From: mrosen@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Michael David Rosen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.applications
Subject: Re: Pagestream/ImageClubFonts
Date: 21 Nov 1992 07:58:46 GMT
Organization: Computing Services Division, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4

In article <69918@cup.portal.com> soft-logik@cup.portal.com (Kevin W Davidson) writes:
>
>The Soft-Logik Typeface Library is NOT low quality. These are high
>quality professional fonts licensed from Image Club, one of the largest
>Mac and PC font and art houses. These fonts will render well to any
>PostScript laser printer from any application that is PostScript compatible.
>They will not render quite as well to a non-PS laser from PageStream
>because hinting will not be used.
>
>No, the numerals don't align in all the ImageClub fonts. Many popular
>PostScript fonts do have numerals which align because this is very
>convenient for creating tables. But this is not a requirement and Image
>Club chose not to do this in order to get better spacing between the
>numbers. This means that you cannot use the numerals in the fonts which
>do not have the same spacing for numbers, in tables. This is true, but
>definitely not a flaw.
>
>I apologize if the fonts do not meet your expectations because the numbers
>do not align, but your dissatisfaction is not due to a flaw in the
>font outline but due to your dislike for the design. Like most other major
>font vendors, including Adobe, Soft-Logik warrants the magnetic media
>on which the font is sold. We also offer a money-back guarantee should the
>font outline not render to the printer. This is standard across the industry.
>But we do not offer refunds when somebody purchases a font and does not
>like the design, again like Adobe. This is done not to 'rip you off' but
>to stem a wave of font piracy, which is a serious problem for companies
>like us.
>
(Closing paragraph repeated)

>Soft-Logik Publishing
>
>Kevin Davidson, Asst. Moderator AmigaZone Vendor Support - PORTAL
>               <soft-logik@cup.portal.com>
>        SOFT-LOGIK BBS (PCP MOSLO) (314) 894-0057

I am well aware of what professional quality is in the font industry and at
no time did I use the phrase `rip you off'; those words are yours not mine.
Since you chose to delete my post (understandable; it was long) I don't 
think you should imply that I claimed that was the case.

The typeface family which I purchased was a clone of a typeface which I
have used on other platforms and am well aware of how the face should be 
designed. I am in the business of typesetting and layout; I do it for a 
living. I am a professional and have more than a hobbyist knowledge of the
subject of type and its applications. The Adobe version of the typeface uses
*proper* character widths so they can be used in the very common application
of numerical columns.  I've also used the Compugraphic version of this typeface
and it too uses the *proper* character widths for its numerals.

The typeface is not a display face; it is commonly used in body type, precisely
the kind of type that would be used for columnar output.

Obviously, I can't agree with your assessment of the quality of this typeface,
based on this consideration and on the quality of its output at 300dpi in
Postscript.  It does not have quality of the Adobe typeface (I have output
samples) but even this *may* not be a problem since my application was not
*proofing quality* but intended for final output to a Linotronic imagesetter.
I can not say what the quality of its high resolution output will be since I
never got your product to get that far.

Getting back to the issue of the numerical character widths:
It is impossible to use this or any other typeface which lacks proper numerical
character spacing for numerical columns. You can't use the face for any 
financial reports (annual reports, budgetary proposals, etc.), charts which
contain numbers, restaurant menus, and catalogs.

There is no reasonable way to stack decimal numbers. You can't left justify
them, of course. You can't right justify them-the decimals won't line up.
Finally, even if you could *decimal* justify the numbers (hint) it still won't
work since the right edge of the numbers don't line up.

Think about it. It's not a matter of style; it's an incorrect implementation.

If these were display faces used in advertising copy and headlines the issue
would not come up. Body faces must be designed for its application.

I realize that the Image Club is the maker of these typefaces and that 
Soft Logik has no control over their quality. It would have been nice to get
a refund or an exchange for four display typefaces but since you apparently
assume I'm attempting to pirate your product, never mind.

My opinion is that for $12.50 per typeface your product is ok, except for the
character widths. The family I purchased were *not close* in quality to 
Adobe Type 1 fonts which I have used in the past. (on a 300dpi laser printer) 

I receive a lot of reliable information on the net. That is why I felt I 
should post my experiences with your product.  I still believe that these
typfaces are inexpensive, low-end products (margarine to butter).

I'm not going to carry on a debate with Soft Logik about this issue. Nobody
wants to read it. I only answered this post as it appears that I was being
quoted or rather misquoted in your post. I don't want to steal your product
either. I don't feel I was ripped off.  It's a disagreement.

BTW, I am an admirer of your customer support, just not your type.