Getting the hint (Where is Envy Code R?)

3 December 2007 Typography coding fontsEnvy Codehinting

I know, I said there would be a good chance that the next version of Envy Code R would be out this weekend but the annoying sizing, thickness and cropping issues that came up at some sizes above and below the optimum 10 point were really annoying me.

Many articles later, some playing around with Microsoft Visual TrueType and much frustration and experimentation later I think I’m on the right path.

Here is how Envy Code R is looking on Windows right now with standard font smoothing.

Envy Code R hinted on Windows with standard font smoothing at various sizes

ClearType doesn’t look as good and I’m still learning the black art and the implications of each type of hinting instruction.

Strangely, these hints seem to be ignored on the Mac which is still rendering everything a little too thick especially on curves. Perhaps that is why so many developers create a Mac-specific version?

Once I’m happy with how the regular version works I’ll put it online for download and then whip the bold and italic variants in to shape and any feedback into regular for the proper 0.7 release.

A newer version of Envy Code R is available.

[)amien

5 responses

  1. Avatar for Mark Derricutt

    Has there been any further movement/updates for Envy? Lovin the font...

    Mark Derricutt – 29 January 2008
  2. Avatar for Damien Guard

    I put out a test version to a number of people but something seems to be causing corruption in Java and KDE at the moment.

    I should have time to look at that this weekend and once testing is complete I can hint the italic and bold versions which will take another week or two.

    Do you use italics/bold? I could release a regular-only version next week providing I solve the corruption issues.

    Damien Guard – 29 January 2008
  3. Avatar for Mark Derricutt

    I'm using bold (but I can get over that fixation for a kick a**e font - I'm torn between Envy Code R and Droid Sans Mono ) under Java (OS/X and Linux).

    Mark Derricutt – 29 January 2008
  4. Avatar for Mike Strobel

    Hi Damien,

    Great work on your Envy Code font. Have you made any further developments since the Preview 6.1 release? I'd love to get my hands on an updated version (TTF for Visual Studio). Do you think you could e-mail me your latest revision? :)

    Cheers, Mike

    Mike Strobel – 9 March 2008
  5. Avatar for Sascha

    Damien, hints (i. e. TrueType instructions) are honored by OS X as well as by Windows. Nonetheless both rendering engines behave differently, each with certain advantages and disadvantages. Windows applies more deliberate pixel grid position tweaking whereas OS X stays more true to the actual glyph design and letter spacing etc. Here is a discussion. Nonetheless, there is no need for system specific font versions – those have existed for purely historic reasons (PS vs. TTF). You just need to use a grid of the right size for curve/point/hint/… positioning (which, unfortunately is not that easy, sigh).

    Sascha – 25 March 2008