I am trying to apply a conditional variable GPOS (kerning) rule for a specific intermediate/brace layer using the following syntax during my terminal build process:
The problem: Setting a static value in the default position (e.g., pos C Y 80 ...) works fine and applies to the master. However, the variable value 80 at the end of the parentheses—which targets the intermediate layer coordinate (wght:900 wdth:100 TRML:100)—is completely ignored and not applied in the compiled variable font.
Other standard master-to-master kerning rules work perfectly, but this specific layer-targeted rule does not. What is causing this issue?
You are exporting a variable font?
Can you explain what you are trying to do be showing what exactly should happen for what position of the design space for one specific pair?
I am currently developing a complex Variable Font and ran into an issue where conditional GPOS (kerning) rules are being ignored for intermediate glyph layers.
Inside the font masters, I have created custom intermediate/brace layers with five axes: wght, wdth, XHGT, TRML, and slnt.
To control the kerning dynamically between these layers, I added pos rules targeting specific coordinates, similar to this:
The default positioning (the value before the parentheses) applies perfectly to the global masters. However, the conditional value at the end (e.g., 80) aimed at the specific intermediate layer coordinates is completely ignored.
I am currently testing the compiled font as a WOFF2 file on a live coded website, and the kerning between these specific layers does not change at all on the web browser.
Other standard master-to-master kerning rules work seamlessly. It seems the compiler or the browser is ignoring the GPOS data when it targets a local glyph layer coordinate instead of a global font master.
What could be causing this issue, and how can I successfully inject kerning into these 5-axis intermediate layers for web use? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
