fontmake: Unexpected kerning introduced by fontmake to variable font export (but not to static ttf)
I’ve exported a static TTF and a variable TTF via FontMake, and I’m finding that the Variable TTF gets unexpected kerning.
Amongst other differences, an obvious thing is that the i seems to get extra kerning to the left side, against even straight letters where there shouldn’t need to be kerning. This kern doesn’t exist in the Glyphs sources (unless I’m somehow missing it). Why might this being added in the variable font?
Here’s a screencap showing a comparison between static and VF at the Regular weight/width, then a comparison with kerning taken away from both:
It also gets different kerning than a previously-generated static version. Here’s an overlay to compare the two (variable font in green, just a bit wider from the added positive kerns):
About this issue
- Original URL
- State: closed
- Created 6 years ago
- Comments: 36 (16 by maintainers)
thanks @thundernixon and @mjlagattuta for the detailed report. Just so you know I’m not ignoring this, I had been busy with other things last week. I will try to take a look at this in the next few days.
At least I remembered there’s something smelly in that part of code so that was the big indeed. Unlike what the comment suggests, I remember the full issue now. Fix is correct for now. @anthrotype, is possible please add a test case for this so I don’t break or again. Subsetting for dcaron etc may contain the bug without the commit, for test generation purpose?
I’ve updated the glyphs source back to being the original, and the build script is now working better and less-manually. The width values are properly getting exported, based on tests at axis-praxis.
Here’s the latest font build: Encode Sans VF, Oct 26, 2018
It still does have some fontbakery issues, but none that seem to explain the kern regrouping. Not sure if you really needed the update, but I appreciate your critique and wanted to fix the issues pointed out.