TYPE DESIGN INFORMATION PAGE last updated on Fri Dec 13 00:47:00 EST 2024

FONT RECOGNITION VIA FONT MOOSE

LUC DEVROYE

ABOUT

mftrace [Han-Wen Nienhuys]

mftrace is a small Python program that lets you trace a metafont into a PFA or PFB font (A PostScript Type1 Scalable Font) or TTF (TrueType) font. It is licensed under the GNU GPL. All done by Han-Wen Nienhuys. Requires autotrace and pfaedit (now FontForge). Similar to metatype, which only makes truetype though. Credit: Gf2pbm, the utility to convert a MetaFont GF file to a PBM file was based on Paul Vojta's Xdvi. Manual by Julian Gilbey. The comparison with similar programs goes like this (I quote):

• Why use mftrace over textrace? Textrace and mftrace are functionally similar. However, mftrace is quicker, more cleanly written and can be installed using standard methods. Additionally, textrace requires perl, ghostscript and dvips.
• How about MetaFog? MetaFog operates directly on the curves that generate the bitmap font, its outlines will probably be smaller and better. However, MetaFog is a proprietary product: its source code is not available, and it will only run on a limited number of platforms.
• How about MetaType1? MetaType1 is an approach that puts severe constraints on what may be done in a font program. It does not work for fonts containing overlaps and shaped pens.
• How about FontForge itself? FontForge is an interactive editor, but it can be scripted. Since it supports bitmap tracing and TeX bitmap fonts, it is possible to duplicate the functionality of mftrace. However, out of the box, FontForge does not recognize TeX encodings.

EXTERNAL LINKS
mftrace
MyFonts search
Monotype search
Fontspring search
Google search

INTERNAL LINKS
Metafont links ⦿ Type 1 font software ⦿ Truetype font software ⦿ Dutch type design ⦿