[Fontconfig] fontconfig: Branch 'master'

[Chris Jones]

On Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 02:16:35PM EDT, Raimund Steger wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> >> I've had a plan to convert the bitmap X fonts to otf format, which
> would eliminate PCF/BDF code from the X server...
> >
> > Forgive the naive question.
> >
> > Regarding fixed fonts, would conversion be possible without loss of
> quality?
> >
> > I am thinking of GNU/Unifont (used by grub's menu for instance),
> > which
> is available both in PCF & TTF form. As it hapens, the TTF version as
> rendered on an xterm is practically illegible.
> 
> In order to turn a bitmap font into a TTF/OTF form that renders
> identically for the same pixel size, the various options that people
> have come up with are
> 
> (1) embedded bitmaps (2) outlines & bytecode hinting (3) converting
> every pixel into a square outline
> 
> I think that GNU Unifont uses option #3. Depending on the renderer's
> configuration and the actual pixel size used, this might give
> unsatisfying results (although I have little experience with this
> particular font).
> 
> Also: If you used Unifont as server-side X font, the renderer would be
> running on the X server; if you used an Xft font ('-fa' argument to
> xterm), the renderer would be running on the client. Even if the PCF
> renderer should someday be dropped from your X server, you could still
> use the client-side renderer.
> 
> So there's no need to panic :-) I personally guarantee that I will
> fork whatever is necessary to keep my beloved X11 bitmap fonts, at
> least as long as I still use a < 200 dpi display :-)

OT.. but where do you get a 200 dpi display..? My personal dream btw
would be a 17-19" 300 dpi... at least for the time being ;-)

[..]

> > In order to turn a bitmap font into a TTF/OTF form that renders
> > identically for the same pixel size, the various options that people
> > have come up with are

> > (1) embedded bitmaps

> Or rather, bitmap-only fonts in SFNT format.  This is the only
> sensible solution IMHO for PCF and BDF.

Thanks to both. 

Actually, we're not looking at ‘panic’ in my case, but rather
irrepressible fury. Some of us could kill for a nice bitmap font :-)

Nice to know I'm not alone..!

CJ
-- 
Have a nice day!