Changing `opsz` axis first, distorts lettershapes

[clauseggers]

Describe the bug This is an issue in the cosmetic department, but nevertheless an issue. I have a typeface with three axes, and as they are presented in VFP the optical size axis is the first one. When I activate VFP, and as the first thing I do change the value of the opsz axis, then VFP renders distorted outlines.

Video attached.

Latest MacOS, cutting edge Glyphs (the issue has always existed as I remember it)

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/868987/222674313-e9bfb398-6b7e-4451-a7a2-41b6c1154c20.mov

[Mark2Mark]

Hi @clauseggers,

Thanks a lot! Can you send me a dummy file where this happens? For instance a file with only one glyph, but all the axes and masters.

[clauseggers]

You can have the whole file (it’s OSS) Playfair-2_1-Roman.glyphs.zip

[Mark2Mark]

On a side note: (shameless self promotion) as I see so many guide lines in your screenshot: Do you know about Mark Zones? Have you tried it? I am about to publish a documentation and tutorials soon, but maybe this gives you a little hint already.

[Mark2Mark]

Thanks a lot for the file. Will have a look!

[clauseggers]

The mark zones are not quite what I want. I need groups of guides that I can turn on/off depending on which glyphs I am working on. I recently made a mock-up for Georg. He wasn’t interested.

[Mark2Mark]

I think that is exactly what mark zones does. The zones are basically pairs of guides, and they only show in glyphs that fulfil certain conditions, like Script, Case, Small Cap, Numbers, etc. You can customise these in your Master’s custom parameters, assign colors, and they also help you to see if a node is in or on the border. They show the name for the zone (pair) and you can also have overshoot per zone or a zone that is just one line. How is that not what you need?

[clauseggers]

Your solution is too cumbersome to work with. As I showed in my mockup I want a sidebar panel where I can group, colour, lock, and make (in)visible. I want to be able to select guides, cut them, and paste them in a guides group.

[Mark2Mark]

Okay, thanks for explaining. I don’t find it cumbersome at all, the setup is as simple as selecting two nodes and click "Make Zone". Copy+Paste, color, show/hide is all possible. A sidebar panel can easily be added. But fair enough, if it doesn’t work for you, no problem :)

[Mark2Mark]

cross-reference: https://github.com/Mark2Mark/mark-zones-plugin/issues/4

[Mark2Mark]

@clauseggers does the main problem of this issue still occur to you? I recently pushed an update (v3.6.0) which will now load the sliders with the axis default (or first master).

Your description sounds like what was caused before where the sliders all started with 0 (which caused the preview to look oddly extrapolated when the actual master min values where not 0)

[clauseggers]

It still happens, but I haven’t used the plugin in the last week or so.

[Mark2Mark]

So you mean you have tested it with plugin version 3.6? Or not? Sorry, your sentence is a little contradictory to me ("still happens" vs "haven’t used ...").

With your linked file, my VFP loads with the first master values and does not jump around anymore once touching any of the sliders for the first time:

https://github.com/Mark2Mark/variable-font-preview/assets/5824595/ffb77840-6c50-4449-9129-0e75c1ae9f6f

[clauseggers]

It means that I have no clue which version is installed at any given time. I do not keep track of the versions of the auto-updated plugins. I used your plugin some time in the past, and at that time it did still exhibit the issue.

[Mark2Mark]

Thanks for explaining. Will close the issue now. If the still occurs and you have version 3.6 or later, feel free to reopen.