Creating fonts in Configurator

Dan2008 · 06-27-2008, 07:24 AM

How does one go about creating a font using the configurator?

I created a PNG file with the characters and when I tried to open it in the "Add or Edit Fusion Font" dialog, all that shows are XML files regardless of whether you click the "Open Font File" or "Open Image File" icon.

Thanks,

Dan

2k1Toaster · 06-28-2008, 02:27 AM

Yup, the only showing xml files when selecting an image, is a bug. Just fixed it right now. I am uploading a new file to the updater.

Also there was a bug in the Updater (I switched my debug and non-debug modes, whoops) so the past few releases, it will never check the server for updates. It will only check a nonexistant file on your computer for updates, so it wont update.

I will post a link to a new standalone updater to replace the current one later tonight.

Dan2008 · 06-28-2008, 06:59 AM

Thanks.

I copied an existing XML file, renamed it and pointed it to my PNG file. When I bring it up in the font editor I can see the characters and can edit the locations to center them but if I run the analyze function, it cannot find any characters.

I've been reading a rather long thread about the configurator beta test and I think I'm creating the PNG correctly (but not sure). Should the characters themselves be transparent?

It could be that the graphics app I'm using doesn't create the alpha channel correctly or something.

Dan2008 · 06-28-2008, 07:02 AM

Oh, one other thing I've ran into--I cannot seem to drag from the top left panel to the trashcan. Does this function work yet?

Dan2008 · 06-28-2008, 08:32 AM

Okay...got it to analyze!!! It was me (no surprise there) not creating the alpha channel correctly.

After analyzing the PNG and entering the value for each character, I get an error every time I try to save the file. It says the PNG is in use by another process.

I copied the XML from the bottom left panel and pasted it into the XML file and it works just fine but the file save needs to be looked at. Its like the file has been opened read-only instead of read-write.

If you can point me to the correct section of code I will look at it.

2k1Toaster · 06-28-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dan2008

Okay...got it to analyze!!! It was me (no surprise there) not creating the alpha channel correctly.

After analyzing the PNG and entering the value for each character, I get an error every time I try to save the file. It says the PNG is in use by another process.

I copied the XML from the bottom left panel and pasted it into the XML file and it works just fine but the file save needs to be looked at. Its like the file has been opened read-only instead of read-write.

If you can point me to the correct section of code I will look at it.

Make sure you dont have the image open in another program.

Something like photoshop keeps exclusive rights sometimes. Is the configurator the only program open?

Dan2008 · 06-28-2008, 12:27 PM

That was my first thought so I tried with one of the PNGs included in the download and got the same result.

The configurator is the only thing running.

RedGTiVR6 · 08-10-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dan2008

How does one go about creating a font using the configurator?

I created a PNG file with the characters

I'm entirely new to this stuff and I'm not sure I even understand this part.

So I'm guessing that you have to create a PNG file with each of the letters in the alphabet...so basically open PS up and create a new file with all of the letters typed out in the font you want to use. Then use the 'Add or Edit Fusion Font' page to basically see each of the letters and import it (of sorts) to the program?

Dan2008 · 08-10-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

I'm entirely new to this stuff and I'm not sure I even understand this part.

So I'm guessing that you have to create a PNG file with each of the letters in the alphabet...so basically open PS up and create a new file with all of the letters typed out in the font you want to use. Then use the 'Add or Edit Fusion Font' page to basically see each of the letters and import it (of sorts) to the program?

That's basically it. Make sure you leave space between each character so you can isolate it in the font designer.

Also, make sure the PNG file indeed has the alpha channel--that was giving me a hard time until I figured out that I wasn't actually creating the alpha channel.

RedGTiVR6 · 08-10-2008, 03:06 PM

Thanks.

I'm not sure how to create the alpha channel. Off to Google!

Hrmm....

I followed this How-To: http://www.axialis.com/tutorials/tutorial-misc001.html
I created the attached file.
I opened it with the Add or Edit Fusion Font editor.
I analyzed the image using the built in analyzer.
Only 5 characters were found.

The .xml that's created:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<font fontImage="Arial_Alphabet-1.png">
  <char location_topleft="4,0" location_bottomright="164,184" value="???" offsets="0,0,0,0"></char>
  <char location_topleft="166,0" location_bottomright="291,184" value="???" offsets="0,0,0,0"></char>
  <char location_topleft="292,0" location_bottomright="311,184" value="???" offsets="0,0,0,0"></char>
  <char location_topleft="315,0" location_bottomright="381,184" value="???" offsets="0,0,0,0"></char>
  <char location_topleft="385,0" location_bottomright="477,184" value="???" offsets="0,0,0,0"></char>
</font>

Pretty obvious that I've done something wrong....but what?

Dan2008 · 08-10-2008, 04:31 PM

Put everything on a single line and don't press <enter> at the end.

2k1Toaster · 08-10-2008, 05:16 PM

You dont need everything on a single line.

But it does need a completely vertical line with nothing in it for that font height. Set the distance between characters to a value not just "auto" and it will evenly space giving good distance between. Then when it asks for font height, also make sure you set the height to how high 1 character is. If you used 25pt font, set it to 25.

2k1Toaster · 08-10-2008, 06:09 PM

Just for example, the current font file I am using for the new Wizard is below. Notice the spacing between letters. There is no overhang, so there is a 1x25 pixel dead zone between each character where the config will snip from. I am still trying to think up a good character recognition system so you dont even have to type in the characters' values, but that is way in the future.

Actual Image (if on a laptop, put the screen at a huge angle and the contrast will show better):

Image With a black background just so you can see it:

RedGTiVR6 · 08-10-2008, 06:18 PM

might make a good FAQ...I'll give this a try tonight. Thanks for the additional info.

Nick - if you need help developing some of this, I'll be happy to write it up as I go through the learning process. I've found in the past that it's sometimes the easiest and most thorough way.

It's what I did when I started at Centrafuse. Started learning and writing FAQs at the same time.

Just let me know.

greenman100 · 08-10-2008, 06:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

might make a good FAQ...I'll give this a try tonight. Thanks for the additional info.

Nick - if you need help developing some of this, I'll be happy to write it up as I go through the learning process. I've found in the past that it's sometimes the easiest and most thorough way.

It's what I did when I started at Centrafuse. Started learning and writing FAQs at the same time.

Just let me know.

We'd appreciate all the documentation we can get...

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