation menu.

To open a previously saved file, press the [image] button or select the Quick Open command in the Operation menu. The Warning dialog box appears prompting you to save the current (modified) state of metrics into the same temporary file.

 Related Topics


Editing Kerning

To edit kerning data, switch the Metrics Window to the kerning mode. To do this select Kerning in the Mode selection combo box:

or select the Kerning command in the View menu or the Edit Kerning command in the popup menu.

When you switch to the kerning mode, you will see the total number of defined kerning pairs appear in the property area of the Metrics Window.

To make the Kerning Editing controls visible, you must select the pair that you want to edit. To do this, position the mouse cursor on the right character of the pair and click the left mouse button.

You will see the Kerning Editing controls appear in the property area and the kerning line and handle appear in the editing area.

There is now a blue area in the metrics bar at the top part of the editing area. This means that kerning exists for that pair in the current preview string.

See also:

Manual Kerning Editing

Automatic Kerning Generation

Resetting Kerning

Quick Save and Quick Open


Manual Kerning Editing

To edit kerning manually, you must drag the kerning line (or right character of the kerning pair) using the left mouse button. If you click the right mouse button while dragging the character, kerning for that pair will be removed. You will see the total number of kerning pairs decreases.

 Related Topics


Automatic Kerning Generation

The easiest way to apply kerning to a font is use TypeTool’s auto-kerning algorithm. This algorithm analyses the shape of the characters in the given pairs and automatically kerns them. You can control the pairs list which the autokerning algorithm processes, as well as other parameters.

To detect kerning automatically press the [image] button at the bottom of the toolbar area, or select the Auto command in the Operations menu, or select the Auto Kerning command in the popup menu.

The Automatic Kerning Generation dialog box appears.

This dialog box consists of two areas: Area of application and Parameters.

In the first area you may select the pairs for which the algorithm will compute kerning values. You can choose between Current pair only (available if one of the pairs is selected in the editing area), All Pairs in the current string, or All Pairs in the following list.

The second area allows you to generate kerning for all the pairs located in a special list file. The list files are stored in a Kerning subdirectory of TypeTool’s installation directory. You can create your own kerning pair files using files placed there at the time of TypeTool’s installation.

The Parameters option lets you customize the autokerning algorithm. The most used option is: How much white space do you want to leave between characters? This controls how close the characters can be moved together while computing kerning in the pair.

The Allow for positive kerning check box lets the autokerning algorithm produce positive kerning in pairs. Positive kerning moves characters apart from each other. Positive kerning is usually not recommended.

If you want to keep the existing kerning, the combo box lets you control the disposition of the existing (imported or manually created) kerning pairs. You can replace existing pairs by automatically generating new ones, keep them unchanged, or select the condition mode.

The Maximum number of generated pairs and Maximum absolute value for generated kerning options, control the possible number of automatically created pairs and the maximum normal (negative or positive) kerning value.

 Related Topics


Resetting Kerning

To remove the kerning information for some characters or for the entire font, you must use the Reset Kerning feature. To open the Reset Kerning dialog box, press on the [image] or select the Reset Kerning command in the Operations menu or popup menu.

The Reset Kerning dialog box appears.

This dialog box includes options that control kerning removal.

Available options are:

Reset kerning for the current pair

This is the default if a pair is selected. Removes kerning for that pair only. You can get the same result by clicking on the right mouse button while editing kerning in the current pair.

Reset kerning for all pairs in the string

Default if no pairs are selected. Removes kerning in all pairs that exist in the current string.

Reset kerning for all characters in the string

Removes kerning in all pairs that include characters in the current string.

Limit number of kerning pairs to…

Leaves only the given number of pairs with the largest absolute kerning value.

Delete all pairs that are less than…

Removes all pairs that have a kerning value less than the given value. The absolute value of kerning is compared.

Completely reset kerning in the current font

Removes all the kerning pairs available in the font. Because this is not an undoable operation, the warning dialog asks you to save the current metrics and kerning data in the temporary file.

 Related Topics


Opening Metrics Files

TypeTool allows you to import metrics and/or kerning information into the current font. Using this feature, you can create metric and kerning information once and use it in several similar fonts.

