Whats Covered
Multiple Master Font Names
Optical Size
Multiple Master Font Requirements
Multiple master fonts are customizable PostScript fonts. The multiple master font format describes a typeface's characteristics using linear design axes, which include weight, width, optical size, and style (that is, slab, serif). Each design axis has a linear range. For example, Myriad's weight axis range is 1 to 830, and its width axis range is 1 to 700.
Multiple master fonts include a number of primary font instances, preconfigured at differing intersections of their design axes. For example, Myriad includes 15 primary instances, ranging from 215 LT 300 CN (Light Condensed) to 830 BL 700 SE (Black SemiExtended). You use the Font Creator utility to create custom instances.
Multiple master font files, which are larger than single master fonts, require a minimum of 3 MB of printer memory (RAM). PostScript Level 1 printers that don't have the minimum of 3 MB of RAM (for example, Personal LaserWriter NT, Hewlett-Packard LaserJet with PostScript Level 1 cartridge) are unable to print multiple master fonts.
Adobe multiple master fonts include:
ITC Avant Garde Gothic
Caflisch Script
Conga Brava
Cronos
Ex Ponto
ITC Garamond
Graphite
Jenson
Jimbo
Kepler
Mezz
Minion
Minion Expert
Myriad
Nueva
Ocean Sans
Penumbra
Sanvit
Tekton
Viva
Multiple Master Font Names
All multiple master font names include "MM," with the numeric values of their weight and width added to short axis abbreviations (for example, MinioMM_578 BD 465 CN 11 OP).
Weight Axis (wt)
XL: ExtraLight
LT: Light
RG: Regular
SB: Semibold
BD: Bold
BL: Black
Width Axis (wd)
XC: ExtraCondensed
CN: Condensed
SC: SemiCondense
NO: Norma
SE: SemiExtended
EX: Extended
XE: ExtraExtended
Optical Size Axis (op)
OP: Optical size (from 6 to 72)
Optical Size
The optical size axis enables you to generate fonts that are optically adjusted for use at specific point sizes. As the optical size increases, the space between the characters (letter fit) tightens, the space within the characters (counters) becomes smaller, the serifs become finer, the overall weight becomes lighter, and the x-height gradually decreases in size. Jenson, Minion, Minion Expert, and Sanvito support optical scaling.
Multiple Master Font Requirements
Note: Applications that use the Adobe type engine (for example, Adobe Illustrator 7.0 and later, Adobe Photoshop 5.0 and later, and Adobe InDesign 1.x) don't require ATM (Adobe Type Manager) to display multiple master fonts.
Mac OS
-- System 6.0.5 or later
Note: OS X version 10.2 and later support multiple master fonts, but OS X version 10.0-10.1.5 don't.
-- LaserWriter 6.1 or later printer driver when printing to a PostScript device
-- 4 MB of RAM (System 7 or later) or 2 MB of RAM (System 6)
-- Hard disk
-- High-density disk drive
-- Adobe Type Manager
Windows
-- Windows 3.1 or later or OS/2 1.3 or later
-- 4 MB of RAM
-- Hard disk
-- High-density disk drive
-- Adobe Type Manager
Jenson Multiple Master font for Mac OS
-- Adobe Type Manager (ATM) 3.9 or later
-- Adobe PSPrinter 8.3 or later printer driver
PostScript Printer
-- 3 MB or more of printer memory (RAM)
