User Guide

Reverse path direction
To reverse path direction, select the path to be reversed
and click on the path direction indicator with the mouse (in
the lower left corner of the Outline Window), or choose the
opposite direction from the Element menu—either
clockwise or counter-clockwise. Reversing path direction
will alter the fill in your character.
Types of points
Fontographer uses three different types of points: corner
points, curve points, and tangent points. Don’t be confused
by the different point types—like control handles, they’re
nothing more than different ways of working with the same
basic element. The shape of characters is determined by
the kinds of points used to construct them. You control the
shape of the line segments in a path by either manipulating
two control handles attached to each point or directly
manipulating the path itself.
Certain principles operate in using the corner, tangent, and
curve points. Once you understand these principles,
creating and altering characters is easy.
Curve points
When you place a curve point (or convert another type of
point to a curve point), Fontographer automatically extends
two control handles from the point to create a smooth curve
between the preceding and following points on the path.
The shape of the lines that extend from both sides of a
curve point will be an arc.
The curve point tool is used to create curve points and join
curves to other curves smoothly. The curve point tool can
be selected by clicking on its indicator. When the lock icon is
in the locked position, the numeric keypad equivalent for
choosing the curve point tool is “8.”
Fontographer User's Manual
3: Altering Outlines Page #7