Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!XEROX.COM!CFChavez.ES
From: CFChavez.ES@XEROX.COM (Caesar Chavez)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: Re: fonts newsgroup
Message-ID: <880308-104318-4373@Xerox>
Date: 8 Mar 88 18:42:14 GMT
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Andrew,

There is a font standard currently being developed called ISO 9541.

There is also a new professional group which is becoming active (and
controversial it seems) called the AFII, Association for Font Information
Interchange.

As soon as there's some contact information, I'll forward it to you.

THERE IS a movement toward font standardization by a variety of organizations
including companies that generate type as well as companies whose business
involves printing.  But the problems you discuss are partially due to the old
syndrome  "it's not invented here"  coupled with natural corporate proprietary
interests. 

It takes a fair amount of guts to be in the PC/Workstation-to-printer business
these days.  I wonder how third-party vendors of PDL creators on PCs and
workstations can co-ordinate their output with the proliferation of laser and
other types of printers being manufactured.  I'd bet they sometimes have a
nightmare where Apple/Adobe suddenly and simultaneously change some key
interface and suddenly a dozen PC/Workstation manufacturers can no longer
communicate with LaserWriterX.

So your concerns about standardization are real and credible.


Caesar Chavez