Positioning with number values not working as should

Hi, I tried following this tutorial with my variable font:

I wanted to make some case-sensitive (and smallcaps-sensitive) forms for parenthesis, quotes, dashes, some symbols, inverted question and exclamation marks using opentype pos function inside case, smcp and c2sc, but it doesn’t work exactly as it should. In the thinnest master it looks okay, but as the weight increases, the forms shift too much. I am pretty sure I calculated everything, but here are my number values and metrics:

  • $exclamCaseShift — distance between x-Height and Cap Height used to shift exclamdown and questiondown upwards to match the uppercase (= Cap Height - x-Height)
  • $symbolCaseShift — distance between the centre of lowercase characters and the centre of uppercase characters used to shift parenthesis and some symbols ex. arrows upwards to match the uppercase (= Cap Height / 2 - x-Height / 2)
  • $quotesCSShift — distance between the Cap Height and Small Caps Height used to shift the upper quotes downwards to match the small caps (= Small Caps Height - Cap Height)
  • $dashCSShift — distance between the centre of small caps and the centre of uppercase characters used to shift dashes downwards to match the small caps (= Small Caps Height / 2 - Cap Height / 2)
MASTER WEIGHT:      20     70    140
Cap Height:        705    705    705
Small Caps:        535    550    560
x-Height:          510    528    540
$exclamCaseShift:  195    177    165
$symbolCaseShift:   98     89     83
$quotesCSShift:   -170   -155   -145
$dashCSShift:      -89    -80    -75

Below is a screenshot from InDesign showing how the quotes, dashes and inverted exclamation marks miss their desired positions in bolder masters. The problem seems to be gradually more significant, interpolating along weight, so it looks like the unit by which the pos function performs is different than the one of the font, idk… What do you think? Has anybody had this kind of problem before me? I haven’t seen similar topics on the forum. I mean I could always do a workaround by making the substitution. Thanks

What version of Glyphs do you have?

3.2 (3177)

Can you send me that file?

Hey Georg, I sent you the file via direct message. Did you get it?

I should have check myself. Number values are not variable, yet. We are working on this.

Ah okay! So I understand that for the variable font I must create alternate .case versions for cease sensitive forms? Or maybe the feature will come in some not so distant update? :slight_smile:

No you can variate within feature code. Read the release notes of 3.1.1 in the News.