Wintermute Engine Forum

Wintermute Engine => Technical forum => Topic started by: Catacomber on October 20, 2008, 02:55:36 AM

Title: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 20, 2008, 02:55:36 AM
Can someone tell me in simple terms how to add a new font?  The font included in the demo is a little shaky on my screen--I thought maybe a different font might help.  Also, sometimes it seems to pixelate--to break up.  I have the most recent driver for my video card--I don't think that's the problem.
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: odnorf on October 20, 2008, 06:42:00 AM
You probably don't like the font of the demo because it's a bitmap font and not an antialized truetype font. To change the font of a character (I guess you have already read the fonts documentation in wme manual) check you character's definition file (in case of demo it's molly.actor) and change the line FONT = "fonts\outline_red.font" to point to your new font.
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 20, 2008, 04:12:08 PM
Yes, I read it and think I have an understanding of what to do now if the fonts I want to use are ttf and in windows.

I read that there was at one time a little program:  ftfree.exe
but the link is dead.  Is there a new link or a similar program to create you own fonts?

Thank you very much for your help, Odnorf.  Learning.  : )  I'm sure newbies are a little bit of a thorn--thank you for your kind patience.  I like the editor very much!       
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 20, 2008, 04:19:10 PM
I haven't tried using my own stuff---artwork-- yet but will as soon as demo and tutorial are finished.  I think the editor has some wonderful possibilities.  Will try to ask as few questions necessary to make my project. Have yet to come across instructions that are as clear and painless to use as those for WME.
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: odnorf on October 20, 2008, 09:06:58 PM
To create your own bitmap font just search the net for "bitmap font editor" or something similar. There are plenty. Unfortunately I'm not using such a tool so I can't recommend something.

Since you are learning wme now I suggest you to read the excellent online wme book (http://res.dead-code.org/doku.php/wmebook:start) written by metamorphium.
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 21, 2008, 02:58:32 AM
Thank you for the link and the info.  : ) 
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 22, 2008, 01:11:33 AM
I copied a truetype font from Windows/fonts into fonts in the demo and it's a great improvement.  :  ) ) Also changed the settings on the demo to include Use Direct 3d 9 and that's a great improvement.

EDIT:

Is there a way to modify the font that appears in the menu screen for quit etc?  That still doesn't look right.  Molly's font is fine now but the box for the menu has a font that breaks up sometimes.  (I'm getting there--but my script question in the other thread is still a problem--have tweaked the code and tweaked--my log is 4 feet long.  : )

EDIT:

I found out how to modify those fonts.  : )  There's are files in system--you just have to change the font.  : )
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 22, 2008, 03:56:36 AM
How do you make a Wintermute font with the .font extension?  Curiosity killed the cat.  :  ) ) )
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: odnorf on October 22, 2008, 05:33:16 AM
.font files are simple text files that contain information about the font (that's why it's called definition file). So you can simple use a text editor to open them, like the one included with the wme package. Detailed information about the contents of those files are in the documentation (inside a game -> user interface layer -> fonts).
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 22, 2008, 02:35:27 PM
Thanks!!!
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 23, 2008, 09:41:38 PM
I found this nice link to a free fontmaker FONText:

http://www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topic=65909

I think it's the same utility mentioned in the wiki here but the link there is dead.

The instructions for using it are just about the same as in the wiki so I think it's more or less the same utility.  I just made a great bitmap font with it!  : )

Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: metamorphium on October 24, 2008, 08:41:26 AM
Cat, this is all great if you don't plan to localize your game. Consider this for your game because if you use ttf fonts, you'll have much easier path to localize your game into languages like russian, greeks or japanese. ;)
Title: Re: Add Fonts
Post by: Catacomber on October 24, 2008, 01:44:48 PM
Thanks.  Will do.  We have a nice Russian fan base among others and don't want to lose them.  : )