Ascender Value in FontLab

Ken Krugh20 Feb 2012

In FontLab Studio 5.0.4 I'm opening a Type1 font that was generated by Fontographer 3.5 on the PC. I'll eventually be adding small caps, Greek and some miscellaneous other things. I got the very basics working and decided to test things before adding in my small caps, Greek, etc. and exported as an OTF / PS.

In InDesign I noticed that text in a frame whose first line was set to "Ascent" was shifting up a bit from where it set in the Type1 font.

Looking back at Fontographer the Ascent value was 714. Given that Fontlab was showing the "Ascender" to be 685 I changed it to 714 figuring that would fix things. Hoever, it did not.

When I open the OTF I just generated from Studio with "Ascender" set to 714, the "Ascender" value is back to 685. DTL Typemaster Light shows the same thing, no 714.

I've read through many a post regarding these things but it simply seem like Studio isn't outputting the correct numbers. Is there an open or generate option I'm missing? Shouldn't the Ascender value be what I typed into that field?

Thanks for any help ,
Ken

oldnick20 Feb 2012#

Under the "Most important font dimensions" tab, did you check the "Copy values to TrueType" metrics box?

Ken Krugh20 Feb 2012#

Thank a bunch Nick! I did NOT have that chceked and turning it on fixed the issue.

So, the OpenType generation acually uses the numbers on the TrueType tab? Not sure I would have guessed that.

Thanks again!
Ken

charles ellertson22 Feb 2012#

Under the "Most important font dimensions" tab, did you check the "Copy values to TrueType" metrics box?

Where is this. Walk me through it, as if I were a child, unfamiliar with FL. (P.s. I use a Windows machine...)

Thanks!

HVB22 Feb 2012#

Under the "Most important font dimensions" tab, did you check the "Copy values to TrueType" metrics box?

Where is this. Walk me through it, as if I were a child, unfamiliar with FL. (P.s. I use a Windows machine...)

I have to assume that you have FL, and are able to open a font file (pfb, ttf, otf, or vfb) and view it.

From the basic font display (the one that shows all the glyphs in the font), click on the little box at the upper left hand corner of that display. That brings up FONT INFO.

Expand 'Metrics and Dimensions' (click on the plus sign next to the words). Right under the label "Caps Height" is a box labeled "Copy values to TrueType metrics:.

- Herb

charles ellertson27 Feb 2012#

I'm running 5.0.4.0 on windows. Not where you said, but with your hint, I did finally find it...

Font Info > Metrics and Dimensions > Key Dimensions -- which brings up the "most important font dimensions" window...

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