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What are PostScript Fonts and CID Fonts?
When it comes to print design, understanding the different types of fonts is crucial. Two important types are PostScript fonts and CID fonts. Let’s delve into these terms and explore their significance in the world of typography.
PostScript Fonts
PostScript fonts are a widely used font format developed by Adobe Systems. They are based on the PostScript programming language, which allows for precise and scalable representation of each character. This means that PostScript fonts can be printed at various sizes without losing their quality. They are often referred to as Type 1 fonts.
Since their creation in the 1980s, PostScript fonts have become the industry standard in professional printing. They provide exceptional typographic control and are compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.
PostScript fonts consist of two main components: the outline and the metrics. The outline defines the shape of each character, while the metrics determine the spacing and alignment. This separation of concerns enables designers to have greater flexibility in manipulating and fine-tuning the typography.
CID Fonts
CID (Character Identifier) fonts, on the other hand, are a more recent addition to the font landscape. They were introduced in the 1990s to address the challenges in supporting non-Latin scripts with large character sets, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
CID fonts, also known as Type 0 fonts, follow a different architecture compared to PostScript fonts. Instead of having individual outlines for each character, CID fonts use a unified set of outlines and assign a unique identifier to each character. This allows for efficient storage and processing of complex scripts with thousands of characters.
One key advantage of CID fonts is their ability to provide language-specific typographic features. With a single CID font, designers can access various language variations and alternate glyphs, enhancing the typographic richness and variety in their designs.
Conclusion
In summary, PostScript fonts and CID fonts are two important types of fonts used in print design. PostScript fonts, developed in the 1980s, offer precise and scalable typography, making them the industry standard. CID fonts, introduced in the 1990s, cater to complex scripts with large character sets and provide language-specific typographic features.
By understanding the characteristics and purposes of these font types, designers can make informed decisions about selecting the most suitable fonts for their projects. So, next time you work on a print design, take a moment to consider whether a PostScript font or a CID font would be the best choice.
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