Opentype and truetype are two of the most widely used typefaces in the digital world. Most fonts are actually built from a combination of these two technologies.
This article will help you understand how to choose the right font for your next design project, what differences there are between them, and which one is best for your next design project. Let’s get to the comparison of Opentype Vs Truetype.
Opentype and Truetype are two types of TrueType fonts. They use the same font file format, but Opentype features extra libraries that allow for more advanced typographic features. Opentype is more complex and likely to offer more excellent typographic options, while Truetype is simpler and will be faster to use. Ultimately, it comes down to what you need and wants from your font.
What Is Opentype?
OpenType is a standard for many advanced typography features in your digital publications.
Using OpenType, you can create custom ligatures and alignments (such as kerning pairs), smooth cueing of individual characters, options to control the background color of text blocks/groups, proportional spacing algorithms with tracking adjustments (including helvetica space-eating ones!), and more.
You can also define any character that is not included in the standard font chart (say, emojis) and control its appearance—but only with OpenType fonts.
Feature Of Opentype
Here I will tell you a few on features of opentype that are very important for anyone who is working with digital publications and the internet knows about this too.
- OpenType includes over 2000 special effects, such as drop shadows
- 3D-effect text flowing over images (called ‘wraparound’)
- Transparency effects
- Transparent backgrounds behind any typeface in your document
- Irregular weight/thickness of some characters with varying width, direction and stem; kerns for all typeface’s accent glyphs
- Mathematical control over face thickness (thickness); D.S./D.O.G balancing (‘horizontal alternates’) for capital letters so you can adjust the horizontal reading angle between two fonts in your layout or web pages without breaking up words into awkward pairs on opposite sides of the page or leaving lots of space above each pair .
Advantage Of Opentype
Since your text can have many more effects than a single typeface’s standard features, you hardly need to create separate versions of individual fonts for each and every effect or use variations on traditional caps/lowercase glyphs.
Plus, the opentype features are a deal with your document layout program’s memory requirements. Because OpenType is based on Unicode , it understands just about every character you’ll ever need.
Since this standard covers most of the characters in any language and many combining accents (variations like é or á).
You can use only one font set to work very efficiently in multiple languages while still keeping things consistent across all those different fonts even if they include differentiated lowercase characters, numbers or punctuation.
Disadvantage Of Opentype
Even if your document does not use special characters, OpenType makes an enormous footprint of about 14k-17k for a full 10 point menu or body text style.
The print/printing quality may be inferior to that of other computer fonts as well, but it’s cheaper and easier on laser printer ink (because the screens’ bars cause less footer lines).
If you use different opentype features in each font set instead of several different fonts, you’ll need to swap between them every time your document uses different characters or types of numbers.
Again however, this isn’t an issue as often because many feature sets are already built into existing conventional computer and laser printer fonts available today.
Pros
- Create their own custom variations.
- Another benefit to using an open-source font
- determines the required font size (for easy changes via markup or graphics) and/or which opentype features for rendering.
- If a conventional computer system does not yet have them in its installed fonts, it is simple to print out their own outlines instead of relying on what’s available until version 1.1 .
- Ease of creating different versions (with or without footnote numbers, etc..)
- Consists primarily of 5 feature sets for special characters
Cons
- Large size (14-17k)
- An exact font is described by the outline rather than a detailed painting which may be difficult to copy or have related variations depending on device.
- Specifically requires particular combinations of opentype features for rendering when designing to work as expected in context where usage varies and user expectations are unpredictable, like online content.
What Is Truetype?
The term “truetype” used to refer primarily to fonts but has since expanded to include all files generated by raster printing/typesetting systems such as computer-to-print engine PSPat or even image editing software.
As such, truetype has come to enhance the typography of all digital content.
The main difference between it and OpenType is that fonts using both technologies automatically support any version of vector-based SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)—a type tool specifically for web developers: you can edit a design at different resolutions without loss in quality.
There are some file types which do not have strict rules about what should be done with them when open .
Many fonts require additional tools, such as a special viewer to view the font’s glyphs (e.g., Adobe Illustrator), in order for them to be displayed properly on screen or rendered into an editable format like SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics).
Feature Of Truetype
- The software required to view the font is commonly available for free download from the Internet. This allows people around the world who ordinarily cannot read (or must use assistive devices) to be able to access and render glyphs of their favourite fonts onto web pages through whatever tools they prefer (e.g., Adobe Illustrator). The same applies when rendering the text in a program like Adobe in design.
- The following unique file types rely on truetype font technology – they do not have any OpenType fonts vailable to them.
- There is no default application available for viewing the files, so special tools are required to view or edit them. Images and most programs can read these files without problems but some of these file formats may be deprecated due to lack of support from software manufacturers. The following are deprecated file formats that rely on or support ttf files.
