search

googlefonts / how-to-hint-complex-script-variable-fonts

A guide to hinting complex script variable fonts with Visual TrueType
https://googlefonts.github.io/how-to-hint-complex-script-variable-fonts/
Apache License 2.0
11 stars 2 forks source link

Complex glyphs Noto Devanagari Serif Hinting #3

Closed mikedug closed 2 years ago

mikedug commented 2 years ago

hi Kalapi

Could you please give some overall feedback on the hinting results for the more complex glyph shapes? If you could let me know any general comments with regards to improvements or if you notice other issues?

I am using the sample glyphs you supplied in the attached (Additional_Glyphs_Devanagari_Hint_Test.txt). These glyphs will form part of the documentation where I will show, how the hinting strategy can be used to control overall and maintain the best hinted shapes for more complex glyphs.

I wonder could you take a quick look at the enclosed proofs, and let me know if you think this is on the right track and that the hinting in your opinion is overall improving the legibility for the more complex glyphs. The image is best viewed on a lower resolution monitor and should be viewed at 100%. (If viewing on a Win machine, right click and open with MSPaint, will ensure the view is 100%)

Text of Noto Serif Devanagari VF, un-hinted v hinted is set in Axis-Praxis in Chrome on Win 11.

RegularComplexDevanagariHinting.png This is result of Autohinting + fine tuning the hinting, (more detailed work can be done also), showing smaller text sizes from 9-17ppem, (7-13 point @96dpi)

The sample shows the Regular weight only, Hinted Noto Serif Devanagari VF.

Note in the un-hinted v hinted, at some sizes, the un-hinted scaled outlines result in more blur along the main headline, @12 and 15ppem (9 and 12 point@96dpi)

Note also in the third word the clearer dot in the attachment above.

WeightComplexNotoDevanagariHinting.png Showing the same text in different weights, of the Variable font, at two key sizes where the hinting improves the main headline blur issues as well as maintaining clear space for details such as the dot on top right, in the third word

A note on hinting GID 652. This glyph Name: uni09470902, is composed in turn from two other separate glyphs, GID (132) & GID (191). Keeping the dot clear in this glyph seems important to me. For a font intended for hinting, making the glyph Name: uni09470902 as a unique glyph instead of being made up from components, will make it much easier to hint and to maintain a good shape and white space for the dot. [Additional_Glyphs_Devanagari_Hint_Test.txt](https://github.com/googlefonts/how-to-hint-non-latin-variable-fonts/files/8224817/Additional WeightComplexNotoDevanagariHinting

RegularComplexDevanagariHinting _Glyphs_Devanagari_Hint_Test.txt)

kalapi commented 2 years ago

Hi @mikedug

The output looks great, particularly the Extra Light, and especially the smaller top marks.

In my opinion, this is absolutely in the right direction. I spoke to Chris this week about possibly creating an additional document (independent of this project but related to it) about how specific typeface designs requiring hinting as a part of the brief can be planned to make them more efficient, shape-wise, to begin with. Your comment re. GID 652 is the kind of recommendations which could be included in this document.

Thanks!

mikedug commented 2 years ago

hi @kalapi

Thank you, very good to know. I will incorporate some of the more complex glyph hinting into the documentation as well as doing the final fine tuning on those glyphs listed in the _Glyphs_Devanagari_Hint_Test.txt, in the demo font.