Technical Services: OpenType Features
Typographic Support
OpenType features allow a font to go beyond simple strings of characters in all OpenType-aware applications. Using contextual alternatives, substitutions, and feature selections we can engineer a variety of OpenType features to take your fonts to the next level in ease of use and flexibility.
A basic set of feature enhancements engineered into an OpenType font might include small caps, matching numerals or non-lining numerals as appropriate, extended sets of ligatures, and, where appropriate, alternate character designs to simulate handwriting, or swashes for ornamentation. We are able to extend character sets of most fonts and furnish them with appropriate features.
Languages
Complex script systems depend heavily on OpenType features to provide good typography and visually correct typesetting. Arabic, for instance, requires heavy use of glyph substitution for correct setting - characters completely change their appearance depending on their position and context within a word. The font's OpenType feature programming interacts with the application software to ensure the correct form is chosen and placed. Our design and technical services can help you ensure that your fonts are correctly engineered for every language you need.
Unusual Characters
It is possible to use OpenType features to give access non-standard glyphs, such as company logos, using simple character combinations. We have created features in the past to provide everything from simple logo substitution to a complex interaction between a handwritten font and offset underscore characters.
If you'd like to discuss how OpenType features can help you communicate with more clarity, more flexibility, and in more ways than ever before, please contact us.