fractions — TypeDrawers https://typedrawers.com/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 20:04:24 +0000 en fractions — TypeDrawers Fractions https://typedrawers.com/discussion/5712/fractions Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:10:54 +0000 Type Design Technique & Theory mauro sacchetto 5712@/discussions What techniques do you use to produce fractions?
Let’s start by looking at Adobe Garamond Pro. Here, numerators and denominators have sidebearings that are determined "reasonably" and are identical for both. However, this yields some odd results. Just look at the image:

The huge spacing in the second fraction of the fourth row (7813/7813) or the asymmetrical spacing in the denominator of the first fraction in the last row (.../7302), where the 7 is spaced far apart from the following digits.
In the first fraction of the last row (2037/7302), there is a marked asymmetry between the 7 at the end of the numerator (spaced far from the slash) and the 7 at the start of the denominator (which almost touches the slash). And so on...
Now, certain glyphs, like the 4 and the 7, pose problems; they require significant right sidebearing when they appear at the start of a denominator (.../7), yet this results in excessive spacing from subsequent digits when they are part of a multi-digit denominator (.../7302, .../1452).
How do you handle this? Do you use the same sidebearings for numerators and denominators, or different ones for each category? Do you make subsequent kerning adjustments? Or do you simply accept a certain lack of uniformity?
Thanks
m


]]> Fractions https://typedrawers.com/discussion/5711/fractions Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:34:00 +0000 Font Technology mauro sacchetto 5711@/discussions What techniques do you use to produce fractions?
Let’s start by looking at Adobe Garamond Pro. Here, numerators and denominators have sidebearings that are determined "reasonably" and are identical for both. However, this yields some odd results. Just look at the image:

The huge spacing in the second fraction of the fourth row (7813/7813) or the asymmetrical spacing in the denominator of the first fraction in the last row (.../7302), where the 7 is spaced far apart from the following digits.
In the first fraction of the last row (2037/7302), there is a marked asymmetry between the 7 at the end of the numerator (spaced far from the slash) and the 7 at the start of the denominator (which almost touches the slash). And so on...
Now, certain glyphs, like the 4 and the 7, pose problems; they require significant right sidebearing when they appear at the start of a denominator (.../7), yet this results in excessive spacing from subsequent digits when they are part of a multi-digit denominator (.../7302, .../1452).
How do you handle this? Do you use the same sidebearings for numerators and denominators, or different ones for each category? Do you make subsequent kerning adjustments? Or do you simply accept a certain lack of uniformity?
Thanks
m


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