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author | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2009-11-28 01:24:43 +0000 |
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committer | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2009-11-28 01:24:43 +0000 |
commit | 943aad72bf75cc0f512715ca64181c089a32ec11 (patch) | |
tree | dc828e03ca9550cde99c2947111fd883bf6fc223 /Master/texmf-dist/doc/fonts/gentium/GENTIUM-FAQ.txt | |
parent | 18ede5cf6a3fe41c0616aa22feb9ccfd17d28e19 (diff) |
new font package gentium (13nov08)
git-svn-id: svn://tug.org/texlive/trunk@16218 c570f23f-e606-0410-a88d-b1316a301751
Diffstat (limited to 'Master/texmf-dist/doc/fonts/gentium/GENTIUM-FAQ.txt')
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diff --git a/Master/texmf-dist/doc/fonts/gentium/GENTIUM-FAQ.txt b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/fonts/gentium/GENTIUM-FAQ.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..f525a5a0a6e --- /dev/null +++ b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/fonts/gentium/GENTIUM-FAQ.txt @@ -0,0 +1,249 @@ +GENTIUM-FAQ +Gentium Basic Release 1.1 +4 April 2008 +======================== + +Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the Gentium fonts: + + +General +======== + +How do you pronounce Gentium? + + The preferred pronunciation is with a soft G as in 'general', not a + hard one as in 'gold': JEN-tee-oom. + +What is GentiumAlt? + + It is a version of the font with redesigned diacritics (flatter + ones) to make it more suitable for use with stacking diacritics, and + for languages such as Vietnamese. The Greek glyphs also use the + Porsonic (single-curve) design for the circumflex. Since the main + Gentium fonts do not currently include any 'smart' rendering routines, + there is no easy way to access these alternate diacritic shapes from + within the regular Gentium font. The encoding of the fonts are the same, + so the same text can be viewed with either one. There is also no + problem with having both font families installed at the same time. + + +Licensing +========= + +I want to use Gentium in my publication - can I? + + Gentium is released under the SIL Open Font License, which permits use + for any publication, whether electronic or printed. For more answers + to use questions see the OFL-FAQ. The license, alongside information + specific to Gentium, is in the release package. + +I would like to bundle Gentium with my application - can I? + + This is our most common question. The SIL Open Font License allows + bundling with applications, even commercial ones, with some restrictions. + See the OFL file. + +Can I use the font on my web site? + + You can certainly create web pages that request that Gentium be used to + display them (if that font is available on the user's system). According + to the license, you are even allowed to place the font on your site for + people to download it. We would strongly recommend, however, that you + direct users to our site to download the font. This ensures that they + are always using the most recent version with bug fixes, etc. To make + this easier, we've simplified the URL for Gentium: + http://scripts.sil.org/gentium + +Is Gentium going to stay free? + + There is no intention to ever charge users for using Gentium. The + current version is licensed under a free/open license and future + versions will be similar. + + +Modification +============ + +I would like to modify Gentium to add a couple of characters I need. Can I? + + Yes - that is allowed as long as you abide by the conditions of the + SIL Open Font License. + +So will you add glyphs upon request? + + If you have a special symbol that you need (say, for a particular + transcription system), the best means of doing so will be to ensure + that the symbol makes it into the Unicode Standard. It is impossible + for us to add every glyph that every person desires, but we do place + a high priority on adding pretty much anything that falls in certain + Unicode ranges (extended Latin, Greek, Cyrillic). You can send us your + requests, but please understand that we are unlikely to add symbols + where the user base is very small, unless they have been accepted + into Unicode. + +Can I send you work I've done to be incorporated into Gentium? + + Yes! See the FONTLOG for information on becoming a contributor. + + +Technical +========= + +Can you help me get Gentium working on my system? + + We cannot afford to offer individual technical support. The best + resource is this website, where we hope to offer some limited help. + However, we do want to hear of any problems you encounter, so that + we can add them to the list of bugs to fix in later releases. + + Our contact address is <gentium AT sil DOT org>. Please understand + that we cannot guarantee a personal response. + +I can't find all the extended Latin letters in the font. How do I type them? + + Gentium is Unicode-encoded, which means that the computer stores a + special, unique code for each letter in your document. Since most + keyboards do not have hundreds of keys, special software is needed + in order to type the hundreds of special characters supported by the + font. + +I can't find the 'o with right hook' in the font. Where is it? + + Combinations of base letters with diacritics are often called + composite, or pre-composed glyphs. Gentium has hundreds of these + (the ones that are included in Unicode). There are, however, many + common combinations that are not represented by a single composite. + It is possible to enter these into a document, but only as + individual components. So 'o