- The following only converts between types of font, not the actual data in each type. These programs can convert fonts for free but cannot edit them.Because font editing software is a paid feature most publishers do not want to pay for and the vendors have stopped actively updating their products.
Advantages Of Truetype
A common feature of truetype fonts is that they allow an unlimited number of variations – the font can be altered in size, style and colour. This adds a degree of flexibility to typography which image-based formats lack.
It also allows better “dynamic” control on display characteristics such as bold or italic typeface styles where it would not be possible with raster file formats like GIF or PNG files format.
Disadvantage Of Truetype
In some cases, this level of flexibility can have a negative effect on performance due to the increase in file size.
Since formatting varies substantially between different raster based font formats browser applications must also be upgraded and re-installed during every application upgrade/installation as well –
Which is inconvenient for users making frequent use of web browsers that support multiple OS versions but not all of them at one time.
Pros
- The true icons (TTF) format is a higher level in Unicode, having many more characters than basic and extended ASCII. The TTF’s are not only of the Core standard but also have character sets with artist glyphs field, etc.
- To allow anyone to make font bars without going through any complex steps like making fonts into CMap or SVG files which has its drawbacks like less bit-depth information along with lack of extension support.
Cons
- Unlike TTF fonts, the TrueType format doesn’t have an independent encoding standard
- The TrueType format is usually paired with the Windows Metafile (WMF) image file format, which can be used to represent bitmap images that display font glyphs in a graphical way using “mode bits”.
- Unlike TrueType fonts on MS-DOS and Macintosh systems, there are no standalone programs for editing or viewing true type fonts at present.
Difference Between Opentype Vs Truetype
Both are part of the TrueType system which originated as an extension to PostScript at Adobe.
Originally, a patent held by General Electric for TTF/Woff file format and general design played a big role in the evolution of this standard from when it was first released.
Opentype font formats include GIF, JPG and PNG files too but only use one compression algorithm namely
DeflateUncompressed; some older versions can also use LZW or ZTX compression algorithms. On the other hand, TrueType font formats like Type1 (TTF) and OpenType format also support alternate character sets (+Ideographic-East Asian; +OECF making it expandable to most major world languages).
Both proprietary Microsoft based Windows fonts as well as OFL TrueType/OTF fonts created by others are capable of embedding Glyphs with this D FL or Dynamedia font file format in them.
As both formats had a similar goal, its distinct ways of doing so were bound to create differences as well.
“Truetype fonts can merely be installed and then used, but OpenType requires a ‘master font’ to be made available in advance as well as several embedding files that describe other portions of the formatting layout and specific typographic corrections needed.
It is easy to move existing TrueType objects or extract them from TTF files with open source Ghostscript-based tools; however OTF’s like Peek include no such utilities which makes it near impossible to read TrueType glyph outlines.”
Most programming languages in general are able to manage several font formats at once making it possible for programmers and designers alike.
Adobe recently released a Windows installer called Font Packager which allows users with both government issued 1990 OTF/TXT fonts
As well as Adobe-provided 2009 Open Type Unicode (OTU) OS X iOs 7, iOS 5 and 6 TTF files located on their machine to pair and stack them rather than requiring the user compile or link their own TrueType font utility.
Conversely, OTF-Based format as a standard ASN1 OCTET STRING structure is less flexible in certain ways but “OTF produces better quality fonts”
It’s more widely used by domain specific designers who have total control over previewing glyphs output before committing both comment lines & TRC file together with labor intensive process of converting as well.
OTF format gives users more flexibility and advantage over TrueType but can also be a drawback when dealing with files which use special characters or typography features that offer more control to the user rather than a direct extension of font creator’s own default approaches.
Opentype Vs Truetype : Which Is Better?
In the following table we compare some features of TrueType and OpenType. We see that for handling large character sets, both types have their advantages and disadvantages but overall,
When it comes to designing screen-display fonts that are intended only for electronic media (print characters), then there is no real difference between them in most areas such as file formats support and rendering speed.
So if you need a fast font with great print quality even at high character set, use TrueType files instead. If there is no remarkable difference in their features
And their price range limits practicality then try the OpenType file as it works well on most system platforms (Win/MacOS/Linux) & gains support for more languages, usually easier to learn.
“When comparing embedded fonts, we take into account the complexity of combining OTF pairs: Creation time with manual labor supplies an advantage that increases proportionally to the number of glyphs. Therefore, we use OpenType for designs that include hundreds of characters.”
Is There A Difference Between Webfonts And Printfonts?
The file format for a web font is called WOFF which stands for Web Open Font Format. The open source library used with this type of encoding are the FreeType font rendering engine
And the TTF layout files that can be generated by developers in practically any programming language such as C, C++.Web fonts need JavaScript and CSS file support whereas Print files.
Which Is Better Bor Cricut OTF or TTF?
