githubnext / monaspace

An innovative superfamily of fonts for code
https://monaspace.githubnext.com
SIL Open Font License 1.1
13.12k stars 219 forks source link

Request for Support and Improved Kerning for Subscript Characters in the Monaspace font #208

Open singularitti opened 1 month ago

singularitti commented 1 month ago

I am writing to express interest and highlight the need for support of subscript characters in the Monaspace font. As an avid user, I've noticed that subscript characters are not yet supported, which affects the font's usability in scientific and mathematical contexts.

Issue

Currently, the use of subscript characters in Monaspace results in uneven kerning and spacing, which significantly impacts readability. Here are examples that illustrate the current state:

  1. ainktrₐᵢₙₖₜᵣₐₗₘᵢₙᵧ
  2. ainrₐᵢₙᵣₐₗₘᵢₙᵧ

g4qrqte

Suggestion

I understand that texture healing is a prominent feature of your fonts aimed at enhancing visual consistency. Could this feature be extended or adapted to improve the appearance and functionality of subscript characters once they are supported?

Benefits of Supporting Subscript Characters

I hope you will consider this request in your development roadmap. Support for subscript characters would greatly enhance Monaspace's capabilities and appeal to a wider audience.

kenmcd commented 1 month ago

Here are examples that illustrate the current state:

1. `ainktrₐᵢₙₖₜᵣₐₗₘᵢₙᵧ`

2. `ainrₐᵢₙᵣₐₗₘᵢₙᵧ`

Those subscript characters do not exist in the font. So you are seeing a back-up font, or fonts. Probably more than one back-up font, because some of those characters are less common than others. That is why the spacing and the height varies - with the different fonts.

The only subscript characters which exist in the font are 0-9. Like this: ₀₁₂₃₄₅₇₆₈₉ The only OpenType subscript supported is also 0-9. So it has nothing to do with texture healing, or kerning, or spacing. The feature and characters are simply missing. Hopefully they will add this enhancement at some point.

singularitti commented 1 month ago

Hi @kenmcd, I understand these glyphs currently are not included. I just wish they can be included in the future.

heathercran commented 1 month ago

We're planning to extend support for scientific and mathematical symbols in update 1.3, so I will make sure these are included at that time!

singularitti commented 1 month ago

Thank you!