laser-lovers@uw-beaver (04/30/85)
From: Les Earnest <LES@SU-AI.ARPA> Responding to Ed Tafts's Apr. 27 message, I agree that "there is no single `correct' approach to character scaling and spacing" but some approaches are better than others. Straight geometric scaling, which is the P*stscrpt default, is the simplest to program but the rounding errors produce variable intercharacter spacing. That is why P*stscrpt print samples show a given pair of characters properly spaced in some places and running into each other in other parts of the page. Given Mr. Taft's statement that Adobe can also do "typographic" spacing, I look forward to seeing some print samples that exhibit this property. peter gross's message of the same day says that "I can vouch that the Imagen also does not do inter-character spacing right either". I would point out that the Imagen also doesn't do it wrong -- it just does what it is told. Mr. gross is using Computer Modern fonts, courtesy of a fellow down the hall named Don Knuth. Some people like CM fonts; most typographers don't; in any case the credit/blame belongs to Prof. Knuth. Imagen *can* take the credit/blame for some new fonts that are being released for their 8/300, 12/300, and 24/300 printing systems, including Lucida*, Helvetica*, and Times Roman* (the latter two in beta test only). Les Earnest Stanford A.I. Lab. (& Imagen shareholder) * Footnote: Lucida is a trademark of Bigelow & Holmes. Helvetica and Times Roman are trademarks of Allied Corporation.
laser-lovers@uw-beaver (04/30/85)
From: David Fuchs <DRF@SU-SCORE.ARPA> Excuse me Les, but Imagen is VERY MUCH TO BLAME for continuing to distribute versions of CM that are MANY YEARS OLD in spite of the fact that they have had access to improved versions that have been available to them for MORE THAN TWO YEARS. The CM faces are currently undergoing another round of re-design; I'm sure there will be grumps enough about our best efforts that it's very annoying to have to fend off criticisms of the ANCIENT, OBSOLETE, SUPERCEEDED stuff Imagen is sending around with our name on it. Disgustedly, -david -------