Cricut OTF is great but if you find TTF easier to resell on a sale or make more having an older version of cricut. Our basic batch that comes with cropping and cutting machines cuts text, graphics and images in seconds.
The circuit will cut fonts and rhinestones etc. TTF files are generated when you download Inkscape, the software used to make gouraud, trapezoids etc associated with free form design.
For optimal text cutting on Cricut OTS we recommend using a Wordify font like Roboto or Cambria because they come at Common Font Layout (CFL) as opposed to TTFF which is scalable/readable best for comics and small sizes.
TTFF is ideal for large type and screen printing but very challenging in Cricut OTF designs if it comes to precise spacing of lines or fonts without losing line breaks.
The Differences Between OTF And TTF:
Font types can be confusing, so it’s worth taking the time to understand the differences between OpenType and TrueType fonts. OpenType fonts works on the basis of their character, while TrueType fonts include outline information for each character.
This difference means that OpenType fonts can support more languages than TrueType fonts. Additionally, OpenType fonts are smaller in file size than TrueType fonts, but the quality is identical. Both formats you can use in most applications, and there’s no need to convert them before using them. So, what’s the verdict? OpenType fonts are the clear winner regarding font types – they’re versatile, compact, and high-quality.
Text Layout And Rasterizer:
Regarding text formatting and type design, there are two main types of fonts – Opentype and Truetype. Each has pros and cons, so it’s essential to understand the type best suited for your project. You’ll need to use a rasterizer that supports Open Type metrics to create at least high-resolution fonts. The rasterizer is important because it sets the resolution for your fonts, affecting the font size, weight, style, format, and color.
You can use Opentype and Truetype fonts in most web and print applications, so there’s no reason not to experiment with them. Regarding text layout, Opentype is better than Truetype because it offers more features. For example, Opentype allows you to use ligatures and advanced typography features like ordinals and fractions.
Should I download OpenType or TrueType font?
There’s a lot of debate on BTG about the advantages of downloading an OTF or TTF. Open Type fonts have lots and recommend Cricut otf to cut lines with because they are breakable,
But if you’re printing them at huge sizes (greater than 8″x8″) it might not be practical to use TTFF because once converted over Super Resolutions required resolution is much lower making files bigger which affects clarity .
We do have print files for Cricut OTF design software which is great with most fonts but there’s a backlash in the BTG community against it because this means certain other designs move from free to paid option.
If you’re unsure about your sizing abilities and need exact printing details (like us for shirts or banners) I’d recommend going with an OpenType format instead, as generally optimum quality will likely be maintained much easier.
Conclusion
I hope now you understand the Opentype Vs Truetype comparison.
Font formats are one of the most important features of a typeface, as they can greatly affect the look, feel, and readability of your font. Font format describes how typefaces are packaged and transmitted to Richard Goh’s type designers, type foundries, printers, web browsers, and other fonts software.
The font format is divided into open type format (OTF) and TrueType format (TTF). The open type format was developed by Adobe in cooperation with Microsoft, while Apple Inc developed the TrueType format. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between OTF and TTF font formats and what each format provides for type designers and users.
FAQs:
1. Which Is Better, Truetype Or Opentype?
TrueType is the older format of typefaces and tends to be more standardized. This means that it has a broader range of characters supported by font-makers, making it easier to type on a computer.
On the other hand, OpenType is a newer format that supports extended characters and multiple languages. While there are pros and cons to both formats, overall, you can consider OpenType to be better in terms of typesetting performance and readability on high-resolution displays.
2. What’s The Difference Between Truetype And Opentype?
The main difference between TrueType and OpenType font formats is that the OpenType font format supports higher-quality text rendering. Other advantages of OpenType over TrueType include improved glyph substitution, better error detection, faster loading times, and greater compatibility with legacy software applications. The main advantage of OpenType over Open Type font format is its ability to support multiple languages and fonts with the same file size.
3. How Do I Convert My Truetype Fonts To Opentype Format?
You’ll need to download and install font conversion software to convert your Truetype fonts to OpenType format. Many free and paid options are available online, so it’s best to do your research first. Once the fonts are converted, you’ll need to place the new OpenType files in your fonts folder.
4. Is Using Opentype Necessary For Quality Typesetting?
There are benefits to using OpenType for typesetting, including improved legibility, type features that you can customize, better font performance on large displays, and the potential to use a broader range of fonts.
However, there are also some disadvantages – including increased file size, a more complex setup process, and possible errors during conversion. So while OpenType may be the best option for quality typesetting, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before deciding.
5. What Is Opentype, And How Is It Different From Truetype?
OpenType is a typeface design specification that Adobe created. It offers better performance in terms of loading time and overall user experience when used as font formats in webfonts. In addition, web designers increasingly use OpenType because it offers more versatile features than Truetype.
