User Guide

Fontographer’s curved segments are Bezier curves). Bezier
curves define complex shapes with a minimum number of
points.
All points include one or more BCPs that occasionally seem
to hide inside the control point. Most corner points are
constructed so that BCPs remain inside the point. Curve
points ordinarily work the other way around. You can think
of these points as knobs with handles on the ends. Pull the
BCP out of the control points and use them like levers to
control the shapes of the extending line segments. Moving
the lever adjusts the angle of the curve. The length of the
lever determines the degree and depth of the curved
segment. When a point has two BCPs—as in corner and
curve points—one handle controls the incoming segment,
and the other controls the outgoing segment.
The default preference setting displays the BCP lines when
a control point is selected, although you can change this in
the Point display area in the Preferences dialog.
BCP principles
BCPs control the shape of Bezier curves between points.
Selecting a control point activates that point’s Bezier points.
BCPs that lie within control points may not be visible.
There are two BCPs associated with each control point.
Dragging a control point’s BCPs
The BCPs for each of the three different kinds of points
behave in different ways. A curve point’s BCPs align in a
180 degree angle, whereas a corner point’s BCPs move
independently of one another. The tangent point’s BCPs
move only along the line of its slope.
Dragging a curve point’s BCPs
A curve point and its BCPs lie on the same segment. Each
BCP (and its curved segment) is affected by the movement
Fontographer User's Manual
3: Altering Outlines Page #22