TT instructions: Some detail questions

[TimAhrens]

Hello, I have a few questions:

• What is the difference between a Shift Points instruction and a Stem Hint that is set to “no Stem”?

• What exactly does “auto” do when set for a Stem Hint? I suppose the auto-ness takes place in Glyphs, not in the TTF? What does Glyphs do automatically and how exactly?
  The handbook says “Auto: The hint will use the closest stem as defined in the ‘TTFStems’ parameter” – that is not true. I often have cases when switching between “auto” and the stem (only one stem defined) creates very different rendering results.

• The handbook says that the hint order is significant but it seems there is no way to inspect or control the order? If it’s a case of “Don’t worry, Glyphs will handle this for you” then the handbook should say so.

• The handbook mentions the “Interpolate Untouched Points instruction”. Is it possible to control/customize this instruction? If not then this should be clarified, or left away entirely.

• Why does TT-Autohint add snap instructions set to “No Rounding” whereas if I select a node and press A they are set to “Round” by default? Also, The handbook says, “Snap instructions (shortcut A) round the position of previously untouched points to the nearest pixel edge.” – which is a bit misleading if you don’t read on.

• In many cases, such as the n shown in the handbook, I can achieve the same effect by setting a Shift Instruction (starting at a snapped point) or, instead, another Snap instruction on the other leg. Which option is better and why?

And a few requests/nags:

• Sometimes I can set a Delta via Shift-Cursor, which is very convenient but sometimes it does not work. In Glyphs 2 it always works, also without Shift. This is how it should be.

• In Glyphs 2, it is possible to see the amount of a delta (between -8/8 and +8/8), although it is a bit cumbersome to display. In Glyphs 3, it seems to be virtually impossible to see this information. I am referring to deltas that set only a fraction of a pixel. Can I ask that the amount (for the active size) is simply always shown (as a little text label next to the Delta icon)?

• It would be extremely convenient if I could switch to a different current size by double-clicking on the pixel preview on the right (AFAIR this is how it worked in FL).

• I’d like to be able to hide the pixel preview under the outline (the context menu command only allows to hide the distorted outline, not the pixel preview). [Edit: There seems to be a funny bug. It does hide the pixel preview but not for the glyph that was active while I used the command.]

• The handbook says, “Delta instructions (shortcut E) move a point up or down by exactly one pixel” – seems wrong and may be misleading for newbies.

Thanks!

[GeorgSeifert]

@TimAhrens

What is the difference between a Shift Points instruction and a Stem Hint that is set to “no Stem”?

There is a small difference. The “Stem” has the “keep distance greater than or equal to minimum distance” bit set, the “Shift” doesn’t.

@TimAhrens

What exactly does “auto” do when set for a Stem Hint?

It will use the closes stem and applying the filters.

@TimAhrens

The handbook says that the hint order is significant but it seems there is no way to inspect or control the order? If it’s a case of “Don’t worry, Glyphs will handle this for you” then the handbook should say so.

The order is not important. Then we need to adjust the handbook.

@TimAhrens

The handbook mentions the “Interpolate Untouched Points instruction”. Is it possible to control/customize this instruction? If not then this should be clarified, or left away entirely.

this instruction is alway added after all instructions, once per direction.

@TimAhrens

Why does TT-Autohint add snap instructions set to “No Rounding” whereas if I select a node and press A they are set to “Round” by default? Also, The handbook says, “Snap instructions (shortcut A) round the position of previously untouched points to the nearest pixel edge.” – which is a bit misleading if you don’t read on.

The default rounding should only matter if it is not attached to a zone. As the zones are rounded in the prep table already.

@TimAhrens

In many cases, such as the n shown in the handbook, I can achieve the same effect by setting a Shift Instruction (starting at a snapped point) or, instead, another Snap instruction on the other leg. Which option is better and why?

Having an Align and a shift saves one byte.

[GeorgSeifert]

@TimAhrens

Sometimes I can set a Delta via Shift-Cursor, which is very convenient but sometimes it does not work. In Glyphs 2 it always works, also without Shift. This is how it should be.

I’ll check that.

@TimAhrens

In Glyphs 2, it is possible to see the amount of a delta (between -8/8 and +8/8), although it is a bit cumbersome to display. In Glyphs 3, it seems to be virtually impossible to see this information. I am referring to deltas that set only a fraction of a pixel. Can I ask that the amount (for the active size) is simply always shown (as a little text label next to the Delta icon)?

Each “delta icon” can contain dozens of deltas (for multiple sizes and instances). But I could show the value for the current size/instance setup. And I should be able to improve the display of the delta table (showing the numbers instead of the arrows).

@TimAhrens

It would be extremely convenient if I could switch to a different current size by double-clicking on the pixel preview on the right (AFAIR this is how it worked in FL).

I’ll see what I can do.

@TimAhrens

I’d like to be able to hide the pixel preview under the outline (the context menu command only allows to hide the distorted outline, not the pixel preview). [Edit: There seems to be a funny bug. It does hide the pixel preview but not for the glyph that was active while I used the command.]

That is fixed for the next bigger update.

@TimAhrens

The handbook says, “Delta instructions (shortcut E) move a point up or down by exactly one pixel” – seems wrong and may be misleading for newbies.

Right.