By Randall Hull

TrueType and PostScript fonts: There is a difference

This column offers solutions to personal technology questions from our readers. Neither the author nor this newspaper endorses products or companies mentioned.

Q: We use Macintosh computers to produce material for printing. Recently we had a problem with type in a document that would not print properly. Our printer said we had TrueType fonts in the document but needed PostScript. What is the difference?

A: PostScript, designed by Adobe, predates TrueType by about six years and has become the universal printing standard. TrueType, designed by Apple, was originally released with Macintosh System 7, in May 1990.

TrueType and PostScript are both multi-platform “outline” font standards. (Outline means letter shapes are described by means of points, which define lines and curves.) The primary difference between TrueType and PostScript is the use of different mathematics to describe their curves. Because of this difference (and a few other really technical ones) PostScript devices, particularly imagesetters, have problems with TrueType fonts in general and especially with TrueType and PostScript fonts mixed on the same page or the same line. So, don’t mix the two.

Here’s how to identify which is which. PostScript fonts consist of two files, a bitmap file for on-screen display and an outline file for printer output. These fonts use an encoded PostScript format. Bitmap fonts are found in your system font folder in a file that looks like a suitcase. Within it are bitmap files that represent point sizes such as Times 10. The outline file for the font looks like a single document file, generally has a large “A” as its icon, and uses the first five characters of the font name followed by the first three characters of the style, such as TimesBol for Times Bold.

TrueType fonts, also found in your system font folder, consist of one file that holds both the display and printing information. These fonts use the TrueImage page description language, which is different from PostScript. They can be identified by their icon consisting of three “A’s” in descending size. When you open this file you will see a window showing the font in 9, 12 and 18 point sizes.

To make your life-with-type easier, follow this rule of thumb: TrueType fonts are great for screen display and for the Web, tuned for maximum screen legibility. But for printing, PostScript fonts are the way to go.

If you have both TrueType and PostScript fonts, keep the TrueType fonts in your system fonts folder and place the PostScript fonts in a separate folder. Then use a font management utility such as Extensis Suitcase or Adobe Type Manager to activate them for use in documents to be printed. And remember: Never keep TrueType and PostScript bitmap fonts in the same font suitcase.

Please keep questions to 100 words or less. Send to Tech Talk, Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022; or e-mail techtalk@latc.com.

Randall Hull is a Los Altos resident and owner of The Br@nd Ranch, a marketing firm.