TypeTalk: Opening Up About OpenType

TypeTalk is a monthly question-and-answer column on typography. You ask, and noted type authority Ilene Strizver answers! Just send your questions to [email protected].


OpenType is rapidly becoming the font format of choice among type designers, foundries, and those of us who use type, but there’s still a lot of confusion about this relatively unexplored technology. This month’s column will be entirely devoted to OpenType.
Apples and Oranges, Fontifically Speaking
Q. Can you mix PostScript (Type1) fonts and OpenType fonts in the same document? Should you?
A. Yes, you absolutely can! OpenType fonts can coexist peacefully with other font formats in your library, font-management utilities, and in documents, so there’s no need to deactivate or toss out your pre-OpenType font library. Since most of us have font libraries primarily consisting of Type1 or TrueType fonts, it would be prohibitively expensive and impractical to replace them all with OpenType; it would also be impossible, as not all typeface designs exist in OpenType format.
Although many foundries are releasing new designs in OpenType format, some have not yet made that typographic leap. As for back libraries, some foundries, such as Adobe, have converted their entire library to OpenType, but for others, it’s a gradual process.
A note of caution: I don’t advise mixing OpenType and other formats of the same typeface in one document. Although they shouldn’t cause technical font conflicts, there might be slight visual differences between the two versions that readers will notice.
Old Style, New Technology
Q. I really like the look of old-style numbers and have been using expert sets that contain them when the original fonts have only cap-height numbers. I hate having to go back and select all of the numbers and change the font to Garamond Expert, for instance. Small caps require the same work. I can set up a character style sheet, but sometimes I miss a number. Is there a way to make the regular font automatically use the expert set for the old-style numbers?

Figure 1. Both Adobe Garamond Premiere Pro and Typeculture Expo Sans contain lining figures as well as old-style figures.
A. First, a brief explanation for the rest of my readers: Old-style figures are numerals that resemble a typeface’s lowercase characters in that they have an x-height and ascenders and descenders, as opposed to lining figures, which all match the height of the caps. Prior to OpenType, old-style numbers were usually relegated to expert sets, separate fonts with additional characters that are designed to accompany a standard font. In addition to old-style figures, expert sets may also include ligatures, small capitals, fractions, etc.
As for your question, the bad news is there is no automated way to substitute one font for another (e.g., a standard font with its expert set) to access old-style figures, small caps, or any other characters. Using style sheets, as you mentioned, is probably your best bet, but it’s not entirely fool-proof, as you found out.
The good news is, with OpenType, all these characters can be in one font, so you can easily access them for an entire document or selected text if you’re using one of the applications that supports OpenType fully.

Figure 2. You can access figure styles via the glyph palette in both InDesign (every version since 2.0) and QuarkXPress (version 7), but the layout of the palette is slightly different.
Many fonts, including many of the classic typeface designs you like, have been converted to OpenType, and include all the characters that were formerly available only in expert sets or separate fonts, plus a lot more. I know this might mean repurchasing a font family you already have, but my suggestion is to identify your favorites, research the OpenType versions, and bite the bullet and replace them as your budget allows. Just be sure to check the character set of each font before you buy — although OpenType fonts can contain an extended character set, there’s no guarantee. In addition, make sure you use an application that supports OpenType’s extended character set. For more on that, see the next question.
OpenType-Savvy Apps
Q. Which design applications support the full OpenType character compliment?
A. QuarkXPress 7, InDesign 2 and up, and Illustrator and Photoshop CS and later all support OpenType’s extended character compliment. But for best font performance, stay current on your app’s upgrades.
Platform Placation
Q. What is the best way to get fonts to work on both PC and Mac? We produce several catalogs and many ads, and we would like to create and edit the files from either platform, then share the files without a lot of fuss and without line endings changing every time we switch platforms. Is there an easy and quick way to accomplish this?
A. One of the most amazing features of the OpenType font format is that it is platform-independent; that is, the same font works on both a Mac and a PC. Yes, the same font! The beauty of this is that when everyone uses the same font, there are no more text re-flowing problems when transferring documents from a Mac to a PC, or vice-versa.
An OpenType font consists of one file, not the two or three of Type1 and TrueType. Most OpenType fonts that you purchase are designated by the suffix .otf, though some OpenType system fonts have a suffix of .ttf. Do purchase a site license if necessary to cover all users so the font police won’t come knocking on your door!

Figure 3. The older font technologies that required separate files for bitmaps, outlines, and metrics, are giving way to OpenType’s single font file for all data. The same OpenType font file works on both Windows and Macintosh machines.
Find the Missing Characters
Q. How can I get the most out of OpenType in applications that don’t support it directly? If you’re not using InDesign or QuarkXPress, it can be hard to access all those special characters. The Windows Character Map, if you use the Unicode function, lets you find most of the characters, but I get lost looking for them.
A. Your frustration is justified, as support for OpenType’s extended character compliment lies primarily with the application, not the operating system. Though QuarkXPress 7 and the last several versions of InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop can take full advantage of special characters in OpenType fonts, many other applications don’t. While it is true that with certain fonts and Unicode-savvy apps, you can access some of the special characters from the Windows Character Map, you need a supporting app to access them all, most of which are design programs.
The good news is that Microsoft is planning better OpenType support in the next version of Microsoft Office for Windows, possibly with a glyph palette, so stay tuned for that. Mac users looking for a word-processing program with OpenType (and multilingual) support can check out Mellel by RedleX.
Wedding Invitation Blues
Q. I want to buy type for wedding invitations I’m making for friends at home on my own time, and my budget is limited. Should I look for OpenType, TrueType, or PostScript (Type1) formats?
A. I suggest an OpenType script or calligraphic typeface with an expanded character set. Many come with decorative caps, swash characters, ligatures, flourishes, and alternates; these offer the ability to create a customized, hand-lettered look suitable for invitations and the like (Figure 4). Just make sure you’re using an application that supports OpenType’s extended character set, or these extras won’t do you any good.

Figure 4. One way to achieve an elegant, hand-lettered effect is with Adobe Bickham Script, which contains lots of swashes, alternates, and flourishes.
You can start your search by going to large foundries and resellers, which sell thousands of fonts from a multitude of foundries and type designers, in addition to their own releases. But don’t overlook the smaller, independent foundries that have fewer fonts and more specialized libraries. You never know where you’ll find the perfect font.


Love type? Want to know more? Ilene Strizver conducts her acclaimed Gourmet Typography workshops internationally. For more information on attending one or bringing it to your company, organization, or school, go to her site, call The Type Studio at 203-227-5929, or email Ilene at [email protected]. Sign up for her e-newsletter at www.thetypestudio.com.

Ilene Strizver is a noted typographic educator, author, designer and founder of The Type Studio in Westport, Connecticut. Her book, Type Rules! The designer’s guide to professional typography, is now in its 4th edition.
  • anonymous says:

    I knew that open type works on both Mac and PC, but I have never tried Open type on my PC. I will try this at once! Thank you.

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