Font formats
The following list describes the important features of font formats, allowing the End User
to decide which is best for their particular use or situation.
| USE: All PostScript output and printing devices. Not suitable for multilingual or non-Latin scripts. |
| OUTLINES: Bezier curves are compatible with Illustrator and CorelDRAW!.
When converted from font to outline in illustrator, no conversion of points is necessary.
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| HINTING/BITMAPS: Type 1 hinting. May contain bitmaps. Hinting does not
control bitmaps for small screen sizes. Unlimited number of family styles. |
| OPERATING SYSTEMS: Mac only. |
| FILES/FORMAT: Also known as Mac Type 1. Contains two files; Printer font (ie: TimesBolIta) and
Bitmap (.bmp) suitcase (.suit).
Maxiimum 256 Glyphs. Cannot include embedding rights. |
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| USE: All PostScript output and printing devices. Not suitable for multilingual or non-Latin scripts. |
| OUTLINES: Bezier curves are compatible with Illustrator and CorelDRAW!.
When converted from font to outline in illustrator, no conversion of points is necessary.
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| HINTING/BITMAPS: Type 1 hinting. May contain bitmaps. Hinting does not control
bitmaps for small screen sizes. Maximum of four styles in each family. |
| OPERATING SYSTEMS: Windows and Linux only (not cross-platform). |
| FILES/FORMAT: Also known as Windows Type 1. Contains at least two files; Printer font (.pfb) and Metrics file (.pfm).
Maxiimum 256 Glyphs. Cannot include embedding rights. |
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| USE: Runs native on output devices which do not have PostScript capabilities.
Old PostScript devices may not be compatible. Suitable for multilingual and non-Latin scripts. |
| OUTLINES: Cubic curves are not compatible with Illustrator and CorelDRAW!.
PostScript (Bezier) to TrueType (Cubic) curves conversion is normally used by Type Designers, which makes
it difficult to maintain faithful curves to the original. When End User converts to back to Bezier outlines in Illustrator,
or CorelDRAW!, extra unwanted points are added.
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| HINTING/BITMAPS: TrueType hinting is time consuming.
Hinting provides precise control of small screen sizes. Unlimited number of family styles. |
| OPERATING SYSTEMS: Mac only (not cross-platform). |
| FILES/FORMAT: Also kown as Resource fork TrueType. Comprises one font file. On Mac extension (.suit) sometimes found in fonts
generated prior to OS X, otherwise no extension. Maxiimum 65,535 Glyphs.
Supports Unicode. Can include embedding rights. |
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| USE: Runs native on output devices which do not have PostScript capabilities.
Old PostScript devices may not be compatible. Suitable for multilingual and Non-Latin scripts
ONLY if used in OpenType savvy applications, otherwise defaults to basic character set. |
| OUTLINES: Cubic curves are not compatible with Illustrator and CorelDRAW!.
PostScript (Bezier) to TrueType (Cubic) curves conversion is normally used by Type Designers, which makes
it difficult to maintain faithful curves to the original. When End User converts to back to Bezier outlines in Illustrator,
or CorelDRAW!, extra unwanted points are added.
|
| HINTING/BITMAPS: TrueType hinting is time consuming.
Hinting provides precise control of small screen sizes. Maximum of four styles in each family. |
| OPERATING SYSTEMS: Windows only (not cross-platform). |
| FILES/FORMAT: Comprises one font file. Windows extension (.ttf) used. Maxiimum 65,535 Glyphs.
Supports Unicode. Can include embedding rights. |
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| USE: Runs native on output devices which do not have PostScript capabilities.
Old PostScript devices may not be compatible. Suitable for multilingual and Non-Latin scripts
ONLY if used in OpenType savvy applications, otherwise defaults to basic character set.
The exported CFF (Compact Font Format) file is designed to be embedded by Manufacturers in Adobe® PDF and
Printer ROMs that have PostScript® interpreters, saving up to 40% space. End Users do not need to access the format. |
| OUTLINES: Bezier curves are compatible with Illustrator and CorelDRAW!.
Bezier curves are compatible with Illustrator.
Designers prefer this format to maintain faithful curve integrity.
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| HINTING/BITMAPS: Type 1 hinting is realtively quick.
Hinting does not provide precise control of small screen sizes. Can theoretically contain bitmaps.
Maximum of four styles in each family. |
| OPERATING SYSTEMS: Windows, Linux, Mac OS 8.6 to 10.x (cross-platform). |
| FILES/FORMAT: Also known as OpenType-CFF, PostScript flavoured OpenType, OTF.
Contains one font file.
Supports OpenType layout features (old style figs etc). Multilingual and feature sets
only work with OpenType savvy applications, otherwise the default basic character set is used.
Supports Unicode. Can include embedding rights. Maxiimum 65,535 Glyphs. |
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| USE: Runs native on output devices which do not have PostScript capabilities.
Old PostScript devices may not be compatible. Suitable for multilingual and Non-Latin scripts. |
| OUTLINES: Cubic curves are not compatible with Illustrator and CorelDRAW!.
PostScript (Bezier) to TrueType (Cubic) curves conversion is normally used by Type Designers, which makes
it difficult to maintain faithful curves to the original. When End User converts the font back to Bezier outlines in Illustrator,
or CorelDRAW!, extra unwanted points are added.
|
| HINTING/BITMAPS: TrueType hinting is time consuming.
Hinting provides precise control of small screen sizes. Maximum of four styles in each family. |
| OPERATING SYSTEMS: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X (10.x upwards) (cross-platform). |
| FILES/FORMAT: Also known as Data-fork TrueType, Windows TrueType, windows flavoured OpenType, TTF.
Contains one font file.
Supports OpenType layout features (old style figs etc). Multilingual and feature sets
only work with OpenType savvy applications, otherwise the default basic character set is used.
Supports Unicode. Can include embedding rights. Maxiimum 65,535 Glyphs. |
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