Type 3 Font

mtnbiker,

There seems to be a discrepancy between the terms, .afm and .pfb relating to PostScript Type 1.

PostScript fonts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As I (mis)understand it, if you are after a Type 3 appearance based upon Garamond, which is quite far from it in itself, you may think in terms of changing the appearance, maybe applying effects as you may do in Illustrator.

Are you sure you really mean Type 3 fonts as opposed to Type 1 fonts? Very few fonts have been offered in Type 3 format in nearly 25 years!

Although Type 3 fonts are most often associated with bitmap fonts, in reality, a Type 3 font may have its glyphs defined as any arbitrary PostScript program (including the ability to vary a glyph's appearance based on external factors, random numbers, etc.). Type 3 fonts don't provide for “hinting” – automatic adjustment by the renderer to account for the combination of low resolution and/or low magnification (i.e., small point sizes).

You should also be aware that much if not most application software and operating system software provides no support for Type 3 fonts.

Exactly why do you want Type 3 as opposed to Type 1? Is there some special effect you are trying to achieve?

          – Dov

By the way, you really should consider OpenType fonts instead of Type 1 fonts. OpenType fonts are cross-platform compatible and depending upon the foundry and the particular font can potentially offer many more built-in typographical features in conjunction with not only high end layout programs like InDesign, but also word processing software such as recent versions of Microsoft Word.

Unless you have a particular reason for use of Type 1, OpenType (either the OpenType CFF or OpenType TrueType flavours) is a much better choice.

          - Dov

Note that if you have an ongoing need for Type 1 fonts, it might be useful to be able to convert existing fonts. You need to be careful about licensing issues, as many commercial fonts don't allow such conversions. (Adobe's do, as long as they are fonts entirely owned by Adobe or were licensed before 2011.)

But assuming you can clear that hurdle, a tool such as our own TransType 4 (US $97) might be handy.

"our own TransType 4"

Hey Thomas, I thought you worked for extensis or have you shifted to FontLab?

I joined FontLab just two weeks ago. 

http://blog.fontlab.com/varia/thomas-phinney-joins-fontlab-2/

Huh, something funny happening with the ampersands on that page... will have to look into it.

Fixed ampersand issue.