In the world of typography, two terms that often come up in discussions are OpenType and open format. While they may sound similar, they actually refer to different aspects of typography. In this article, we will explore the difference between OpenType and open format fonts and their significance in the world of typography.
OpenType Fonts: OpenType is a font format developed by Microsoft and Adobe Systems in the late 1990s. It is a widely used format that offers several advanced typographic features and supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. OpenType fonts come with a .otf or .ttf file extension and have become the standard format for digital typography.
OpenType fonts provide numerous benefits to designers and typographers, including:
- Expanded Character Sets: OpenType fonts support a vast range of characters, allowing for extended language support, including diacritical marks, ligatures, and alternate glyphs. This feature makes OpenType fonts suitable for multilingual and complex typographic projects.
- Advanced Typographic Features: OpenType fonts offer advanced typographic features such as ligatures, small caps, swashes, stylistic alternates, and more. These features enable designers to add visual interest, improve readability, and create unique typographic compositions.
- Improved Hinting: OpenType fonts provide improved hinting, which enhances legibility and appearance, especially at smaller sizes on screens. Hinting refers to the process of optimizing the rendering of fonts on different output devices to ensure crisp and clear characters.
- Scalability: OpenType fonts are scalable vector fonts, meaning they can be resized without compromising on quality. This scalability makes them ideal for both print and digital applications, where fonts need to be displayed at various sizes.
Open Format Fonts: On the other hand, open format refers to fonts that are released under open source licenses, allowing users to freely access, modify, and distribute the font files. Open format fonts emphasize collaboration, customization, and accessibility. These fonts are often created by a community of designers, typographers, and enthusiasts who work together to improve and refine the font.
Open format fonts have several notable features:
- Licensing: Open format fonts are typically released under open source licenses, such as the SIL Open Font License (OFL). These licenses grant users the freedom to use, modify, and distribute the font files, promoting a collaborative and inclusive environment for typography.
- Customization: Open format fonts allow users to modify the font files according to their specific design needs. This flexibility empowers designers to customize letterforms, spacing, and other typographic elements, enabling them to create unique and personalized typographic expressions.
- Community Development: Open format fonts benefit from the collective efforts of a community of designers and typographers who contribute to the development, improvement, and maintenance of the fonts. This collaborative approach ensures that the fonts remain up-to-date, reliable, and of high quality.
- Accessibility and Inclusivity: Open format fonts often prioritize accessibility and inclusivity by adhering to accessibility guidelines and supporting diverse writing systems. These fonts ensure that typographic content is accessible to people with visual impairments and can be used for a wide range of language scripts.
In summary, OpenType and open format fonts are related but distinct concepts in the field of typography. OpenType refers to a font format that offers advanced typographic features and widespread compatibility, while open format fonts are fonts released under open source licenses, encouraging collaboration, customization, and accessibility. Both contribute to the advancement of typography, providing designers and typographers with valuable tools and resources to enhance their creative work.
