4 ms·
> "Metafont is a really nice program for designing typefaces." It is really a nice approach, not only for typefaces but also for graphics in general there is t
by weinzierl 6y ago
> "Metafont is a really nice program for designing typefaces."
It is really a nice approach, not only for typefaces but also for graphics in general there is the Metafont inspired MetaPost. [1]
> "You specify control points on the outline, not outside (as with Bezier curves)."
Metafont basically simulates tools like brush and broad nib pen.
This is great for some typefaces but it surprisingly gets in the way for most punchcutting based typefaces. The shapes of most of these letters are just not easy to replicate with a brush or pen approach.
[1] Metafont minuscule f, MetaPost majuscule P, not a typo.
- dhosek 6y agoWhile it can be used to simulate nib and brush characters, it's not required. Most of the CM typefaces do not use that functionality (only the calligraphic uppercase letters, designed by Neenie Billawalla, use the nib feature).
- weinzierl 6y agoI know and as far as I remember this is done using a small brush to trace the outline and then fill it. Apart from being kind of a hack you also lose the beauty and simplicity of using Metafont to describe the spine of the character and let it derive the outline from that. I always thought of that as the higher abstraction that is preferable to use, but unfortunately and unexpectedly it falls short on many common character shapes. As a bezier outline description tool I see little benefit in using Metafont.