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Font Basics
By Stephen Bucaro
A font is actually a graphic shape, for example a triangle, which can be used
to create a typographic character. A group of fonts of similar design can be used
to create a typeface. A set of typefaces in different sizes and weights, created
from the same group of fonts, is a type family. These terms are often misused,
the term "font" being used to mean a typeface.
There are two basic kinds of fonts, bitmapped fonts and scalable
fonts. Bitmapped fonts are constructed as a pattern of dots. Bitmapped fonts can
be enlarged, but this produces jagged looking type.
Scalable fonts are stored as outlines of the characters along with rules (know
as "hints") used when displaying the font. This allows the fonts to be displayed
over a wider range of sizes and still look good. Scalable fonts can be used for
both the computer screen and the printer, making it more likely that the print
will closely match what's seen on the computer screen.
A font file will usually contain a set of fonts in several different point sizes.
A font's size is the height of the characters in "points". There are 72 points
per inch. The font size refers to the height of characters when printed on paper.
Unlike paper, computer screens come in different sizes and can be set to different
screen resolutions. Also many applications allow the user to magnify the document;
therefore, the size of type on the screen will only rarely be the same as the point size.
Adobe invented the first scalable font technology called "PostScript", but
PostScript basically became obsolete when Microsoft provided its "TrueType" scalable
fonts for no extra charge with the Windows operating system. One important feature
of TrueType fonts is the ability to embed the font into the document itself.
The fonts used in a document are embedded in an encrypted form that prevents the
recipient of a document from removing the font and using it without paying for it.
The font developer can configure the font to be read-only, where the receiver of the
document with the font may view and print it but not edit it, or read-write, where
the receiver may edit, as well as view and print the document.
Bitmapped fonts are stored in files with the extension .fon. TrueType fonts are
stored as font descriptions in files with the extension .ttf. To install a font,
simply copy the font file to the c:\Windows\fonts or C:\WINNT\fonts folder.
You could store a font file in a different folder and include a shortcut to the
font file in the fonts folder.
To view a font, simply navigate to the fonts folder and double-click on a font
file. You can also view fonts by selecting Start | Settings | Control Panel
and opening the Fonts utility. The Fonts utility provides many extra features,
such as the ability to select similar fonts.
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