Creating Type 1 Fonts from METAFONT Sources: Comparison of Tools, Techniques and Results
Karel Píška · 2004
This paper summarizes an experience in conversion METAFONT fonts to PostScript fonts with TEXtrace and mftrace based on programs of autotracing bitmaps (AutoTrace and potrace) and with systems of analytic conversion MetaFog and MetaType1 (using METAPOST output or METAPOST itself). A development process is demonstrated on examples with public Indic fonts (devanagari, malayalam). Examples from the Computer Modern fonts have been also included to illustrate common problems of conversion. Features, advantages and disadvantages of various techniques are discussed. Postprocessing — corrections, optimization and (auto)hinting — or even preprocessing before a primary contour approximation could be also necessary. The examples show that to reach fully automatic conversion of a perfect METAFONT glyph definition into perfect Type 1 outline curves is very difficult or impossible.