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benc34199373
benc34199373
Participating Frequently
March 18, 2021
Question

Font editor

  • March 18, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 412 views

Hi there,

I am wondering what options there are for editing open type fonts for windows? I have a DIN typeface which I would like to edit things such as kerning relationships, bullet point sizes and some automatic glyph choices over others. I don't need to manipulate the design of any of these characters, I just would like to edit their sizing and spacing so it is hardcoded into the font.

I am new to this, so are there any free options for something basic like this? Or do I need proper font editing software? All I see are programs which talk about editing the actual letters and such, which I don't think I need..

Thanks in advance.

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1 reply

Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
March 18, 2021

@benc34199373 

 

You are grossly underestimating what it takes for “editing open type (sic) fonts.”

 

The OpenType font specification is particularly complex and even with the best of the tools out there, what you are proposing to do may be very difficult. And in fact, editing “bullet point sizes” may very well require mucking with the design of the bullet glyph.

 

Free? I don't think so!!! A professional tool such as FontLab retails for $459! There are some other tools such as Fontographer that may not be flexible enough for what you need, but still costs $259. Another font editor, DTL OTMaster at $228 also provides OpenType editing capabilities. And all these programs have a significant learning curve! The cost of your time learning, experimenting with, and using these tools may grossly overshadow the cost of the software license itself.

 

Also be aware that depending upon the font itself and the foundry you license it from, modifications of some or all types (pun not intended) may actually be prohibited by the the font's EULA (End User License Agreement)!

 

Good luck.

 

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
benc34199373
benc34199373Author
Participating Frequently
March 19, 2021

Thanks for that. I guess I have underestimated what is involved. I honestly thought there might be a free peice of software that would allow you to do such things but I guess that shows my lack of knowledge. Things like fixing kerning, using the certain @ symbol over another (both offered within the same font) and changing the size of bullet points etc, is something that people do all the time when using a font, so I was just wondering if there is a 'go-to' platform for permanently fixing these things. I'm not changing the font at all really. I work with other people and the lack of consistency for using certain fonts correctly is unfuriating and impossible to manage all the time. 

Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
March 19, 2021

For better or worse, if you are changing the size of the bullet character, you are materially changing the font. Yes, it may be “something that people do all the time when using a font” but they do so by changing the point size of the particular character manually or perhaps via character styles in software such as InDesign.

 

Yes, dealing with fonts is not easy. I often say that “font” is a four letter word beginning with an ‘f.’

 

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
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