Ubuntu Font Family

Bug #615375
Comment #12

Comment 12 for bug 615375

Revision history for this message

Vincent Connare (vince-daltonmaag) wrote on 2010-10-20: Re: [Bug 615375] Re: The bullet char is small

#12

Typographically there have been two types of 'bullets' in founts in
letterpress, photographic and digital typography prior to 1984. Below
is what I wrote a few years ago about the 'bullet'.

(note: the en space is 1/2 the em space (or 1/2 a point size), the em
space is equal to the units per em and point size).

Most type designers and font foundries use the en bullet (or slightly
smaller) since the em bullet is usually too large.

Bullets

* Bullet
Unicode: U+2022

Bullets supplied by traditional vendors varied in size but the
two most common are the en bullet and the em bullet.

* En bullet

This is the more commonly included bullet in most typefaces.

Advance width rule : Its advance width is generally set to the en
space and is a smaller sized bullet than the em bullet.

Height alignment : Visually centers on the lowercase uppercase
height.

* Em bullet

This is the large bullet sometimes chosen to be included in place
of the en bullet in some typefaces.

Advance width rule : Its advance width is generally set to the em
space value.

Height alignment : Visually centers on the lowercase uppercase
height.

Spacing : Visually center between uppercase H and O.

On 20/10/2010 14:20, Anders Bodén wrote:
> I sent an email accepting the contributor assignment. Was that all that
> was needed in that department?
>
> I've attached the source files from Fontforge. I've also included the
> license file you mentioned, but I'm not sure I got that right.
>
> My rationale:
> I wanted to make the size of the bullet so as to fit in with the rest of the font. It now has a size slightly larger than the character 'o' from the font. It is between a uppercase letter and a lowercase letter of the font in spacing. I think this makes for a homogenous feel for the bullet, as it is to replace the weight of all and none of the characters in the font, when typing in a password. The margin for the width of the bullet and the total spacing of the character is such that when written back to back the bullets are clearly not toucing, are easily distinguishable, while not creating spaces that would not conform with the font.
>
> Let me know if there is anything else I need to do to get this
> submission in proper order.
>
> ** Attachment added: "Source files for changes made to Ubuntu font"
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-font-family/+bug/615375/+attachment/1703101/+files/UbuntuFontwBulletSources.tar.gz
>

--
Vincent Connare, Font Engineering, Dalton Maag Ltd
Unit 107, 245A Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8RR, UK

Registered office: Mutfords, Hare Street, Buntingford, SG9 0ED, UK
Registered in England and Wales: 3103619

Typographically there have been two types of 'bullets' in founts in 
letterpress, photographic and digital typography prior to 1984.  Below 
is what I wrote a few years ago about the 'bullet'.

(note:  the en space is 1/2 the em space (or 1/2 a point size), the em 
space is equal to the units per em and point size).

Most type designers and font foundries use the en bullet (or slightly 
smaller) since the em bullet is usually too large.

Bullets

* Bullet
       Unicode: U+2022

Bullets supplied by traditional vendors varied in size but the 
two most common are the en bullet and the em bullet.

* En bullet

This is the more commonly included bullet in most typefaces.

Advance width rule : Its advance width is generally set to the en 
space and is a smaller sized bullet than the em bullet.

Height alignment : Visually centers on the lowercase uppercase 
height.

* Em bullet

This is the large bullet sometimes chosen to be included in place 
of the en bullet in some typefaces.

Advance width rule : Its advance width is generally set to the em 
space value.

Height alignment : Visually centers on the lowercase uppercase 
height.

Spacing : Visually center between uppercase H and O.

On 20/10/2010 14:20, Anders Bodén wrote:
> I sent an email accepting the contributor assignment. Was that all that
> was needed in that department?
>
> I've attached the source files from Fontforge. I've also included the
> license file you mentioned, but I'm not sure I got that right.
>
> My rationale:
> I wanted to make the size of the bullet so as to fit in with the rest of the font. It now has a size slightly larger than the character 'o' from the font. It is between a uppercase letter and a lowercase letter of the font in spacing. I think this makes for a homogenous feel for the bullet, as it is to replace the weight of all and none of the characters in the font, when typing in a password. The margin for the width of the bullet and the total spacing of the character is such that when written back to back the bullets are clearly not toucing, are easily distinguishable, while not creating spaces that would not conform with the font.
>
> Let me know if there is anything else I need to do to get this
> submission in proper order.
>
> ** Attachment added: "Source files for changes made to Ubuntu font"
>     https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-font-family/+bug/615375/+attachment/1703101/+files/UbuntuFontwBulletSources.tar.gz
>

-- 
Vincent Connare, Font Engineering, Dalton Maag Ltd
Unit 107, 245A Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8RR, UK

Registered office: Mutfords, Hare Street, Buntingford, SG9 0ED, UK
Registered in England and Wales: 3103619