Hello! Apologies if this is a basic question, I searched extensively but couldn’t find any relevant answer.
Basically I am working on a very experimental “pixel” typeface, where I use corner components to variably mimic the appearance of the four elements. I have no interpolation problem, with a bit of elbow grease and tricks it exports fine. However, I want to achieve a very specific thing: I want the interpolation to “cycle” between the elements, then go back to square. So for example, it would go from basic square pixel typeface aspect, to “water”, back to square, to “fire”, so on so forth. Sort of like this - this is a preview of my instances:
I have tried many things, including duplicating the square pixel master and inserting it in between the elements masters. Again, it exports perfectly. But whenever I test it in the Gauntlet, or elsewhere, it’s as if the interpolation skips the square instances in between, and interpolates straight to the next element instance. But I really do want to go back to the square aspect before it interpolates to the next element, otherwise the effect is completely lost and it just looks odd, and it’s not my intention. If this is not clear, I am more than happy to provide videos of the issue. How would you approach this please? Is this even possible?
Thank you! This is actually intended for now, as I wanted to test out if changing the last master changed anything, or if adding / removing pixel changed anything, but to no avail Moving the order of the masters does changes the interpolation, but it still does not include the square instances.
My bad!! Just realised my earlier screenshot was from instances and not masters. I actually use the variable instance, I had decomposed it to try to understand. My masters are set in the same way as my instances were as I said above: from 1 to 9.
And with numbering these masters 1–9, you still get a variable font where, if you go to axis location 3, for example, you get an interpolation between 2 and 4, not the square pixel master which you set to location 3?
Would you mind sending a test file? You can also message it privately here, if you wish (en français, si tu préfères).
Yes, that’s exactly that! That’s the problem pinpointed. Perhaps it is because I used corner components? But I did try something a bit more complicated after trying to decompose the corner components: I opened each otf and remade a variable file from each export. Same issue unfortunately. I don’t mind at all, I’ll DM you right away, merci beaucoup
Unclear where this issue stems from. The masters are set up correctly. Furthermore, at no point on the variable axis does the font appear as drawn in the file, except at the variable font origin, as well as the last master.
Decomposing all the corners might be somewhat of a workaround, but Glyphs crashes if I select all corners and click Decompose Corner. It works for up to around 20 or so, but not more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to check it, appreciate that a lot! I just want to point out that I do have tested decomposing corner comps, and it still does not work. It exports well, it does something, for sure, the interpolation changes, but not the desired effect. The square instances are still “skipped”.
I think this is a great project. But it is not going to work with a multiple master arrangement of element sources, i.e. corners. It’s made for variable fonts assuming you place the “pixel” source in the middle, and have axes for each element. I think this has been suggested above. This would allow each element to be reached at the end of each axis and return to the pixel source in the middle.
If you do not want fire and water, e.g. to blend when both axes are used, you need other sources you can easily reuse for the existing sources to limit the axes interaction(s).
Okay, thank you so much. I get it. Kind of a bummer that it’s not possible to have everything on one axis, but I mean, the solution of an axis per element totally works for me as well. I wanted them to cycle to know if it was even possible technically and I’m sad that it’s not haha! But that’s a perfectly fine solution that I hadn’t thought of so thank you. And I like that I get to CHOOSE if I want to mix elements, not it being done against my will.
Still curious to know why the instances are skipped in between the elements. This method has worked for me in another font iirc
Also I forgot to point out: I have tried setting the variable master origin at the second pixel instance in my example above, and had some mild success: it cycled correctly for the first element, went back to square (the origin master), but then it skipped again the next pixel instances.
Moving the order of the masters does changes the interpolation, but it still does not include the square instances.
