FontLab VI 6.1: components, sidebar filters, and metrics expressions

FontLab VI 6.1 arrived in October 2018. It added standards-compliant components, a Font window sidebar for glyph filtering, and linked metrics expressions.

FontLab VI 6.1 shipped across four point releases between October 2018 and April 2019 (6.1.0 through 6.1.4). Each release refined the core features.

Here is what we added:

  • Standards-compliant components: Build glyphs from other glyphs using proper OpenType component references instead of just element references. Edit the base glyph, and the composite updates automatically.
  • Nonspacing components and elements: Attach a mark or element to a glyph without affecting its advance width. Building accented glyphs and stacked diacritics is now a matter of placing components instead of manually copying contours.
  • Metrics expressions and linked metrics: Write a formula in the sidebearing field (like =H) to link a glyph’s spacing to another glyph. Change the source, and every linked glyph follows. This helps maintain consistent spacing groups without re-typing numbers across masters.
  • Font window sidebar: Filter the glyph set by script, Unicode range, encoding, or custom tags. The sidebar replaces hunting through a flat grid when working with large character sets.
  • Handle length and angle display: FontLab shows the length and angle of handles and line segments in real time as you draw or drag. This helps when matching tensions across a family or hitting a specific handle ratio.
  • Cursor-key node editing after dragging: Move a node or handle with the cursor keys immediately after dragging it. You do not need to release and re-click.
  • Simple math in coordinate fields: Type +10, -4, or *2 directly into a width, coordinate, or sidebearing field. FontLab calculates the result in place.
  • Glyphs app export: FontLab 6.1.4 added the ability to export .glyphs files. This makes round-trips with Glyphs.app practical.

We also reopened the free 30-day trial for anyone whose earlier trial had expired. You can evaluate the app on the current build.

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