Bitstream vs. True Type
Jason Robert Dunn
surprised to find this newsgroup. I have a question:
What is the difference between Bitstream and True Type
Fonts? What is each used for? Is it a DOS/WINDOWS thing? Are
Bitstream scaleable like TTF are? I always thought (perhaps
mistakenly) that Bitstream Fonts were the "old" way of doing
things, and the TTF were the "new and better" way. Anyone feel
like clearing things up for me? Thanks.
-Jason-
Bitstream Support
The most common typeface technologies are PostScript and TrueType. Which
one you use depends on your working environment.
If you are using a PostScript printer on either the Mac or the PC, or if you
have ATM for the Mac or Windows, you can use any of the many PostScript
typefaces available from typeface vendors and as shareware.
If you use Windows or WordPerfect 6.0 on the PC, have a Mac with System 7 or
above, or have other applications that can handle TrueType fonts, you can
use any of the TrueType faces available from typeface vendors and as
shareware.
PostScript and TrueType are scalable font technologies. When you have a
typeface in either format, you can use any point size. Your only size
limits are due to limitations in your application or hardware.
PostScript descibes a character in Bezier curves.
TrueType uses Quadratic Bezier curves.
The hinting mechanisms differ between the two technologies. One of the
major differences is that it is possible to hint diagonals with TrueType,
but not with PostScript.
NOTE:
If a face (TrueType or PostScript) was originally manufactured to be used on
the PC, you will have to run a conversion on it to use it on the Mac and
vica versa. There are shareware and commercial utilities that do this with
varying degrees of success. Most major type houses carry their typefaces in
both Mac and PC format.
Bitstream has its own proprietary technology, Speedo.
Speedo is a scalable font technology that uses Bezier curves. Most
applications that incorporate Speedo are in the PC environment. There are
two Bitstream applications that used Speedo to provide scalable fonts to
WordPerfect 5.x and to Windows 3.x.
These apps are: FaceLift for WordPerfect and FaceLift for Windows.
Once Microsoft incorporated TrueType into Windows 3.1, FaceLift was no
longer needed, and development of FaceLift for Windows was stopped. At
Bitstream, it was replaced by our TrueType library of fonts.
Once WordPerfect incorporated PostScript Type 1, TrueType, Speedo, and a
couple other formats into WordPerfect 6.0 (DOS environment), FaceLift for
WordPerfect was no longer needed. FaceLift for WordPerfect was replaced at
Bitstream by our PostScript Type 1, TrueType and Speedo libraries.
WordPerfect still bundles FaceLift with WordPerfect 5.x (DOS environment).
Commercial Note:
Bitstream provides fonts in several different formats, including Speedo,
depending on the market.
We carry a PostScript Type 1 library of over 1000 faces for the Mac and for
the PC.
We also have a full TrueType Library for the PC (over 1000 faces) and are
working on increasing our TrueType Library for the Mac (now at about 400
faces and growing each day).
Our retail Speedo library currently consists of a little over 200 typefaces,
This library is also increasing.
Karen Dupre
Bitstream
sup...@bitstream.com
Gerd Castan
Hi,
And if you have an Atari, you can use PostScript, TrueType and Speedo
at the same time with programs, that print via the operating system.
Regards,
Gerd
ge...@theo2.physik.uni-stuttgart.de G.Ca...@physik.uni-stuttgart.de
Gerd Castan * Hoehbergstr. 16 * D-70327 Stuttgart
Thomas Wolff
: However, Bitstream has long since changed their focus to TrueType
: fonts, ...
This is not quite true. They deliver their fonts in both Type 1 and
TrueType format - fortunately, since Type 1 format is capable of
higher quality.
Thomas W. Phinney
> Fonts? What is each used for? Is it a DOS/WINDOWS thing? Are
> Bitstream scaleable like TTF are? I always thought (perhaps
> mistakenly) that Bitstream Fonts were the "old" way of doing
> things, and the TTF were the "new and better" way. Anyone feel
> like clearing things up for me? Thanks.
Bitstream is a type foundry, which used to make fonts in a
proprietary scalable font format called "Speedo." This format
was supported by some programs, and by some third-party add-ons.
However, Bitstream has long since changed their focus to TrueType
fonts, which are scalable fonts supported at the system level by
both the Mac and Windows. So at present, the difference is that
Bitstream is the name of a company, and TrueType is the name of
the font format they produce their fonts in.
--
------------------
twp -- "Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word.
I do not think it means what you think it means."
JSHadley
: fonts, ...
This is not quite true. They deliver their fonts in both Type 1 and
TrueType format - fortunately, since Type 1 format is capable of
higher quality.<<
Actually, this is not quite true either. Well-hinted TrueType can be as
good as, if not _better than_ Type 1. Type 1 hinting is quite limited
compared to TrueType, and in the hands of a skilled typographer, TrueType
outlines can be hinted so as to obtain much better output, especially when
considering small sizes and low pixel resolutions.
-Joshua Hadley
Monotype Typography, Inc.
MAR...@delphi.com
Quoting GERD from a message in comp.fonts
> And if you have an Atari, you can use PostScript, TrueType and Speedo
> at the same time with programs, that print via the operating system.
Let's not forget Atech FastFont technology. In MS-Windows I can
crank up Publisher's Powerpak and use PostScript, TrueType, and
FastFont at the same time with programs that print via Windows.
If I had FaceLift, could I use PostScript, TrueType, FastFont,
and Speedo all at the same time?
Marty
Martin B. Brilliant at home in Holmdel, NJ
Rainbow V 1.14.4 for Delphi - Registered
Thomas Wolff
: >>: However, Bitstream has long since changed their focus to TrueType
I might have mentioned that I was not addressing the hinting which is
very different in both font formats. But the basic capabilities of
describing character shapes ("glyphs") are higher in Type 1 than in
TrueType (cubic curves vs. quadratic curves). This may become relevant
at larger sizes where TrueType rendered characters could deviate more
from the original design than Type 1 ones because their approximation
of the real curve is worse.
Thomas Wolff
JSHadley
describing character shapes ("glyphs") are higher in Type 1 than in
TrueType (cubic curves vs. quadratic curves). This may become relevant
at larger sizes where TrueType rendered characters could deviate more
from the original design than Type 1 ones because their approximation
of the real curve is worse.<<
Poor curves with TrueType are a result of poor _curve conversion_, not
because of any fault in the outline format. True, certain shapes may
require more data to describe the same curve in TrueType as compared to
Type 1, but I guarantee you I can produce a TrueType outline that
describes _the exact same_ shape as a Type 1 outline, and you would not be
able to tell a difference in rendering at _any_ size. Again, the only
possible difference might be in the size of the _data_ that produces that
outline.
bitstream_support
I know that you can use ATM, FaceLift and TrueType fonts in the same
document, and at some point you could have used ATM, FaceLift, Intellifont
(AGFA) and TrueType in the same doc. Eventually Intellifont and FaceLift
versions got out of sync with each other, and you could not use both at
the same time.
Karen Dupre
Bitstream
sup...@bitstream.com