Prepress

Monotype Imaging Announces the iType FontTuner

Tuesday 05. April 2011 - Font Tuning Application Enables CE Device Manufacturers to Refine the Look of Fonts for Optimal Display

Monotype Imaging Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: TYPE), a leading global provider of text imaging solutions, has introduced the iType FontTuner application, a solution for improving the look of fonts on particular display screens by adjusting the thickness and sharpness of characters rendered from the fonts. Targeted to manufacturers and developers of consumer electronics devices, FontTuner operates on TrueType fonts enabled to work with Monotype Imaging’s Edge Technology, which combines hinting and patented rendering techniques to achieve uniform, legible text.
FontTuner runs in Windows environments and is based on Edge Technology’s embedded font tuning capability, which was previously accessible only to Monotype Imaging engineers to modify fonts as prescribed by OEM customers. With FontTuner, customers are now able to control the look of Edge Technology fonts themselves in order to achieve the best looking output on a particular device. FontTuner can also be used on product lines with multiple display types such as LCD or OLED displays, or on products with multiple modes and resolutions.
“We’ve opened the door for OEMs to take advantage of one of the most unique features of Edge Technology. Customers themselves can now make precise adjustments and see the impact of those changes immediately. Even small refinements can result in visibly dramatic improvements, which can ultimately prove critical for a product’s success,” said John Seguin, executive vice president of Monotype Imaging. “With the ability to fine-tune fonts to fit unique requirements that may differ from product to product, OEMs gain powerful control over the look of fonts across product lines.”
The FontTuner app features a user interface designed for quick, intuitive operation. Modifications are specified interactively using simple slider controls and nudge controls. The sliders provide overall adjustments, while the nudge controls are used to fine-tune results. Users are able to save adjusted tuning values within a font and transfer the new, altered font to a target device where the tuned output may be examined. Tuning adjustments may be applied separately or in combination to any number of text sizes or language scripts. For example, a lighter look to East Asian fonts may be preferred in order to balance the appearance of accompanying Latin-based fonts. Small-sized text can be made to look sharper, while larger sized text can retain a softer appearance. Multiple sets of tuned parameters can also be created for a single font and stored as a TrueType Collection file to support multiple outputs from a single device.