How to Understand Different Kinds of Fonts

The most common types of fonts are TrueType and PostScript Type 1. Read on to learn more about these two standards.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Laser Printers
• Adobe Type Manager
• Computer Fonts Software

1. Understand that Type 1 fonts are based on a specification developed by Adobe Systems. Adobe also created the page-description language PostScript, which instructs PostScript how to draw what's on the page.

2. Recognize that TrueType fonts are based on a specification developed by Apple Computer (with a little help from Microsoft). Originally, they were created because Adobe kept the specification for Type 1 fonts private, and font designers had to use a different font format (Type 3) to convert their fonts from older formats to a standard format. Type 1 is now an open specification.

3. Understand that TrueType fonts use one file to hold all the information needed to display a font on the computer screen and print it. PostScript fonts need two files. On the Macintosh, there is a screen bitmap and a printer file. In Windows, PostScript fonts consist of a PFM (printer font metrics) and a PFB (printer font binary). The metrics file contains information about the spacing for the font, while the PFB file contains the outlines that describe how the font should appear.

4. Realize that most type foundries converted their fonts to Type 1 first. However, many of these are now converting their foundries to TrueType.

5. Recognize that, since traditional type foundries converted to Type 1 first, Type 1 fonts have the reputation for being better designed. While some TrueType fonts are catching up, if you intend to create a high-quality design piece and are printing to a PostScript printer, you may want to consider a PostScript font.

6. Learn that kerning pairs (the adjustment of space between two characters - for example, the space between the letters "rs" and "fi" might be different) and appropriate letter spacing may help determine the quality of a font. The better a font looks without any manual adjustment, the better it was initially designed. Ideally, the font should be well enough designed that thousands of kerning pairs aren't needed for a nice appearance.

7. Understand that a quality font should print out nicely, regardless of the size you use.

Tips & Warnings

• Try typing all sizes and letters in a new font. In addition, try accessing some special characters to see how complete your new set is. Fonts from traditional font providers should be complete, but "bargain" fonts may be missing some specialty characters or may have inferior spacing.
• You need to install Adobe Type Manager or use a PostScript printer to print PostScript (Type 1) fonts. Windows 2000 can handle PostScript fonts without ATM or a PostScript Printer.
• Avoid fonts priced to sell. Thousands of fonts for $10.99 means you'll probably get thousands of poor quality fonts. These may work if you're going to use them in a digital design (if you're going to rasterize them in Photoshop or another paint program) but may cause limitations when preserving the outlines in a printed format.