New TransType 5 by FontLab: Use variable fonts anywhere

Adam Twardoch
Adam Twardoch
in Type Design Software

TransType 5 is the brand-new version of FontLab’s popular font converter. 

Drop variable font in — add arbitrary instances — pick a format and turn on Install — click Convert — and the variable font becomes a traditional static, so it works in any app and system. We think that this can actually help in adoption of variable fonts. 


You can also convert font sources from FontLab, TypeTool, Fontographer, RoboFont, Glyphs and FontForge, convert between color font flavors for maximum system compatibility, export modern .woff2 web fonts, and tweak individual line-spacing values. 

A true exclusive: our all-new Oblique effect corrects contours algorithmically as you slant them. The Shadow effect builds a vector drop shadow with an optional outline that you can Overlay with the source font — so users can purchase your layer fonts, assemble them and easily use the result in color-font-supporting apps. 

The new dark/light UI is localized into German, Spanish and French, with more languages to come! 

  • Download TransType 5 & perform 10 conversions fore free. 
  • Get a lifetime license for €$ 99. 
  • Have an older TransType? Upgrade now for €$ 40 (short-term offer!), or later for €$ 50. Your upgrade code is the first 13 characters of your old TR serial number, without spaces, entered in the Coupon Code field at checkout.
  • Bought TransType 4 in 2026? Your upgrade is free! 
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Comments

  • SCarewe
    SCarewe
    Adam Twardoch said:

    A true exclusive: our all-new Oblique effect corrects contours algorithmically as you slant them.

    Do you have some more details on this? For example, some sample corrections one could look at to compare with uprights and pure slants? Or maybe you even want to share what your approach is here?
  • Yury Yarmola
    Yury Yarmola
    SCarewe said:

    Do you have some more details on this? For example, some sample corrections one could look at to compare with uprights and pure slants? Or maybe you even want to share what your approach is here?
    We use an algorithm with its roots in Christian Robertson’s italicize algorithm, converted to C++ and heavily optimized for both speed and results.



    TransType 5 is based on the latest FontLab code, so here is a sample from the yet-unreleased version of FontLab
  • Adam Twardoch
    Adam Twardoch
    edited September 3
    Original:

    12° Slant:

    TransType 5 12° Fauxblique:


  • Typedesigner
    Typedesigner
    edited 9:21AM
    Regarding the statement, "A true exclusive: our all-new Oblique effect corrects contours algorithmically as you slant them." when will this feature be available in FontLab 8?
  • John Hudson
    John Hudson
    Can I presume that TransType 5 comes with explicit caveat to users that a) some uses of the tool may not be permitted by foundries and to check the font license and b) foundries are not responsible for customer support for fonts output from TransType 5?
  • Yury Yarmola
    Yury Yarmola
    Yes. You have to accept certain rules when you run TransType for the first time. 
  • SCarewe
    SCarewe
    Yury Yarmola said:

    We use an algorithm with its roots in Christian Robertson’s italicize algorithm
    Thanks for the insight and the comparisons! I must say I have a strong dislike for the results of Christian's algorithm, but realise that it works very well as a fail-proof algorithmic correction, which is the intention, rather than making really good-looking obliques.

    One thing I didn't realise is that it also seems to correct diagonals (judging by the screenshots, viewed on my phone – I might be hallucinating), which is very impressive. I had no idea.

    Great tool either way, congratulations on the new release.

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