how to create OT Layout features file (.fea)

[siggy]

I understand that FOG 5 can import OT layout features from an external file to generate an OT font.  I've read through the OpenType chapter (ch. 12) in the manual for the new FOG 5, and I'm a bit confused. Are the examples given in this chapter the syntax for commands entered using Adobe FDK to create a features file (.fea), or is it actually possible to create a plain text file with these commands and give it a .fea extension?  Page 294 (in the chapter on Generating Fonts) states the features file can be edited with any text editor.

I've used VOLT to make layout tables for OpenType TTF files, but I wanted to experiment with OpenType CFF/PS files, and can't use VOLT for those.

Thanks!

[Arno Enslin]

The Adobe FDKO does not create feature files. You have to create them in a text editor. (Alternatively you can create them in FontLab Studio, but FontLab Studio does not support the latest feature file syntax.) Here you find the OT feature file specification: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/opentype/afdko/topic_feature_file_syntax.html. Note, that Fontographer does not yet support descriptive names for the stylistic set features ss01–ss20 (http://www.adobe.com/devnet/opentype/afdko/topic_feature_file_syntax.html#8.c).

I think, that the best way to learn the programming of features is, to study a feature file like the one, which Adobe provides in its example-font-package: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/opentype/afdko/eula.html.

[siggy]

Thanks for clarifying, Arno!  The FOG 5 manual mentioned Adobe FDK so often, I thought that program had to be used.  Us .fea newbies need more obvious instructions, like "You need to create an OpenType Layout features file (.fea) using a text editor. Here's how." 

Here's a link to TextWrangler, a free text editor for Mac OSX offered by Bare Bones Software, makers of BBedit. (BBedit was recommended in the Adobe FDK support files, but it's expensive.)

http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/

[Tags:]

Jump to: Please select a destination: ----------------------------- News and announcements ----------------------------- => Announcements from the forum’s moderators => News from the font industry ----------------------------- Type design and font technology ----------------------------- => Principles of type design => OpenType Layout feature development => Hinting => Font Formats and OpenType => Web font embedding => Font licensing ===> Electronic EULA Abstract (EEULAA) ----------------------------- Education and collaboration ----------------------------- => Work: Offers => Work: Looking for => Education: Offers => Education: Looking for => Typographic Events and Conferences ----------------------------- FontLab products ----------------------------- => News from FontLab => FontLab Studio ===> FontLab Studio Problems ===> FontLab Studio Tips and Tricks ===> FontLab Studio Wish List ===> FontLab Studio Public Preview => Fontographer ===> Fontographer Problems ===> Fontographer Wish List => TypeTool => AsiaFont Studio => TransType => ScanFont => SigMaker => Other Products ----------------------------- Photofont products ----------------------------- => BitFonter => Photofont WebReady => Photofont Start => Photofont ID => Photofont QX => The Photofont technology ----------------------------- Adobe Type products ----------------------------- => Adobe FDK for OpenType (AFDKO) ----------------------------- Apple Font products ----------------------------- => Apple Font Tools ----------------------------- Microsoft Typography products ----------------------------- => Microsoft Font Validator => Microsoft Visual OpenType Layout Tool (VOLT) => Microsoft Web Embedding Fonts Tool (WEFT) => Microsoft Visual TrueType (VTT) ----------------------------- Other products and Python scripting ----------------------------- => Python scripting => FontTools/TTX => Other font-related tools ----------------------------- Special interest groups ----------------------------- => SBL Fonts ===> SBL Hebrew ===> SBL Greek ===> SBL BibLit ----------------------------- FAQ and TechNotes ----------------------------- => OpenType Layout feature development FAQ and TechNotes => Hinting FAQ and TechNotes => Font Formats and OpenType FAQ and TechNotes => Web font embedding FAQ and TechNotes => Font licensing FAQ and TechNotes => FontLab Studio FAQ and TechNotes => Fontographer FAQ and TechNotes => TypeTool FAQ and TechNotes => AsiaFont Studio FAQ and TechNotes => TransType FAQ and TechNotes => ScanFont FAQ and TechNotes => SigMaker FAQ and TechNotes => BitFonter FAQ and TechNotes => Photofont WebReady FAQ and TechNotes => Photofont Start FAQ and TechNotes => Photofont ID FAQ and TechNotes => Photofont QX FAQ and TechNotes ----------------------------- Archive (MSN Groups) ----------------------------- => Archive: Old FontLab forum ===> Archive: FontLab Tips and Tricks ===> Archive: FontLab Bugs and Problems ===> Archive: FontLab Wish List ===> Archive: FontLab Announcements => Archive: Old Microsoft Font Validator group => Archive: Old Microsoft VOLT group => Archive: Old Microsoft VTT group ===> Archive: VTT Downloads ===> Archive: VTT Support ===> Archive: VTT Suggestions => Archive: Old Microsoft WEFT group ===> Archive: WEFT III ===> Archive: EOT for Email => Archive: Old SBL Fonts group ===> Archive: SBL Hebrew ===> Archive: SBL Greek ----------------------------- Various ----------------------------- => fontlab.com — the FontLab website => forum.fontlab.com — this forum => Other Topics