| Q |
Do I only need a
user-defined character editor to use
user-defined characters? |
| A |
A user-defined character
editor alone is not sufficient |
A user-defined character
editor has two main functions.
- Character design (and font file creation).
- The ability to register the font file created
as user-defined characters.
The character editor that comes as standard with
the Windows OS allows character design, and also
provides functionality for registering the font
created as a user-defined character font. This
means that it is possible to make characters and
use them immediately under the Windows OS.
However, there is no information on readings or
radicals provided in user-defined character
fonts, so input is only possible through direct
specification of the character code. In order to
input a reading and convert it into Kanji, it is
necessary to register the reading in IME's
dictionary.
When using user-defined characters
professionally, design (font file creation) and
actual registration of the characters on the PC
where they will be used are two completely
separate procedures. For this reason,
professional user-defined character tools are
divided into design software and registration
software.
For example, when using a professional-level
industrial user-defined character system such as
XKP, work is carried out not with a single
user-defined character editor, but with several
pieces of software suited to each task.
User-defined fonts, as with other fonts, may be
either butmap fonts or outline fonts. For bitmap
fonts of low point size, it was once common for
the user who needed the font to design it
themselves; however, design of outline fonts,
which are expressed with fine lines and curves,
is almost impossible for amateurs, and it is now
usual for these to be ordered from specialized
companies.
User-defined
character editor included with Windows NT 4.0
|
