On computerisation and representation of characters

The commercial need to computerise contours of objects has intensified over recent years as more and more applications endeavour to seek the benefits of visualisation. The primary aim has been to gain a computerised model which closely resembles the original shape and form. The digital form lends itself to be processed by fast processors, and their output to be displayed on graphic devices such as screen displays and laser printers. The benefits of the digital form are also extended to cater for numerically controlled machines. These are employed to produce outlines through cutting or engraving on paper, metal, plastic or wood. When it comes to digitising the outlines of characters, additional considerations have to be included in the modelling, design, phase. The aim of these is to capture the uniqueness and the distinct features of a font, which traditionally were realised by a proficient artisan's hand and eye. Modern approaches endeavour to gain the same impact by using a set of pre-defined specifications in the design process. The goal of which is not just to model accurately a desired font, but also to ensure that the displayed version is both legible and aesthetically acceptable. This paper provides an insight about the design methods used to both model and represent the contours of Latin characters and fonts. It describes the role of the spline as a means of realising the modelling aspect. To this regard, the spline descriptions used by Postscript (Bezier cubic) and TrueType (parabolic) are looked at, and a comparative analysis made. The discussion throughout is levelled at providing a practical understanding of the subject matter.