with right hook' would be entered as + 'o', then 'right hook'. Although this may not look very good in some + cases, we're not able to anticipate every possible combination. + Future versions of Gentium will include 'smart font' support for + technologies such as OpenType and SIL's Graphite. This will make + diacritic positioning much better. The Gentium Basic fonts do, + however, include limited support for both OpenType and Graphite, + and demonstrate the type of support that will eventually be provided. + +Some diacritics are not aligning well with base glyphs, and if I type more +than one diacritic, they run into each other. Why is that? + + Gentium currently has no 'smart font' code for automatic diacritic + positioning, but the Gentium Basic fonts do, and similar support will + appear in the main fonts in the near future. + +How do I type the Greek letters? + + You need a Unicode-compatible keyboarding system, which is not + included in the distribution package. + +I'm having problems making PDFs -- why won't my document distill? + + Gentium is a large font, with lots of glyphs. As a result, some + printers can balk at PDFs that have the complete font embedded. The + easiest way to avoid this is to have Acrobat/Distiller subset the + font. This is generally a good idea anyway (with any font) and can + reduce the size of your files. + + +Basic +===== + +How are the Basic fonts (Gentium Basic, Gentium Book Basic) different +from Gentium? + + These font families are based on the original Gentium design, but with + additional weights. Both families come with a complete regular, bold, + italic and bold italic set of fonts. The supported character set, + however, is much smaller than for the main Gentium fonts. These + 'Basic' fonts support only the Basic Latin and Latin-1 Supplement + Unicode ranges, plus a selection of the more commonly used extended + Latin characters, with miscellaneous diacritical marks, symbols and + punctuation. In particular, these fonts do not support full extended + Latin IPA, complete support for Central European languages, Greek and + Cyrillic. + +What is the Book weight? + + It is a complete second font family that is slightly heavier overall, + and more useful for some purposes. The main Gentium family will + eventually have a complete matching Book weight, along with matching + italics. + +Why is the line spacing greater for the Basic fonts? + + In some environments, stacked diacritics in Gentium could display as + 'chopped-off'. Gentium Basic has slightly wider default line spacing + in order to avoid this problem. Most applications do, however, let you + set the line spacing explicitly, so you can have the lines spaced + precisely as you wish. + +Will you be accepting requests for additions to the Basic character set? + + No. We are now focusing our development efforts on the main Gentium + fonts, which already provide richer character set support. + +Is there an Alt version of the Basic fonts? + + No, although you may notice that capitals and some tall lowercase + letters do use 'low-profile' versions. + + +Future +====== + +Now that SIL International has taken over Gentium, who will be the next +designer? + + Victor Gaultney will remain as primary designer, but Annie Olsen, a + fellow type designer from the SIL Non-Roman Script Initiative, has + joined the project team. She is a former calligraphy teacher, and is + well suited for the task. Other members of the NRSI team will also + add their expertise in technical matters. + +Do you plan to include other typographic enhancements (small caps, old style +figures, etc.)? + + Those would be nice, wouldn't they? From a design point of view, + it would be great to have these refinements, and we haven't ruled + them out. But there are other needs that are much higher priority + (Bold, Cyrillic, etc.). If you think you could contribute some of + your time and effort to these enhancements, see the FONTLOG file for + information on becoming a contributor. + +What about bold? + + The Gentium Basic fonts include Bold and Bold Italic versions. The + main Gentium fonts will also include them in the future. + +Sans-serif? + + There is a definite need for a sans-serif font that shares some of + Gentium’s strengths -- high readability, economy of space, etc. It + would also be great if that font also harmonized well with Gentium. + We don't currently have any plans for a companion face, although one + of our other projects - Andika - may be useful. Andika is a sans-serif + font designed specifically for use in literacy programs around the + world, and is available from our web site. + +Will you be extending Gentium to cover other scripts, and Hebrew in +particular? + + It is very unlikely that we would do this, as there are so many + pressing needs in Latin, Greek and Cyrillic scripts. But you could + contribute to the project. + +When will Cyrillic be completed? + + As soon as we can get it done, but it is still a few months away. + +I need a couple of ancient Greek glyphs, such as the digamma. When will +those be ready? + + These have already been designed and will be in the next main release. + +Will there be a Type 1 version? What about OpenType? + + The next generation of Gentium will have OpenType, Graphite and AAT + support. We do not plan to produce Type 1 versions at this time, but + please write us if this is important (and tell us why). We are, however, + considering releasing a version in OT-CFF format, but it will not go + through the same careful testing as the standard OT/Graphite/AAT version.
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