To import a metrics file into TypeTool, press on the [image] button of the bottom toolbar or select the Open Metrics command in the File menu. You will see the standard Windows Open File dialog box. Select the metrics file that you want to import (in PFM or AFM format) and press the OK button.

The Import Metrics dialog box appears.

The topmost control contains a legend describing the metrics file that you are importing and its compatibility with the current font.

Some options in the Parameters area let you select various metrics importing options:

What do you want to do with metrics data:

Do nothing

Do not import metrics data from this file.

Replace all metrics in the current font

Import all metrics data (characters’ widths and sidebearings) and replace the metrics data in the current font. We recommend that you use this option only if your font is very similar to the metrics file that you are importing.

Replace all metrics that are close to current

Replace only those metrics records that are similar to the imported metrics. Possible difference between metrics option controls the allowed difference.

Replace metrics that are thinner than in the current font,

Replace metrics that are wider than in the current font

These options are obvious.

What do you want to do with the kerning data:

Do nothing

Do not import kerning data from the metrics file.

Completely replace kerning data in the current font

Remove all existing kerning pairs and replace them with pairs imported from the metrics file.

Add imported kerning data to the current font

Leave the existing kerning pairs unchanged but add new kerning pairs from the metrics file.

Add new kerning pairs but autokern them

Import information about the characters that form each kerning pair in the metrics file and apply an autokerning algorithm to these pairs.

The What do you want to do with other data? option, controls the font header importing option. TypeTool can import the Font Info data from the metrics file and replace the current font info data if the Replace this data in the current font options is selected.

 Related Topics


Saving Metrics Files

When you export a font file in Type 1 font format, the metrics files (in AFM and PFM formats) are automatically written. TrueType font format includes all metrics information inside, so it is not necessary to export additional files.

However, if you want to export a metrics file, you can always do that by using the Metrics Window. Just press the [image] button on the Metrics Window bottom toolbar, or select the Save Metrics command in the File menu. Select the destination format (AFM or PFM), and the destination directory. Enter the file name in the standard Windows Save File dialog box.

 Related Topics


TypeTool Menu Commands

Commands

File menu

Edit menu

View menu

Tools menu

Operation menu

Actions menu

Window menu

Help menu


File menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

New Font	Creates a new font
Open Font	Opens an existing font
Save Font	Saves a font
Save Font As	Saves a font to a specified file name
Font Info	Opens a dialog box for the editing of the font info fields
Preferences	Opens Preferences dialog box
Exit	Exits TypeTool.
Open Metrics	Opens a metrics files (in the metrics mode only)
Save Metrics	Saves current metrics data in the metrics file (in the metrics mode only)
Open EPS, Save EPS	Imports and exports EPS files (in the glyph edit mode only)


Edit menu commands

The Edit menu offers the following commands:

Undo	Undoes previous operation
Redu	Redoes previousliy undone operation
Cut	Deletes part of glyph outline and moves it to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies data from the glyph outline to the clipboard.
Paste	Pastes data from the clipboard into the glyph outline.
Delete	Removes selected part of glyph outline or deletes selected character if selected in font mode
Select All	Selects whole glyph outline or all characters in the font, depending on type of active window.
Deselect	Removes selection from the glyph outline
Properties	Opens Property panel
Copy Glyph	Copies glyph to the clipboard (glyph mode only)
Paste Glyph	Replaces current glyph with the glyph previously copied to the clipboard (glyph mode only)
Reset Glyph	Removes all glyph structures (glyph mode only)


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Shows or hides the toolbars and status bar.
Zoom In	Increases Zoom mode or activates Zoom In tool
Zoom Out	Decreases Zoom mode of the active Window
Metrics	Switches Metrics window to the metrics editing mode (metrics mode only)
Kerning	Switches Metrics window to the kerning editing mode (metrics mode only)
Preview	Switches Metrics window to the preview mode (metrics mode only)
Grid, Guidelines, Hints, Nodes, Control Vectors, Connections, Preview	Switches glyph editing layers (glyph mode only)
Prev Symbol, Next Symbo	Moves to the previous or to the next symbol in the string (metrics mode only)


Tools menu commands

The Tools menu offers commands allowing you to select one of the editing tools for glyph editing:

Edit,  Erase,  Contour,  Meter	Glyph-editing tools
Transform Selection, Reverse Contours,  Set Startpoint	Glyph-editing operations


