Chapter 6/7 Summary

PostScript

PostScript fonts consist of two files: A bitmap "screen font" component for onscreen display and a printer component that contains PostScript instructions for actually printing the character. One of the drawbacks to using PostScript is that since it is made of pixels it can't provide acceptable resolution for output. Also if you do not have the PostScript font activated inside your operating system well your out of luck and your font will recall back to the screen default ultimately not giving you the designed feel of you work. (Print Production)

TrueType

 TrueType fonts were brought forth in a collaboration between Apple and Microsoft. Creation of the TrueType font was to have a font that did not need a file for screen and a separate file for print. However in the early days of TrueType the PostScript RIP's couldn't process the TrueType files correctly, so your finished product again wouldn't come out the way you had the design on screen. Now currently, the modern technology of the RIP's can process TrueType as well as PostScript.

OpenType

OpenType fonts are the best of both worlds. An OpenType font is a cross platform font, this means that there is no separate files needed for screen and print, nor is there different files needed to view on a Mac or a PC. Along with this font is the ability to add up to 65,000 glyphs, which in short means that anything that can be added along with a font, such as fractions, symbols, etc., comes along with an OpenType. This does not mean however that all OpenType fonts contain all of these things, it is up to the creator of the OpenType and what he or she adds.

Font Family

In Short a font family is an entire set of the font you choose, by entire set the family should include regular, Bold, and Italic. There are other variations of these three such as Bold Italic, or semi-bold but these three are the main differences in a font family. The actual definition of a font family that I have found is " a set of fonts all with the same typeface, but with different sizes, weights, and slants." (Webopedia) 

Glyphs

A Glyph is a distinct letter form. Also multiple Glyphs may exist for a single character position in an OpenType font. Example shown to the right. (http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt9/lehrusovsky/glyphs-example.png)

 dfonts

A dfont is easily put as a mac version of some of our most popular fonts. These fonts are essentially OpenType fonts that whenever opened on a Mac or PC they will show up as the font you've chose, but however the fonts for the two operating systems do have there slight differences. Now if us mac users want a cross platform jump with some of our default fonts then this can be done by using dedicated font-management software.

Multiple Master Fonts

Multiple Master Fonts are yet another printers nightmare. Created from a PostScript font, then allow the user to give this font multiple weights, angles, and widths. The problems this created wasn't that they were allowing a user to manipulate, the problem was that it wasn't obvious how to make all the cool variants, how to collect the variants necessary, or how to ensure that the print service provider knew how to use them. (Print Production) 

Licensing

In order to protect those font constructors out there we have font licensing laws. Just like creating a song and having it taken from you without getting any credit for it, we need to a protection for those out there taking the time and consideration that goes into creating a font. One of the most popular agreements is a EULA (End User License Agreement). This is the agreement that a lot of us have probably agreed to and not even read it. Most of the fonts able to be nabbed are free for personal use but will have problems whenever it comes down to you and the printer. (Print Production) 

File Naming 

Now that file naming has become a little more forgiving than it used to be, there is one common consensus when it comes to file naming, keep it brief. Between platforms there are limitations as far as characters are concerned and that is an allowance of total characters, so to be safe whenever nameing your files, two things, keep it brief and avoid punctuation. If you follow those two rules then you should have happy days with your file names and you and the printers will get along great.

Extensions 

In the olden days, a file extension for mac users was unrequired. Files then consisted of two forks, a data fork and a resource fork. Pretty much self explanatory on what each side held, the data fork held all the "guts" and the resource told the system which icon to use. Although still you manually adding a file extension by type isn't necessary, you do have to specify so that opening files cross platforms is still possible.

Cross Platform Formats

Cross Platform Formats is exactly what the name says, formats that can cross platforms without any special software required to open them. Some of these formats are things such as JPEG's are saved with the extension .jpg and both Macs and PC's can read this file format the same and open this image that is present. 

Sources

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/font_family.html
"Print Production" Textbook