CompuServe Messages

Thom: The whole idea of contacting font foundries last year for input and releasing Royal specs last May was to have a fairly sizable font library ready to go when System 7 is released. I'd say you will see Lino, Bitstream et al. ready with Royals as soon as Apple is set with the new software (late second quarter of '90?). Those, of course, will probably only include an outline font similar in characteristic with the current PostScript fonts. Royals using the more advanced features outlined in the specs (like optical scaling) will probably not show up until the Royals build a significant market share and who knows how long that might take? I think the big initial question is whether Apple will cooperate with Adobe to get ATM to work on System 7. A lot of us are already used to the higher quality in font screen representation — if the PostScript fonts have to go back to the bimaps because Apple torpedos ATM and the Royals look as good or better than ATM rendered PS fonts, that might force many to use Altsys' Metamorphisis to convert their PS fonts to Royal and speed Royal market penetration. Anyone have any idea when Microsoft's Presentation Manager will be released with Royal support? That will obviously play a big factor as well. –jon