Fontographer users using FontLab

[David Bergsland]

I'm interested in seeing how many font designers prefer Fontographer's drawing paradigm, but are forced into using FontLab for some of the advanced options.
For me, I am currently using Fontographer almost exclusively. But I must use FontLab to delete kerning pairs (for Websites offering Web fonts with their size restrictions). I set up all my OpenType feature files in FontLab. I set up my templates for Fontographer in FontLab (I have to because there is no easy way to add glyphs in FOG—especially if they have no Unicode number or name [like small cap figures]).

[jgroshell]

I was doing the same thing -- design in FOG, then output in Fontlab. Until FOG 5.1 -- with Opentype output I can work exclusively in FOG!!

Man, there are few programs I've ever used that are as frustrating as Fontlab. What a terribly unintuitive, confusing and convoluted interface. I don't know how anybody can do creative work in it.

I will give kudos to the FL people, though, for only making improvements to FOG, and keeping the good parts intact. The only feature that's still missing for me is glyph creation.

JG

[David Bergsland]

I agree with you completely... except I still cannot write OpenType features in FOG. I've got a pretty severe code challenge.

[Evertype]

I edit drawings more in FL than I used to, but there are many things I just don't know how to do, like selecting a square connection point, hitting shift-command-8 to turn it to a round connection point, and then shift-command-U to make it optimize the curve. No idea how to do that in FL. So I mostly draw in Fog. Edting in FL I can manage for flipping and merging and things like that.

[David Bergsland]

selecting a square connection point, hitting shift-command-8 to turn it to a round connection point, and then shift-command-U to make it optimize the curve.

In FL, you select the point and right-click to select "Connection" to choose point option you need [smooth or sharp]. It's not clean and simple, that's for sure. It was a joy to get back in FOG where we have the shortcuts for point types. For optimizing, regularly in FL I simply delete the point which optimizes the curve, and then hit Command+E to add points to the extrema. Then I can move the point and handles into position.

[SteveRinzen]

I stupidly upgraded to Fontlab. I produced a few fonts with it, found it entirely counterintuitive.. then they released the update to Fontographer for OSX. I wish i could swap my Fontlab license back to a Fontographer one.

[David Bergsland]

I stupidly upgraded to Fontlab. I produced a few fonts with it, found it entirely counterintuitive.. then they released the update to Fontographer for OSX. I wish i could swap my Fontlab license back to a Fontographer one.

I don't know about that as I don't work for the company. My only suggestion is to have both. I do like drawing in Fontographer much better. However, doing a full OpenType font in FOG is virtually impossible, and the letterspacing and kerning is much easier in FontLab also. I suspect you probably need both of them. Not good, I know. But I think it's the reality.

[Dezcom]

Once you commit to FLS and give up those hard-learned Fog habits, FLS becomes easier.  Going back and for can drive you nuts.