atw: Re: PostScript vs TrueType fonts with Frame




Mick, the short answer is that I wouldn't worry about it too much.
It sounds like you're harking back to the FM 5.0--5.1 era.

These are the main problems I can remember. The first two may
not apply to you these days. The third problem was always more
perceived than real.

1. Working on multiple platforms.

It can be fiddly to move the same Frame document between
Windows, UNIX and Mac. Frame's document format is identical
on all OSes, but the same fonts typically have different names.
There's a mapping table you can use to tell Frame to look for
font X rather than font Y, and a preference setting ("Remember
Missing Font Names") to control whether the change is for the
current session only or is permanent.

2. Printer-resident fonts.

Can't remember the exact details of this one, but it had something
to do with the base set of PS fonts that used to come installed on
some printers. On Windows, if that was the currently selected
printer, Frame would include the printer-resident fonts in the list
of available fonts. If you then changed to another printer, those
fonts would no longer be available so Frame would report them
as missing and map them to the default fonts. Or something like
that. Just buy the fonts you want and install them on Windows --
no problem.

3. PostScript versus TrueType holy wars.

Despite what you may read, they both work perfectly well with
Adobe applications, including Frame.

Here's Dov Isaacs, Adobe's guru of PostScript, PDF and printing
in general:
> In terms of printers or even GATF gurus who profess that TrueType
> fonts or that a mixture of Type 1 and TrueType fonts (different
> names, of course) in the same document are a 'no-no,' don't get
> me started! The FACT is that Adobe PDF, Adobe PostScript, and
> Adobe applications fully support TrueType fonts. The so-called
> "mavens" who give advice against use of TrueType fonts are NOT,
> repeat NOT giving you technically sound or accurate information.
> It reflects a bias stemming from the late 1980s and early 1990s
> at which time Microsoft AND Apple introduced TrueType as an
> alternative to the Type 1 font technology in Adobe PostScript.
> Folks, the 'font wars' of that time have long been over! Fonts
> procured from major font foundries in TrueType format will render
> ever bit as well as the equivalent face in Type 1 format.

So choose whatever professional fonts you like. Frame will
handle them. If your printer quibbles, sack them -- they've been
living in a box for the last ten years.


As for your final question, you shouldn't need a PostScript 101
unless you want to learn up on it for fun. Wait till you have a
problem, then go searching for the answer. If you don't end up
having any problems, well... no problem!

Resources: any of the FrameMaker lists and archives. See:
http://w1.184.telia.com/~u18407300/archives/index.html

---
Stuart Burnfield
Information Developer                        Email: sburnf@xxxxxxxxxx
Australian Programming Centre      Phone: +61 8 9261 8719

> ... as the supposed FrameMaker "expert" here, I find that I can't
> recollect anything about PS fonts and all those tricky issues I
> seemed to encounter with PostScript and FM ...
>
> My questions are:
>
> * I'm not forced to use PS fonts with FM, right?
> * If I do, our printers have to support PS fonts?
> * What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of using PS
>   fonts with FM? I seem to remember that a lot of the trickier
>   issues using FrameMaker had to do with the Adobe Type Manager
>   and missing fonts.
>
> Lastly, can someone point me to a resource on the Web for
> learning about PS fonts, a PostScript 101 site if you will.

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