Feature idea: “—” instance represents intermediate layer interpolation

1

Say, I have a font with a light and an extrabold master, and intermediate semibold layers in some glyphs.

When I work on the intermediate semibold layers, I need to see some surrounding glyphs, of course, in the matching weight. I do this by setting up a semibold instance (a.k.a export), and selecting it in the preview bar. This way, I am literally seeing the intermediate layer(s), and I get the correct interpolations for those glyphs that do not need intermediate layers. When I work on a real master again, I switch back to the “—” instance.

It would be very convenient if the “—” instance automatically showed the interpolation matching the selected intermediate layer (think of is as being “almost a master”), for all visible glyphs. This would save a lot of switching between instances, in particular if I have many intermediate layers (and even the instances/exports wouldn’t be necessary). I can’t think of a scenario in which you wouldn’t want this behaviour.

Ant thoughts?

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2

I could have used that myself a few times already. I have been working around it with Window > Text Preview, but that has its limitations, of course.

3

I’m thinking about this for some time. I’ll move it up the list a bit :wink:

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4

Here is a script that simulates what I mean:

from GlyphsApp import Glyphs

# from https://github.com/mekkablue/Glyphs-Scripts/blob/master/Interpolation/Other/Show%20next%20instance.py
font = Glyphs.font
previewingTab = font.currentTab
previewPanel = Glyphs.delegate().pluginForClassName_("GlyphsPreviewPanel")

# find coordinates:
selectedLayer = font.selectedLayers[0]
layerCoordinates = selectedLayer.attributes["coordinates"]

newInstanceNumber = 0
if layerCoordinates:
	layerCoordinates = [layerCoordinates[axis.id] for axis in font.axes]
	for instance in font.instances:
		if instance.internalAxesValues == layerCoordinates:
			break
		newInstanceNumber += 1
	else:
		newInstance = GSInstance()
		newInstance.name = "{" + ", ".join(map(str, layerCoordinates)) + "}"
		newInstance.active = False
		font.instances.append(newInstance)
		font.instances[-1].internalAxesValues = layerCoordinates

previewingTab.setSelectedInstance_(newInstanceNumber)

Of course, it would be more convenient if this happened automatically, without having to call a script, and also without having to set up an explicit instance.