Typophile

Hinting Advice ?

RachelR

I'm looking for some advice, tutorial, or methods for hinting.

I'm producing Post Script Opentype fonts and using this process at the moment to hint.

1. Set the Alignment Zones - Not using auto zones which doesn't seem to do a great job.
2. Auto Hint the fonts with either FontLabs Auto Hinting or Adobe's AFDKO - I've tried both to compare results. I then adjust hints that don't seem to work.
3. Set the Standard Stems - Again not using auto stems but the method described here

After using this process and changing lots of different parameters I'm still getting hints that don't seem to be working.

This image shows the Sub/Superscript, the Superscript on the right is jumping all over the place at small sizes.

Is there anything else I can try to improve the hinting ?

John Hudson

Have you checked your bottom alignment zone for the superscripts? Remember that bottom alignment zones belong in 'Secondary zones'.

RachelR

Yes the bottom alignment zones where set correctly in the Secondary Zones field

Göran Söderström

Screencap of your zones in glyph window?

malcolm

Rachel

Some of your glyph hints maybe overlaping some blue zones (perhaps the x height blue zone?). I would be happy to look at your vfb file if you like.

malcolm

RachelR

Malcolm

It would be a great help if I could send you the vfb - do you have an email I can send them to ?

Rr.

malcolm

Rachel

send the file to malcolm(dot)wooden(at)sky(dot)com

malcolm

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