FontForge: Mastering the Art of Stacking Order
FontForge, a powerful open-source font editor, offers incredible flexibility when it comes to manipulating glyphs. One of the most crucial aspects of glyph design is stacking order, which determines how overlapping parts of a character are displayed. But how do you effectively change the stacking order in FontForge? Let's delve into the details.
Understanding Stacking Order
Imagine a glyph like the letter "g". It has a curved loop and a tail that overlaps. The stacking order decides which part of the glyph will be displayed on top of the other. A higher stacking order means the element appears on top, while a lower order means it sits underneath.
Why Is Stacking Order Important?
Think about complex glyphs with intricate details. Stacking order ensures that:
- Visual Clarity: Parts of the glyph are visible and don't obscure each other.
- Proper Rendering: Fonts display correctly on different platforms and devices.
- Consistency: Maintaining a consistent stacking order across your font creates a cohesive visual style.
Methods to Change Stacking Order in FontForge
Here are some ways to change the stacking order in FontForge:
1. Using the "Node" Tool
- Select the "Node" tool in the toolbar.
- Click on the individual nodes within a glyph that you want to change the order of.
- The nodes will highlight, and you can use the "Up" and "Down" arrow keys on your keyboard to move them up or down in the stacking order.
2. Leveraging the "Glyph" Menu
- Go to the "Glyph" menu and select "Order".
- You'll see a list of all the elements within the glyph, ordered by their current stacking order.
- Drag and drop elements to reposition them within the list to adjust their stacking order.
3. The "Path" Palette
- Open the "Path" palette (found under "Window > Palettes > Path").
- This palette displays the outlines of your glyph.
- Right-click on a contour within the palette.
- From the context menu, choose "Bring to Front" or "Send to Back" to quickly adjust the stacking order of that specific contour.
4. Using the "Stack Order" Dialogue Box
- Go to "Element > Stack Order".
- A dialogue box appears with a list of all the elements in your glyph.
- You can use the "Up" and "Down" arrows next to each element to change their position in the order.
Tips for Effective Stacking Order
- Start Simple: Practice changing stacking order with simple glyphs before tackling complex ones.
- Visualize: Use the "Outline" view in FontForge to see how your glyphs look with different stacking orders.
- Experiment: Don't be afraid to try different stacking order combinations until you find the one that looks best.
- Consistency is Key: Maintain a consistent stacking order throughout your font for a cohesive visual style.
- Consider Kerning: Adjusting the stacking order might affect how your glyphs kern (fit together) with others.
Examples of Stacking Order in Action
- Ligatures: Ligatures, like "fi" or "fl", often have overlapping elements. Stacking order ensures that the "f" doesn't cover the "i" or "l".
- Accents: Accents above or below characters should be positioned correctly using stacking order.
- Fractions: Numerators and denominators in fractions require careful stacking order to create a readable result.
Conclusion
Understanding and mastering the stacking order in FontForge is crucial for creating high-quality, visually appealing fonts. By utilizing the various techniques discussed, you can effectively adjust the order of overlapping elements in your glyphs, resulting in clear, well-defined characters that render beautifully across different platforms. Remember, practice and experimentation are key to achieving the desired stacking order for your font designs.