Operation menu commands

The Operation menu offers commands allowing you to select one of the operations for glyph and metrics editing:

Reset Kerning	In the kerning editing mode opens the Reset Kerning dialog box
Auto	In the metrics and kerning editing mode opens Auto Kerning or Auto Metrics dialog box
Quick Open, Quick Save	Quck save of metrics information into temporary metrics file and open this file
Edit	Activates the Glyph Window with the current characters


Actions menu commands

The Actions menu offers commands allowing you to select one of the glyph-editing actions:

Remove Hints	Removes all character hints
Autohint	Automatically generates hints for the glyph
Remove Overlap	Removes overlapped and self-intersecting parts of the glyph
Snap to Guides	Sticks all nodes to closest guidelines and hints
Nodes at Extremes	Insert nodes at the extreme points of curves
Show Font	Activates the FontWindow and highlights current glyph


Window menu commands

The Window menu offers the following commands, which enable you to arrange multiple views of multiple documents in the application window:

Cascade	Arranges windows in an overlapped fashion.
Tile	Arranges windows in non-overlapped tiles.
Arrange Icons	Arranges icons of closed windows.
Window 1, 2, ...	Goes to specified window.
Font	Opens a Font window
Glyph	Opens a Glyph window
Metrics	Opens a Metrics window


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Index	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
Using Help	Provides general instructions on using help.
About TypeTool	Displays the version number of this application.


Show Font command
Show Font

Use this command to activate Font Window and select character that you are editing in the glyph window.


Metrics command (Window menu)

Use this command to show or hide Metrics Window

See also:

Metrics Window


Font command (Window menu)

Use this command to show or hide Font Window.

See also:

Font Window


Glyph command (Window menu)

Use this command to show or hide Glyph Window.

See also:

Editing Glyphs


Glyph Window

This window is used to edit indivudual glyphs. It has zoom selection field, tools selection bar, layers selection bar, rulers, scroll bars and editing field.

You can use buttons in top area of the window to select editing tools and select editing layers to preview.

See also:

Editing Glyphs


Edit command
Edit command (Operation menu)

Use this command to activate Glyph Window with the current glyph. Alternative way to edit glyph - double click left mouse button on the glyph cell in the Font Window.


File New Font command
New Font command (File menu)

Use this command to create a new font in TypeTool.  If you have unsaved changes in the font that you are editing, TypeTool will ask you to save the changes.

You can open an existing font with the Open Font command.


File Open Font command
Open Font command (File menu)

Use this command to open a font in the Font Window.  You can open only one font at once.

You can create a new font with the New Font command.

See also:

Opening Fonts


File Save Font command
Save Font command (File menu)

Use this command to save the font to its current name and directory.  When you save a font for the first time, TypeTool displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your font.  If you want to change the name and directory of an existing font before you save it, choose the Save Font As command.

See also:

Saving Fonts


File Save Font As command
Save Font As command (File menu)

Use this command to save and name the font you are editing in the Font Window.  TypeTool displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your font.

To save a font with its existing name and directory, use the Save Font command.

See also:

Saving Fonts


File Open dialog box

The following options allow you to specify which file to open:

File Name

Type or select the filename you want to open.  This box lists files with the extension you select in the List Files of Type box.

List Files of Type

Select the type of file you want to open.

Drives

Select the drive in which TypeTool stores the file that you want to open.

Directories

Select the directory in which TypeTool stores the file that you want to open.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


Prev Symbol and Next Symbol commands (View menu)

Use this commands to move to the previous and to the next characters in the preview string. This commands are avaliable only while Metrics window is active.


Auto command (Operation menu)

Use this command to automatically generate metrics or kerning information depending on what mode is active. This command is available only when Metrics window is active.

See also:

Automatic Metrics Generation

Automatic Kerning Generation


Properties command (Edit menu)

Use this command to open a Properties panel. Type of the panel depends on the current situation. For example, if you select this command while you are editing a glyph, Glyph Properties panel will appear.

See also:

Property Panel


Preferences command (File menu)

Use this command to adjust various TypeTool options and preferences. The Preferences dialog box that will appear includes several pages. Each page allows to tune one of the TypeTool’s main features.

