[DISCUSSION] Vector Fonts Support

[SableRaf]

Note

This is a draft about better font support in Processing. This issue will be updated based on discussion and feedback from the community.

Currently Processing handles fonts only as bitmaps. It should use vector fonts.

Historically, OpenJDK has relied on ICU4J for Unicode support.

Variable fonts

It seems like OpenJDK has integrated Harfbuzz as a replacement for ICU4J, which has a number of benefits, including variable font support. More research is needed.

References

• https://unicode-org.github.io/icu/userguide/icu4j/
• https://github.com/harfbuzz/harfbuzz
• https://openjdk.org/projects/harfbuzz/
• https://mail.openjdk.org/pipermail/discuss/2013-July/003105.html
• https://github.com/googlefonts/fontview

[graphicore]

Hi, following the discussion

[Stefterv]

Looking at the Javadoc for the jdk looks like getting vector glyphs from a font is already supported but it didn't become clear to me if setting the variable font parameters is supported

[SableRaf]

I did a little bit of research as well.

It also looks like some version of Harfbuzz was integrated in JDK-8064530 back in 2015, following JEP 258.

The Harfbuzz integration in OpenJDK was updated to version 10.4.0 last month (JDK-8348597).