33
edits
Fonts: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Fix manual link
(Fix manual link) |
|||
| (4 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
This page is meant to provide '''in-depth explanations''' about how AGS manages fonts, and how to create fonts for AGS. | This page is meant to provide '''in-depth explanations''' about how AGS manages fonts, and how to create fonts for AGS. | ||
* If you only want to read the ''short'' version, then read [ | * If you only want to read the ''short'' version, then read [https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/manual/index.html?page=acintro9.htm this]. | ||
* There is a ''much more complicated'' version of this article [[Fonts_deprecated_methods|here]]. It was written ''before'' AGS 3.4 was available. If you want to dig into ''old'' tricks to use 256 characters in games, or maybe adapt them to use much more characters, then that article might be useful. | * There is a ''much more complicated'' version of this article [[Fonts_deprecated_methods|here]]. It was written ''before'' AGS 3.4 was available. If you want to dig into ''old'' tricks to use 256 characters in games, or maybe adapt them to use much more characters, then that article might be useful. | ||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
* If the answer is '''"d"''', then you need to consider searching/creating fonts that will allow the special characters you need. Unlike situation "b" and "c", Cyrillic alphabet does not only fill the "unused" extra 128 characters while leaving the first 128 characters untouched. It needs the whole 256 characters page to fit in, so you'll need a font just for the cyrillic alphabet. But still, it works fundamentally the same way as other 256-characters fonts. | * If the answer is '''"d"''', then you need to consider searching/creating fonts that will allow the special characters you need. Unlike situation "b" and "c", Cyrillic alphabet does not only fill the "unused" extra 128 characters while leaving the first 128 characters untouched. It needs the whole 256 characters page to fit in, so you'll need a font just for the cyrillic alphabet. But still, it works fundamentally the same way as other 256-characters fonts. | ||
* If the answer is '''"e"''', then this alphabet is a bit peculiar because there are thousands of kanjis BUT Japanese also has a basic set of about 60 to 200 characters that lets you write in phonetic syllables. The basic 50-something characters are the " | * If the answer is '''"e"''', then this alphabet is a bit peculiar because there are thousands of kanjis BUT Japanese also has a basic set of about 60 to 200 characters that lets you write in phonetic syllables. The basic 50-something characters are the "katakana" (see a pixel font here : https://www.colourbox.com/vector/pixel-japanese-katakana-vector-18520378 ). You'd be probbaly more comfortable with some extra characters, that make it up to about 200. It means it all fits in a 256-characters font, just like cyrillic alphabet (above). PLEASE NOTE: the author of this article is not an expert on the topic. Please feel free to correct me [[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=55022.msg636566116#msg636566116|here]] | ||
* If the answer is '''"f"''', then AGS wasn't really designed for your needs. There are (probably) workarounds, but they are outside of the scope of this document. You can try the engine plugin "[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=52207.msg636514064#msg636514064 AGSBMFontRenderer]" (not tested). You might find some clues [https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=54570.msg636555760 here] if you're targetting '''Farsi/Persian'''. | * If the answer is '''"f"''', then AGS wasn't really designed for your needs. There are (probably) workarounds, but they are outside of the scope of this document. You can try the engine plugin "[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=52207.msg636514064#msg636514064 AGSBMFontRenderer]" (not tested). You might find some clues [https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=54570.msg636555760 here] if you're targetting '''Farsi/Persian'''. | ||
| Line 65: | Line 65: | ||
::- Either you use a "real" pixel font, in SCI of WFN format (read below), OR | ::- Either you use a "real" pixel font, in SCI of WFN format (read below), OR | ||
::- you use a TTF font that looks like a pixel font. You can even convert that pixel-looking TTF font into an actual pixel font (SCI or WFN) with a few easy steps. | ::- you use a TTF font that looks like a pixel font. You can even convert that pixel-looking TTF font into an actual pixel font (SCI or WFN) with a few easy steps. | ||
== More about the formats == | == More about the formats == | ||
| Line 154: | Line 151: | ||
'''Summary''' | '''Summary''' | ||
<span style="font-size:100%; red | <span style="font-size:100%; color:red;">4 important questions to ask yourself: </span> | ||
# Do you want to make a '''pixel''' font, OR a TTF (i.e. '''vector''') font? | # Do you want to make a '''pixel''' font, OR a TTF (i.e. '''vector''') font? | ||
| Line 184: | Line 181: | ||
=== Making bitmap fonts based off a TTF font === | === Making bitmap fonts based off a TTF font === | ||
Most users won't choose to do this, because a TTF (vector font), by design, is usually made to be rendered onto the screen in a high resolution. With nice curves and all. | |||
'''Most users won't choose to do this,''' because a TTF (vector font), by design, is usually made to be rendered onto the screen in a high resolution. With nice curves and all. | |||
You can see the awkwardess here: | You can see the awkwardess here: | ||
* If you're making a game in high resolution (800x600 or more), then why going through the troble of rendering TTF into pixels first, as the font can be used directly by AGS? | * If you're making a game in high resolution (800x600 or more), then why going through the troble of rendering TTF into pixels first, as the font can be used directly by AGS? | ||
* If your game is in old-school style, with very low resolution (320x200), then resolution is definitely too small to get any advantage from the TTF font. You're better off drawing the font manually directly. | * If your game is in old-school style, with very low resolution (320x200), then resolution is definitely too small to get any advantage from the TTF font. You're better off drawing the font manually directly. | ||
There are a handful of exceptions though : | |||
'''There are a handful of exceptions though :''' | |||
* If you're using a medium resolution (640x480). Your font might still have curves or small details BUT the low resolution requires you to push a few pixels around here and there in the font. | * If you're using a medium resolution (640x480). Your font might still have curves or small details BUT the low resolution requires you to push a few pixels around here and there in the font. | ||
* You want to add some special effects in the font. AGS only manages monochrome fonts (one color), and if you want to add a drop-shadow or a second color to the font, then you need to work on your font at pixels level (see section "How can I add special effects to the font?). the only exception is for outline. Because AGS can manage that automatically if you enable it in the font's settings. | * You want to add some special effects in the font. AGS only manages monochrome fonts (one color), and if you want to add a drop-shadow or a second color to the font, then you need to work on your font at pixels level (see section "How can I add special effects to the font?). the only exception is for outline. Because AGS can manage that automatically if you enable it in the font's settings. | ||
| Line 278: | Line 277: | ||
That tools was not designed for AGS but it might be a nice alternative to manipulate sprites tables generated from TTF fonts. | That tools was not designed for AGS but it might be a nice alternative to manipulate sprites tables generated from TTF fonts. | ||
You must consider it an additional tool to Calin Leafshade's SpriteFont renderer. | You must consider it an additional tool to Calin Leafshade's SpriteFont renderer. | ||
=== How to create a 128-characters font from scratch? === | === How to create a 128-characters font from scratch? === | ||