Spacing and ligatures¶
f.text_tracking() adds space after every letter, or takes it away. f.text_features() turns font features on or off by name. The notes on the left say what each line shows.
How it works¶
- f.text_tracking(n) adds n pixels after each letter. A negative number pulls the letters closer.
- f.text_width() counts the extra space too. The red line is as wide as the widest word.
- f.text_features(liga=False) turns off ligatures. A ligature joins letters, like f and i, into one shape.
- f.text_features(salt=True) picks the font's alternate letters. Look at the a.
- f.text_features() with nothing in the brackets goes back to the font's own choices.
- The label() helper uses f.push() and f.pop() so its own settings do not leak into the sample.
Make it yours¶
- Change the list [-3, 0, 4, 12] to other tracking values, and the word in f.text("Spacing", ...).
- Try wide tracking on a short heading in capitals. It often looks smart.
- Change the sample words for ligatures. Try "fi", "fl" and "ff" in your own text.
- Turn the ligatures off with f.text_features(liga=False) and look at "fi" and "fl": the letters part.
- Print a width: f.text(f.text_width("Spacing"), 24, 380).
The code¶
Copy it into a file and run it.
"""Spacing and ligatures
f.text_tracking() adds space after every letter, or takes it away. f.text_features() turns font
features on or off by name. The notes on the left say what each line shows.
How it works:
- f.text_tracking(n) adds n pixels after each letter. A negative number pulls the letters closer.
- f.text_width() counts the extra space too. The red line is as wide as the widest word.
- f.text_features(liga=False) turns off ligatures. A ligature joins letters, like f and i, into one
shape.
- f.text_features(salt=True) picks the font's alternate letters. Look at the a.
- f.text_features() with nothing in the brackets goes back to the font's own choices.
- The label() helper uses f.push() and f.pop() so its own settings do not leak into the sample.
Make it yours:
- Change the list [-3, 0, 4, 12] to other tracking values, and the word in f.text("Spacing", ...).
- Try wide tracking on a short heading in capitals. It often looks smart.
- Change the sample words for ligatures. Try "fi", "fl" and "ff" in your own text.
- Turn the ligatures off with f.text_features(liga=False) and look at "fi" and "fl": the letters part.
- Print a width: f.text(f.text_width("Spacing"), 24, 380).
"""
import funground as f
SAMPLE_X = 200
def label(text, y):
"""A small grey note on the left."""
f.push()
f.text_tracking(0)
f.text_size(14)
f.fill(110)
f.text(text, 24, y + 12)
f.pop()
def setup():
f.size(640, 400)
def draw():
f.background(246, 243, 236)
f.fill(30, 40, 90)
f.no_stroke()
# 1. the same word at four trackings, from tight to wide
f.text_size(32)
for i, tracking in enumerate([-3, 0, 4, 12]):
y = 12 + i * 40
label(f"tracking {tracking}", y)
f.text_tracking(tracking)
f.text("Spacing", SAMPLE_X, y)
# the red line is text_width() of the widest one: it counts the extra space
y = 12 + 3 * 40 + 40
f.stroke(200, 80, 60)
f.stroke_width(2)
f.line(SAMPLE_X, y, SAMPLE_X + f.text_width("Spacing"), y)
f.no_stroke()
f.text_tracking(0)
# 2. "liga" joins f, f and i into one shape; look at the dot of the i
f.text_size(42)
label("default", 204)
f.text("fi ffl ffi", SAMPLE_X, 192)
label("liga off", 252)
f.text_features(liga=False)
f.text("fi ffl ffi", SAMPLE_X, 240)
f.text_features()
# 3. "salt" picks the font's alternate letters: see the a
label("default", 300)
f.text("agave gas", SAMPLE_X, 288)
label("salt on", 348)
f.text_features(salt=True)
f.text("agave gas", SAMPLE_X, 336)
f.text_features()
f.run()