Talk:Unicode typefaces

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents 1 Other Unicode Font 2 Definition 3 Vertical Font Name in the Table (Gif Picture) 4 Vertical Font Name List 5 Ticks, X's, and numbers 6 Article name renamed from "Unicode fonts" to "Unicode typefaces" 7 Sylfaen font 8 How is the data recorded?

[edit] Other Unicode Font

"Wide range" is subjective, but I expect it would apply to fonts that aim to cover most of Unicode, like Code2000. I don't think Junicode, Charis SIL, Doulos SIL, and Gentium belong here. They only aim to cover a small subset of Unicode: the Latin alphabet, and possibly Greek or Cyrillic.

Also, AFAIK Gentium and Arial Unicode MS are no longer being updated. --Ptcamn 09:26, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

But those, at least have much wider coverage than other typefaces. lets add few columns, next to each typeface and add info on which range they cover and similar and related info. i'll change the table now. thanks. ~ Tarikash.

If more users also finds that those fonts are not eligible to be included here, then after Consensus, lets take them out. Thanks. ~ Tarikash.

Basic Arial (1419) and Times New Roman (1419) have only slightly less characters than Gentium (1469) and Junicode (1433). Tahoma (1912) has more. Microsoft Sans Serif (2301) is just short of having twice as many. Should they be here too? --Ptcamn 00:39, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

Lets add ... Chrysanthi Unicode (4818 chars v3.1), Microsoft Sans Serif (2301 chars v1.41), Lucida Grande (2244 glyphs v5.0d8e1), Tahoma (1912 chars v3.14), Times New Roman (1419 chars v3.00), Arial (1419 chars v3.00). Thanks. ~ Tarikash

[edit] Definition

I have to question the definition of "Unicode font" which doesn't match my experience. The implication is that a Unicode font is one that aims to provide a lot of the Unicode characters. But I have seen this used simply to mean any font that provides Unicode information - for instance TrueType fonts may or may not include a map to/from Unicode for the characters in the font. In this sense only symbol fonts containing characters outside Unicode are not Unicode fonts. This page [1] appears to use Unicode font in this way, and uses the term "Large font" for what this article is describing.Notinasnaid 03:53, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

See also [2] (PDF), which talks about "Unicode Font Design" in connection with Lucida Sans Unicode, with 1700 glpyhs. Notinasnaid 04:12, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

So, let's be specific, and encyclopedic about this: what is the source of the term as it is used in this article? Notinasnaid 04:15, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

Hi, to clarify the real unicode fonts from a partially acting one, by using a standard or other point of view or definition, a new paragraph explaining this can be added, in a new section "Definition". If the explanation about those is/becomes very lengthy, then a different page, for example, "Unicode font definition", can be created and a short summary paragraph can be placed here along with the link to the main article. Please feel free to update/change/remove any part you wish to make right correction and justified, as long as we focus on the "Unicode fonts". ~Tarikash 06:04, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Vertical Font Name in the Table (Gif Picture)

Vertical font names displayed in the table box are actually gif picture file. Process to create such picture, can be found in the description of the "Arial Unicode MS" image file's page Image:Arial Unicode MS uf vt.gif. Thanks. ~ Tarikash

Using a SVG-Image would be better IMHO: looks better, editable and can be rendered directly in modern browsers. --Hhielscher 06:12, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

As of today, SVG is not yet natively supported by the web browser software. It will catch up. Other than the GIF, the PNG is another good solution. ~ Tarikash 09:00, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

There is no need for every web browser to support SVG as long as mediawiki does. See the examples in commons:Category:SVG. Your statement about web browsers is wrong as well, see Scalable_Vector_Graphics#Native Support.--Hhielscher 15:56, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I meant MAJOR web browsers, for example, Internet Explorer. ~ Tarikash 18:56, 2 June 2006 (UTC).

[edit] Vertical Font Name List

A template {{Unicode Vertical Font Name List}} is used to display the vertical names, to reduce this page's edit size. If you're to add or update the list of font names, then, edit this template Template:Unicode Vertical Font Name List, which is used here.

[edit] Ticks, X's, and numbers

These abound in the charts... what do they mean? Evertype 11:43, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

sorry, responding in late in this paragraph, but, added the legend then, right after you've pointed that out. ~ Tarikash 03:41, 6 July 2006 (UTC).

To use/display a/the tick mark (), please use the template code {{U2713}}, (which will be replaced with a tick mark). For X mark, simply use the capital X or {{X mark-n}}. Thanks. ~ Tarikash 07:09, 30 July 2006 (UTC).

{{subst:U2713}} should be used: I don't see a reason for transclusion, and it puts unnecessary strain on the server. dab (ᛏ) 09:25, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

Suggested to use that way for the reason, that, the total byte(/size) counts for this article page remains smaller. subst (WP:SUB) will replace the template code {{U2713}} with the actual template code, which contains the wiki image tag [[Image:...]] to place the picture character, this wiki image tag uses more bytes than the template code itself. But you're right that, calling template many times will burden the server a bit more. But, Wiki Servers' one of the main task is to carry out templates and wiki markup/tag with cache optimization for multiple use, which is very common for all wikipedia pages, because all wiki pages are full of wiki tags/codes/markups. Beside, most tick marks already been replaced by their actual character count for that Unicode block. ~Tarikash 10:21, 31 July 2006 (UTC).

[edit] Article name renamed from "Unicode fonts" to "Unicode typefaces"

The word "typefaces" or "typeface" is more common to "typography", but not used commonly at other areas. Most doen't even know, what is "typeface". I understand that renaming was consistent with other "category" names and etc. But still article name could have been kept "Unicode fonts" to locate this topic or words easily. REDIRECTs (redirected pages) should help common visitors to goto "Unicode typefaces", even if they link or use "Unicode fonts", so its ok. ~ Tarikash 04:03, 6 July 2006 (UTC).

Two of this article's four categories use "typefaces." The other two don't use "typefaces" or "fonts." Most other related articles use the term "typefaces." The naming consensus is clear, so I renamed the article. --Davidstrauss 05:48, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

If i were to take this step, i would have definitely mention my reason(s) in this talk page first, before i change. I thought that is the way of Wikipedia. But anyway, its ok. ~ Tarikash 07:40, 13 July 2006 (UTC).

First, the Wikipedia way is "be bold," not assume the change will be disputed. Second, I gave my reason in the edit summary: "moved Unicode fonts to Unicode typefaces: Make name consistent with categories and other typeface pages." --Davidstrauss 16:38, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

Also this article isn't primerally about typefaces its about fonts, e.g. those things on a computer that contain a selection of characters which may or may not be in the same typeface. Plugwash 11:15, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sylfaen font

Sylfaen is also a unicode font that is distributed with windows and contains characters for Armenian, Georgian and other alphabets.

[edit] How is the data recorded?

What programms are used to get the numbers? What programm gives accurate data about the kerning pairs included?--Hhielscher 13:28, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

"Unicode typefaces" is a generic term, and doesn't define any particular font format. You'd need to find the font file format and use a tool designed for that format. Notinasnaid 13:38, 8 November 2006 (UTC)