See also:

Customizing a Font Window

Glyph Edit Options

Autohinting Options


Choose Font Dialog
Choose Font dialog box

Use controls of this dialog box to select font. In the Font list box select font that you want to use. In the Font Style list box choose font style and select font size in the Size list. Sample window previews selected font.


File Save As dialog box

The following options allow you to specify the name and location of the file you're about to save:

File Name

Type a new filename to save a document with a different name.  TypeTool adds the extension you specify in the Save File As Type box.

Drives

Select the drive in which you want to store the document.

Directories

Select the directory in which you want to store the document.


File 1, 2, 3, 4 command
1, 2, 3, 4 command (File menu)

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the File menu to open the last four documents you closed.  Choose the number that corresponds with the document you want to open.


File Exit command
Exit command (File menu)

Use this command to end your TypeTool session.  You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.  TypeTool prompts you to save documents with unsaved changes.


Undo/Redo commands
Undo/Redo commands (Edit menu)

Use Undo command reverse the last editing action, if possible.  Use Redo command to revert to previosly undone action. You can undo (and redo) up to 100 operations.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+Z or ALT-BACKSPACE


Cut command (Edit menu)

Use this command to remove the currently selected data from the glyph and put it on the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Cutting data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

See also:

Copying Glyphs and Their Parts

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+X


Copy command (Edit menu)

Use this command to copy selected glyph data onto the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Copying data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

See also:

Copying Glyphs and Their Parts

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+C


Paste command (Edit menu)

Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents in the current glyph. This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.

See also:

Copying Glyphs and Their Parts

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+V


View Toolbar command
Toolbars commands (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide Toolbars, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in TypeTool.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


Toolbar

The toolbar is a window containing buttons used for the quick access to many tools and operations in TypeTool. There are many toolbars in TypeTool. Most of toolbars can be moved to any place on the screen or “docked” to any side of TypeTool main window.

To hide or display one of toolbars or status bar, choose its name in the Toolbar popup menu from the View menu.

See also:

Status Bar


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the TypeTool window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the Toolbars submenu of View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.


Cascade command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in an overlapped fashion.


Tile command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Arrange Icons command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange the icons for minimized windows at the bottom of the main window.  If there is an open document window at the bottom of the main window, then some or all of the icons may not be visible because they will be underneath this document window.


1, 2, ... command (Window menu)

TypeTool displays a list of currently open document windows at the bottom of the Window menu.  A check mark appears in front of the document name of the active window.  Choose a document from this list to make its window active.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using TypeTool and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of TypeTool.


Help Using Help Command
 Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of TypeTool.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the TypeTool window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and document.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.


Scroll bars

Displayed at the right and bottom edges of the document window. The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location in the document. You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the document.


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:
This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:
This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the TypeTool window to an icon onto Task Bar.


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.


Next command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the next open document window.  TypeTool determines which window is next according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcuts

Keys: 	CTRL+F6 closes a document window


Close command (Control menus)

Use this command to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as clicking this button.

Shortcuts

Keys: 	CTRL+F4 closes a document window


Restore command (Control menu)

Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Close button

Click this button to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as choosing the Close command.

Note:
If you have multiple windows open for a single document, the Close command on the document Control menu closes only one window at a time.  You can close all windows at once with the Close command on the File menu.

Shortcuts

Keys: 	CTRL+F4 closes a document window

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FontLab Products

Since 1992, we have been providing digital typography solutions to the graphic design community.
Our product line includes:

	Fontlab is our powerful, full featured, digital typeface editor. It includes native editing tools for Multiple Master and TrueType fonts plus extensive font-manipulation features.
	ScanFont is our paper-to-font application. It can be used to transform printed or painted images of characters into high quality Type 1 or TrueType fonts in minutes. Includes outline editing tools, kerning and hinting editors.
	FontLab Composer is an editor for fonts with very large character sets. It can edit CID fonts, convert double-byte TrueType fonts into CID font format and includes extensive support for multiple encodings.
	SigMaker is a very simple program that can let you insert your signature, company logo or special symbol into any TrueType font in 7 easy steps.

To order our products or to get more information contact:

Pyrus NA, Ltd. Box 465, Millersville, MD 21108, USA
Tel: +1(410)987-5616; Fax: +1(410)987-4980
email: 70220.344@compuserve.com
WWW: http://www.pyrus.com