Font formats demystified
The most important aspect when choosing the right font for a project is the format. Most font providers offer several formats, including TrueType, OpenType, PostScript, and their variations.
Well-known software developers have created three of the most popular font formats for their software. As technology has evolved, worldwide use has influenced compatibility between font formats and software, printers, browsers, and operating systems. Global usage has also required fonts to include character sets for non-Latin or non-Roman type languages, including Arabic, CE, West Roman, or Baltic fonts, as well as those that read from right to left.
The most common font formats are briefly described below, including the entity that developed the font, advantages and limitations, and some of its variations.
true type
Developing
The Apple computer originally designed TrueType, now used by both Apple and Microsoft.
Advantages
This font format is often the easiest to use for inexperienced designers who don’t need special characters (such as those used in non-Latin languages). This font is also compatible with software developed by Macintosh and Microsoft. TrueType fonts include screen and printer font data in a single component.
restrictions
Although the quality of TrueType fonts is often competitive, an ESQ font may be a better choice for a project that requires higher-than-standard screen clarity. This font format is not as capable as OpenType when it comes to extended character sets.
variations
open type
Developing
Adobe and Microsoft designed OpenType. This font format supports storage of up to 65,000 characters to include extended character sets.
Advantages
This font format is cross-platform compatible with Windows 2000 or higher and Macintosh OSX or higher and supports international character sets. Newly developed OpenType fonts often include special glyphs, such as ligatures, title or swash characters, old-style figures, small caps, fractions, and historical glyphs.
restrictions
Since this is one of the newer font formats, they are not supported by some of the older apps. Also, some fonts are simply converted to TrueType fonts and do not include the extended character sets. However, Adobe InDesign 2.0, Illustrator, Photoshop 7.0, Quark Xpress 7.0, and the latest version of Microsoft Word are among the programs that work with this new font format.
variations
Postscript
Developing
Adobe originally built postscript to communicate graphical printing instructions to printers.
Advantages
Since Adobe developed this font, it is the best choice for those using the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Second, since this font format was developed with printers in mind, it can be a good option for those who have a printing project.
restrictions
Operating systems prior to Windows 2000 must also have Adobe Type Manager to use these fonts.
variations
Although all of these formats are widely used, some have obvious advantages over others. In the near future, OpenType, in its Unicode form, is likely to emerge as the world’s leading supported font format due to its ability to support any language.
References
Adobe. Font formats. http://www.adobe.co.uk/type/topics/info9.html.
Fuentes Halley, A.ESQ. http://www.fonts.com/AboutFonts/FontTechnologies/ESQ_Allan.htm.
Linotype. What is OpenType? http://www.linotype.com/7-2155-7-16783/whatisopentype.html.
What is TrueType? http://www.microsoft.com/typography/WhatIsTrueType.mspx.
sources.com. What fonts should I order? http://www.fonts.com/AboutFonts/Help/FontFormats.htm.