New: dtl LetterModeller 5.4
dtl LetterModeller (LeMo) is a first step towards the automation of type design processes. The application is developed by Dr. Frank E. Blokland, Dr. Jürgen Willrodt, Hartmut Schwarz, and Axel Stoltenberg with the exploration and parameterisation of (certain parts of) type design processes in mind. The application is partly the result of Frank E. Blokland’s PhD research at Leiden University on the (effects of) systematisation, standardisation, and unitisation in the Renaissance font production.
dtl LetterModeller is based on Blokland’s educational program and typographical expertise as Senior Lecturer at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague since 1987, and as Research Fellow at the Plantin Institute of Typography in Antwerp since 1995. The generated models can be used as a direct basis for type design, or supplementary to writing with a broad nib and flat brush.
The current version of LeMo can be used to explore and modify the structure of roman type applying a set of parameters (more information). The generated glyphs can be edited using the internal glyph editor and the outcomes can be exported in the be (Bézier), ikarus and ufo formats and as –currently unhinged– cff- and Truetype-flavoured OpenType fonts. For hinting it is recommended to use the auto-hinter in the afdko for otf fonts and ttfautohint for TrueType fonts.
Free download: macOS (16.5 mb) | Windows (15.5 mb) | Linux (22 mb)
dtl OTMaster Light 3.7
In the Light editions of dtl OTMaster only the saving of files is disabled. However, checking of font tables, exporting OpenType Layout features and Character Layout (.cha) files, and the conversion to be and ikarus formats, is possible though.
The download for macOS is meant for Intel Macs running Lion or newer, including High Sierra. Please note that otm 3.7 is the last version of which a Light edition has been generated. The current the fully-functional edition of dtl OTMaster is 6.3.
Free download: macOS (23 mb) | Windows (26 mb) | Linux (30 mb)
dtl FontMaster Light 2.7
The Light editions of dtl Bezier- and IkarusMaster basically only have one major restriction: not more than 256 glyphs can be stored per editable glyph database. Changes in larger glyph databases, like for instance in the included fm Demo Font, can’t be saved.
With both glyph editors it is possible to generate PostScript Type 1 fonts for Windows though, and the dtl TraceMaster module is fully functional.
Free download: Windows (23.3 MB)
fm Light on Mac ‘Wine’ installer
‘Wine’-wrapped Windows edition of dtl FontMaster Light for running under macOS 10.5 or higher on Intel-based Macintosh computers.
The hassle-free installer will place a complete self-supporting package in the ‘Applications’ folder (default setting, i.e., there is no need to install either a Windows environment, or to start-up the X Windows System prior to running fm Light 2.7 on a Mac system.
Free download: macOS (160 mb)
dtl CompareMaster Light 2.0
The Light edition of dtl CompareMaster can be used for a detailed comparison of PostScript Type 1 fonts, i.e. of contours, metrics and hinting. Output options include either summarized or extensive text files, and PostScript plot files.
Please note that the fully functional edition of dtl CompareMaster supports OpenType cff (.otf) fonts besides the PostScript Type 1 format also.
Free download: macOS (6 mb) | Windows (22 mb) | New! Linux (6 mb)