FontLab Tips & Tricks: Speed Up Your Font WorkflowCreating typefaces is a blend of artistry and engineering, and FontLab is one of the most powerful tools for turning letterform ideas into usable font files. This guide collects practical tips and workflow optimizations you can adopt to move faster in FontLab without sacrificing quality. It’s organized for both beginners who want to become efficient and experienced designers looking to tighten their process.
1. Set up a workspace that fits your process
A tidy, consistent workspace saves time every session.
- Customize panels and tabs. Arrange the most-used panels (Glyph window, Metrics, Layers, Palette) so they’re visible without extra clicks. Save the arrangement as a workspace preset.
- Use multiple windows. Open separate Glyph windows for related glyphs (e.g., a/n/r) so you can quickly compare shapes.
- High-contrast UI and large glyph view. Increase glyph preview size for detailed work; switch to high-contrast UI if you’re working long hours.
2. Master keyboard shortcuts
Shortcuts are where time savings compound.
- Learn the basics: selection, pen tool, node add/delete, nudge (arrow keys), and zoom shortcuts.
- Use custom shortcuts for repetitive commands you use often (View > Keyboard Shortcuts).
- Memorize layer-switching and component-editing shortcuts to toggle quickly between master layers and components.
3. Plan with components and reused elements
Components are a major time-saver for consistent shapes.
- Build letters like “o”, “n”, “m” using components rather than redrawing. Edit the master component to update all instances.
- Use composite glyphs for accented characters and ligatures; maintain a clear component naming scheme.
- Convert similar shapes into components (stems, bowls) and lock them to avoid accidental edits.
4. Use masters and interpolation wisely
Interpolation gives you multiple weights without redrawing.
- Start with clear light and bold masters before adding intermediate masters.
- Keep node counts compatible across masters to avoid interpolation artifacts (same number of nodes in same order).
- Use “compatible contours” and the automatic compatibility tools to align outlines between masters.
- Test interpolations early by generating instance previews to spot issues before they multiply.
5. Optimize node counts and paths
Less is more: fewer nodes, cleaner paths.
- Remove unnecessary nodes: simplify curves where a node doesn’t change direction.
- Use smooth nodes for continuous curves and corner nodes where direction changes.
- Fix tiny overlaps and stray points with “Remove Overlap” and boolean operations when appropriate.
- Use the “Optimize Path” feature to clean contours automatically, then review.
6. Smart spacing and kerning workflow
Good spacing and kerning dramatically improve perceived quality.
- Start with auto metrics: use the automatic sidebearings/metrics to get a baseline, then fine-tune.
- Create spacing groups (A, V, T groups) so spacing adjustments apply across related glyphs.
- Use Kerning classes and pair kerning together—define classes early to reduce pair count.
- Work with FEA pairs export to test kerning behavior in applications that support OpenType features.
7. Use OpenType features early and iteratively
Implement features incrementally so they inform design decisions.
- Begin with basic features: liga, dlig, mark, mkmk, and smcp. Add more complex features (calt, clig, subs) as needed.
- Test features in real text early—use the Font window’s preview or export trial builds to test in apps.
- Keep feature code organized and commented; use the built-in feature editor or external tools if you prefer code-first workflows.
8. Automate repetitive tasks with scripts
Scripting turns repetitive tasks into one-click operations.
- Learn FontLab’s Python scripting basics. Common tasks to script: batch rename glyphs, apply transformations to many glyphs, export subsets, or run path-cleaning routines.
- Use community scripts and adapt them—many common utilities are shared by the type design community.
- Automate export steps (generate OTF/TTF/variable fonts) to ensure consistent output settings.
9. Work with variable fonts efficiently
Variable fonts consolidate many instances into a single file—plan accordingly.
- Define a clear axis structure (weight, width, optical size) and name masters to reflect them.
- Keep interpolation compatible across axes; test extreme instances to verify outlines and metrics.
- Use instances for testing typical use cases without exporting final variable fonts each time.
- Optimize variable font size by subsetting glyphs and removing unneeded tables during final export.
10. Exporting and testing: iterate fast
Frequent small exports beat rare large ones.
- Export test builds often (OTF/TTF or webfont subsets) and install them locally to see real-world behavior.
- Use automated test pages with sample texts in different sizes and languages to spot spacing/feature issues.
- Keep export presets for common targets (desktop, web, variable) to reduce friction.
- Validate fonts (fontbakery or built-in validators) before final release to catch common problems.
11. Collaboration and version control
Share work without losing control or history.
- Use clear naming conventions and maintain a changelog in the project file or a separate text file.
- Export UFO or VF sources to collaborate with other tools or designers.
- Use Git for version control on exported sources (UFOs, feature files). Store binaries separately; track source changes instead.
- Keep backups and snapshots of working files before large operations like path-cleaning or mass renaming.
12. Common pitfalls and quick fixes
Quick solutions to frequent problems.
- Interpolation glitches: ensure node counts and order match across masters; use point-for-point fixes.
- Broken components after edits: update masters and reapply components or rebuild critical component shapes.
- Bad hinting/TTF artifacts: test in target environments and apply autohinting only after outlines are final.
- Kerning appearing wrong in apps: export with kerning classes converted, test on different platforms, and check fallback Shapers.
13. Recommended workflow checklist (concise)
- Set workspace and shortcuts.
- Plan components and masters before drawing.
- Keep node counts low and consistent.
- Iterate spacing and kerning with classes.
- Add OpenType features early; test often.
- Script repetitive tasks.
- Export frequent test builds; validate.
- Use version control for sources.
14. Resources and further learning
- FontLab help docs and tutorials (built-in and online).
- Community scripts and plugins.
- Font development forums and design critiques.
- Tools: FontBakery (validation), RoboFont (alternate editor), Glyphs (comparison), and Git for version control.
If you’d like, I can:
- Create a keyboard-shortcuts cheat sheet tailored to your most-used commands.
- Draft a sample Python script to batch-clean paths or rename glyphs.
- Build a step-by-step checklist for exporting a variable font from FontLab.
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