Help with components and synchronised weights

Glyphs
1

Hello, I’m pretty new to glyphs and would need some help with masters and components. I’m designing a musical font and would like to have a second version of it (as a weight) with 5 lines behind each letter. These lines should adapt to the width of each letter.
Also, how could I make it as when I modify a letter in the first weight it changes in the second? Should every letter also be a component? Thanks

2

Can you post some sketches of what you are trying to do?

3

These should be the 2 weights:

Screenshot 2026-03-27 at 15.45.08
Screenshot 2026-03-27 at 15.45.081412×916 67 KB

result
result1412×916 53.2 KB

4

I recently wrote some scripts for a similar project.

  • Install a filter called ‘LayerGeek’ from Window > Plugin Manager > Plugins. Restart Glyphs.app afterwards.
  • You create a glyph (Glyph > Add Glyphs…) called _lines and make it exactly 100u wide. Add those 5 lines stretching from the LSB to the RSB in that glyph.
  • Create a second instance in Font Info > Exports.
  • Copy the following snippet, select the instance in Font Info > Exports, click belpw the words Custom Parameters to set the focus, and paste.
{
customParameters = (
{
name = Filter;
value = "LayerGeek; decomposeComponents; components.append(GSComponent('_lines')); components[0].setScale_(NSPoint(Layer.width/100, 1.0)); decomposeComponents; cleanUpPaths; except: _lines";
}
);
}

It should look something like this:

image
image1068×152 11.2 KB

Then you return to the Edit view and you should be able to get a preview if you pick the new style in the preview area at the bottom. And when you export it, it will automatically co-export the lined version. If you want to exclude more glyphs, add their names to the end, where it says export: _lines (add a comma and write the glyph name you want excluded).

1 Like
5

Everything seems to be working except for the glyphs app crashing when I try to export the font. Would you have any ideas to what may be causing it?

6

Can you please send me the .glyphs file to support (at) (this website without ‘www’ or ‘forum’). I will have a look.

1 Like
7

I sent you the file, thanks a lot!

8

I had a look at the file. The layerGeek command needed some adjustment.
LayerGeek; decomposeComponents; shapes.append(GSComponent('_lines')); components[0].setScale_(NSPoint(Layer.width/100, 1.0)); setNeedUpdateShapes; decomposeComponents; cleanUpPaths; except: _lines
and it needs an extra
Filter: RemoveOverlap;.

9

It works perfectly now, thank you very much for your help :slight_smile: