Xref: utzoo comp.lang.postscript:5689 comp.sys.mac.system:994 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!apple.com!chewy From: chewy@apple.com (Paul Snively) Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript,comp.sys.mac.system Subject: Re: PostScript vs TrueType? Message-ID: <9583@goofy.Apple.COM> Date: 4 Aug 90 00:24:16 GMT Sender: usenet@Apple.COM Organization: Apple Computer, Inc. Lines: 60 References:<1100.26af57d3@waikato.ac.nz> <1990Jul26.135834.9874@tsa.co.uk> <862@grenada.UUCP> In article barnett@grymoire.crd.ge.com (Bruce Barnett) writes: > A good example of this is the new HP LaserJet III, which is 300 DPI, > but uses variable size dots to get effectively 600 DPI. > > I doubt TrueType will look as nice as PostScript fonts on this device. This is indeed probably a good example of where "low-level" hints don't work too well. > Also - Font designers say it takes a year to design a decent font. > I don't know how long it would take to convert it into the proper data > for PostScript or TrueType, but I doubt it's trivial. It probably isn't, but on the other hand, the font-studly developers will probably have some very sophisticated tools for constructing/modifying/converting etc. fonts between the formats. (Let's put it this way: if they don't, we're in a world of hurt.) > How can you design low level hints in the fonts, when the output > can be on 72, 200, 300, 600, 1200, or 2400 DPI machines? Do you only > load the "hints" for the output devices you will drive? Don't let the term "low-level" fool you. TrueType fonts are still mathematical descriptions of curves, and this applies to the hints as well. They're still resolution independent. > Given a screen that has QuickDraw/TrueType and a PostScript printer > and typesetter, what will people do to get good output? If they use PostScript fonts, the PostScript engine will render them; if they use TrueType fonts, the new driver will download the TrueType rendering code and that will be used. Either way, it still works. > Will they have to buy a QuickType (that's QuickDraw and TrueType) > Laser Printer and Typesetter? (Bad answer - why buy more equipment?) This won't be necessary. > Will QuickType be converted into PostScript? > (Another Bad Answer - it won't be WYSIWYG) Right again, which is one reason it's not being done. > Will TrueType fonts be downloaded into the typesetter? > (Another Bad Answer - I doubt TrueType will look as good > as PostScript at 1270 or 2400 dpi). Well, that remains to be seen, doesn't it? :-) __________________________________________________________________________ Paul Snively Macintosh Developer Technical Support Apple Computer, Inc. chewy@apple.com Just because I work for Apple Computer, Inc. doesn't mean that I believe what they believe, or vice-versa. __________________________________________________________________________