Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!primerd!barry From: barry@primerd.prime.com Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Font Scaling Message-ID: <160700018@primerd> Date: 23 Mar 89 16:45:00 GMT Lines: 62 Nf-ID: #N:primerd:160700018:000:3098 Nf-From: primerd.prime.com!barry Mar 23 11:45:00 1989 I use PowerPoint 2.01 on a Mac II with the Apple 13" color monitor. I've noticed that when I view at 66% (a good size to use on the Mac II) text I enter in 24 point Helvetica "wiggles" as I type it, is written to the screen VERY slowly, and looks pretty poor on the screen. If I use the same font size on a Mac SE where 50% view is more natural (or use 50% view on the Mac II), text is written to the screen much faster, doesn't wiggle, and looks normal. I assume that the behavior I've described above is due to fact that a 66% reduction of a 24 point requires a 16-point font; since I've got 14 and 18 sizes installed, PowerPoint is generating the 16 point characters on the fly by scaling the 18 or 14 point characters. On the SE, a 50% reduction requires 12-point, which is an installed size. I assume that crisp, fast screen output will be produced if I install 16-point Helvetica. The problem is finding the appropriate size(s). I downloaded the Adobe Helvetica screen fonts from SUMEX, but discovered that it provides 14 and 18 point, but not 16 point. It looks like I could use FontSizer to generate my own 16-point size (FontSizer uses PostScript font definition stored in LaserWriter to extract the information needed to generate bit-mapped screen fonts)? Does anyone know of a less expensive (preferably free) utility that can generate a 16 point font from either the 14 or 18 point instances? FontSizer costs about $100, which is a bit much to fix just this problem. While investigating my options in solving this problem, I came across the ScaleFonts CDEV, a freeware program, located in the SUMEX directory info-mac/cdev/scalefonts.hqx. ScaleFonts enables the user to make font scaling generally on, generally off, or application selectable (the normal default). I put ScaleFonts in my System Folder, rebooted, turned off scaling, started PowerPoint and found that my font scaling problem had disappeared! The 24 point text at 66% view was now written at normal speed and appeared clean. The spacing between the characters was a bit wider than usual, but this was not a problem. The non-scaled text was much easier to read and edit; since character sizing information was taken from the real 24 point font, the printed form was not affected. Anyone experiencing similar problems with PowerPoint or other applications should check out ScaleFonts. Note that I've just started using it, so I've yet to discover any problems. If I do, I'll post a follow up. If anyone knows of an inexpensive way of generating new sizes of screen fonts, please respond by mail. If justified, I'll post a summary. Barry Nothing in this posting reflects an official position of Prime Computer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Barry Wolman | barry@s66.prime.com Principal Technical Consultant | 492 Old Connecticut Path Prime Computer | Framingham, MA 01701 | 508/626-1700, ext. 4187 ------------------------------------------------------------------------