# How to set up smart components in multiple master font Glyphs 4 **URL:** \ **Category:** Glyphs\ **Created:** [October 6, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424 "2026-10-06T18:24:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xyzajacf](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/xyzajacf/32/4848_2.png) [@xyzajacf](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/xyzajacf)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/1 "2026-10-06T18:24:33Z")
I’ve been just playing around to see if I can bring some interesting topics to with LTTR/INK and TypeJockey workshops for Glyphs 4. I know, don’t blame me 😃 but it could be fun to explore that. Anyway, smart compontents seems to be quite striaghtforward when working only with one master. Let’s say 4 intermediate layers for smart component that could be used for all the stems - thick long - thick short - thin long - thin short But as soon as I’ve add new master and another axis I am getting confused. Do I need to have again 4 intermediate layers? - thick long - thick short - thin long - thin short And then do I need to set up additional exis for the smart component layers? And as soon as another axis is comming I’ve got lost. ---
**Author:** ![FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/florianpircher/32/30457_2.png) [@FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/FlorianPircher)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/2 "2026-10-06T18:32:36Z")
In the _Axes_ sidebar (third tab in the left sidebar in an Edit View tab), click the plus button in located the the bottom left. This creates a glyph axis (what used to be a Smart Property). Give it a descriptive name (will not be exported) and set a default coordinate value. This default coordinate is where master layers of the glyph are located. You can edit or delete a glyph axis by right-clicking it or clicking the info icon that appears when the mouse pointer moves over the axis in the sidebar. Next, create an Intermediate layer in the _Layers_ palette. Give this layer a different coordinate value for the newly created glyph axis. Adapt the layer content as needed. Now, you can use the slider in the _Axes_ sidebar to smoothly interpolate along the axis. It works like using Intermediate layers with font axes. ---
**Author:** ![xyzajacf](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/xyzajacf/32/4848_2.png) [@xyzajacf](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/xyzajacf)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/3 "2026-10-06T18:34:26Z")
Sorry I’ve hit create poste before finished the question. ---
**Author:** ![FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/florianpircher/32/30457_2.png) [@FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/FlorianPircher)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/4 "2026-10-06T19:25:18Z")
Assuming the drawing on the master layer is _thin and short_, you just need two Intermediate layers: one for _thick_ and one for _long_. Now, say, you add a _Weight_ axis to the font and in addition to the _Regular_ master there is a _Bold_ master. Then, you just need an Intermediate layer on the _Regular_ layer. All of this is the minimal setup. It works, but you have more control over the outlines by adding an additional Intermediate layer that defines _thick and long_. And you get even better results when also adding Intermediate layers to the _Bold_ master. ---
**Author:** ![xyzajacf](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/xyzajacf/32/4848_2.png) [@xyzajacf](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/xyzajacf)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/5 "2026-10-06T20:49:51Z")
And do I have to have intermediate layers set up for every master? I mean, som shapes are enough to be set on one master. ---
**Author:** ![FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/florianpircher/32/30457_2.png) [@FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/FlorianPircher)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/6 "2026-10-06T20:58:02Z")
No, like in the minimal example above, Intermediate layers on just one master can suffice, but the outline quality will often not be good enough. ---
**Author:** ![GeorgSeifert](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/georgseifert/32/259_2.png) [@GeorgSeifert](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/GeorgSeifert)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/7 "2026-10-06T21:20:47Z")
Technically you only need one extra layer per axis (e.g. one Bold and one Condensed). But to make it look good you probably need the Bold Condensed, too. ---
**Author:** ![xyzajacf](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/xyzajacf/32/4848_2.png) [@xyzajacf](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/xyzajacf)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 9:09am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/8 "2026-10-07T09:09:06Z")
But why does each layer that is supposed to belong only to the smart component also have main axis settings? ![CleanShot 2026-10-07 at 11.06.31@2x](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/uploads/default/original/3X/6/d/6db21d31ce1be2959b7bc9e851e363136dd5546a.png) ---
**Author:** ![FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/florianpircher/32/30457_2.png) [@FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/FlorianPircher)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/9 "2026-10-07T10:04:52Z")
You could have an Intermediate layer that serves regular font axis interpolation (as was the only use of Intermediate layers in Glyphs 3) and also serves glyph axis interpolation in a Smart Glyph (like Smart Properties on an Intermediate layer in Glyphs 3). ---
**Author:** ![GeorgSeifert](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/georgseifert/32/259_2.png) [@GeorgSeifert](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/GeorgSeifert)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 10:20am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/how-to-set-up-smart-components-in-multiple-master-font-glyphs-4/37424/10 "2026-10-07T10:20:58Z")
The glyph axes are extending the space for that glyph. Then all new layers behave the same for font and glyph axes. There is a small shortcut that you don’t need to specify the font axes coordinates if they match the attached master. You can check the setup with Window \> Master Overview.