Support for Truetype and Opentype Fonts

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 100 views

Introduction

In the world of graphics design, font rendering is a crucial aspect that can make or break the overall aesthetic of a composition. While built-in font rendering engines in popular design software like Photoshop can produce decent results, they often fall short in terms of clarity and sharpness, especially at small point sizes. This is where Sharptype comes in – a powerful filter plug-in designed to generate ultra-clear type at small point sizes, making it an essential tool for designers and artists.

What is Sharptype?

Sharptype is a filter plug-in that can be used in various graphics design software, including Photoshop, Fireworks, Paint Shop Pro, PHOTO-PAINT, Painter, and any other compatible host. Its primary function is to provide far sharper type than the built-in font rendering engine in these applications, resulting in dramatically improved readability of compositions. Sharptype uses a distinct method to render fonts, which is different from the functional routines provided by the operating system. Instead, it optimizes vector information to sharpen vertical and horizontal lines, making it an effective solution for designers who require high-quality font rendering.

Key Features of Sharptype

Sharptype offers a range of features that make it an indispensable tool for designers and artists. Some of its key features include:

5 Rendering Methods: Sharptype provides five different rendering methods that can be used to achieve the desired level of sharpness and clarity in font rendering.
3 Enhancing Modes: The plug-in also offers three enhancing modes that can be used to further refine the font rendering process.
Support for Truetype and Opentype Fonts: Sharptype currently supports both Truetype and Opentype fonts, making it a versatile tool for designers who work with a wide range of font types.
Flexible Combination of Rendering Styles: The plug-in allows designers to combine different rendering styles, such as bold, italic, outline, underline, and strikethrough, to achieve the desired effect.
Font Preview: Sharptype includes a font preview feature that enables designers to preview the font before applying it to their composition.
Search for Additional User-Defined Font Directories: The plug-in allows designers to search for additional user-defined font directories, making it easy to access a wide range of fonts.
Built-in Character Map: Sharptype includes a built-in character map that makes it easier to insert figure fonts into compositions.
Global Encoding and Native Keyboard Layout: The plug-in supports multiple languages and can be used with a variety of keyboard layouts, making it a versatile tool for designers who work with different languages and cultures.

How Sharptype Works

Sharptype uses a unique method to render fonts, which involves optimizing vector information to sharpen vertical and horizontal lines. This approach allows the plug-in to produce far sharper type than the built-in font rendering engine in popular design software. The plug-in's rendering methods and enhancing modes can be used to achieve the desired level of sharpness and clarity in font rendering.

Benefits of Using Sharptype

The benefits of using Sharptype are numerous. Some of the key advantages of using this plug-in include:

Improved Readability: Sharptype can produce far sharper type than the built-in font rendering engine, resulting in dramatically improved readability of compositions.
Increased Clarity: The plug-in's unique method of rendering fonts can produce increased clarity, making it easier to read and understand text.
Enhanced Aesthetic: Sharptype can be used to achieve a more professional and polished look in compositions, making it an essential tool for designers and artists.
Increased Versatility: The plug-in's support for multiple languages and keyboard layouts makes it a versatile tool for designers who work with different languages and cultures.

System Requirements

Version History

Sharptype has undergone several updates since its initial release. Some of the key updates include:

V3.0 (24 February 2007): This update changed the company name from Microworld to Graphest, introduced smaller cursors, and removed the encoding selection, which is now automatically adapted for local languages.

Conclusion

Q: What is Sharptype and how does it work?

A: Sharptype is a filter plug-in designed to generate ultra-clear type at small point sizes in various graphics design software. It uses a unique method to render fonts, which involves optimizing vector information to sharpen vertical and horizontal lines.

Q: What are the system requirements for Sharptype?

A: Sharptype requires a compatible host application and a computer with a minimum of 128 MB of RAM. It can be used in various graphics design software, including Photoshop, Fireworks, Paint Shop Pro, PHOTO-PAINT, Painter, and any other compatible host.

Q: What are the key features of Sharptype?

A: Sharptype offers a range of features, including 5 rendering methods, 3 enhancing modes, support for Truetype and Opentype fonts, flexible combination of rendering styles, font preview, search for additional user-defined font directories, built-in character map, global encoding, and native keyboard layout.

Q: Can I use Sharptype with multiple languages and keyboard layouts?

A: Yes, Sharptype supports multiple languages and can be used with a variety of keyboard layouts. This makes it a versatile tool for designers who work with different languages and cultures.

Q: How do I install Sharptype?

A: To install Sharptype, simply download the plug-in from the official website and follow the installation instructions. The plug-in will be installed in your host application, and you can access it from the filter menu.

Q: Can I use Sharptype with other font types?

A: Sharptype currently supports Truetype and Opentype fonts. However, it may be possible to use the plug-in with other font types by converting them to Truetype or Opentype format.

Q: How do I update Sharptype to the latest version?

A: To update Sharptype to the latest version, simply download the latest version from the official website and follow the installation instructions. The plug-in will be updated in your host application, and you can access the new features and improvements.

Q: Can I use Sharptype with other design software?

A: Sharptype is a filter plug-in that can be used in various graphics design software, including Photoshop, Fireworks, Paint Shop Pro, PHOTO-PAINT, Painter, and any other compatible host. However, it may not be compatible with all design software, so be sure to check the system requirements before installing the plug-in.

Q: Is Sharptype compatible with Mac and PC?

A: Yes, Sharptype is compatible with both Mac and PC. The plug-in can be installed on both operating systems and can be used with a variety of host applications.

Q: Can I get support for Sharptype?

A: Yes, Sharptype offers support for its users. You can contact the support team through the official website or by email. They will be happy to assist you with any questions or issues you may have.

Q: Is Sharptype a one-time purchase or a subscription-based service?

A: Sharptype is a one-time purchase. Once you have purchased the plug-in, you can use it indefinitely without any additional fees or subscriptions.

Q: Can I use Sharptype for commercial purposes?

A: Yes, Sharptype can be used for commercial purposes. The plug-in is licensed for use in both personal and commercial projects. However, be sure to check the licensing terms and conditions before using the plug-in for commercial purposes.