Postproduction.... where and how to start?

Let's assume I've designed my typeface. It's beautiful. It has lots of weights and widths and italics and accents and Icelandic characters etc etc. Spacing and kerning are perfect. 

What comes next?

Please could you point me in the right direction.

Sorry to be so naive, but what are the errors I should be looking for? How do I recognise them if I find them? How do I find them in the first place?

What are the books and tutorials that help? There's loads of advice on how to design and space fonts. But I'm struggling to find their equivalents for type post-production.

Many thanks in advance.

Andrew


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Comments

  • Thomas PhinneyThomas Phinney Posts: 2,730
    I think this quite recent thread has lots of information that may help. https://typedrawers.com/discussion/3086/font-production-frustrations-and-solutions#latest
  • Type post-production??
    When a font is generated, the production of it is finalised.
    But you may wish to test your fonts in real composing, in various cases. To actually see how it works, to spot the last issues and to eliminate them in the very-last round of production.
    When everything on the fonts is done, I always enjoy to create the banners and posters.



    • check if they appear correctly in the font menus of operating systems and applications that you intended them to work in.
    • check if you select your fonts in the font menu they actually display your font.
    • check if hinting is working as you intended.
    • check if the kerning works
    • check if the opentype features do their work
    • run the files through a testing tool like Font Validator for example
    I agree. However, I do count these steps being a part of the production process.

  • Raphaël RonotRaphaël Ronot Posts: 33
    edited March 2019
    I guess what @Andrew Wood means by "post production" could be understood as "font engineering" (or mastering ?), where you work on rendering the font, as opposed to the prior process of drawing and spacing it. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd think it includes
    • Path directions and outlines
    • Vertical metrics
    • Open type features
    • Language compatibility
    • Glyphset standards compatibility
    • Hinting 
    All of which I'd also be happy to learn more about myself !
  • Type post-production??


    I wasn't sure what the term was, so I borrowed it from TV/video/film. BTW -- nice poster!
  • Thomas PhinneyThomas Phinney Posts: 2,730
    One can debate where to draw the line, but the way I am used to hearing the terms, it is “font production” as opposed to ”type design.” The later stages in “productizing” what has already been designed.

    It definitely includes hinting and probably OpenType features. Maybe even kerning, or at least expanding kerning that was started by the designer.

    It normally does not include outline work or glyph design.
  • Thanks everyone.

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