Q: How can I use Illustrator or Freehand to draw my glyphs? How can I import glyphs from EPS files?

A: Please read the Using Illustrator to draw typefaces guide to know how to get your artwork into FontLab.

Q: When I import Why is my illustration distorted?

Digital fonts use integer coordinates while EPS artwork can use fractional coordinates. All fractional coordinates will be rounded to integers when you import the illustrations into FontLab. Therefore, it is better to scale the illustrations into the exact size in Illustrator/Freehand (the points in your drawing application correspond to font units in FontLab). For more tips, please read the Using Illustrator to draw typefaces guide.

Q: Why does the Paste EPS command scale my picture?

A: When you Paste an EPS file into an edit window does the original size of the graphic have any effect on the size of the symbol in the window. It appears that pasting the height is independent of the eps file. Does the height in the edit window correspond the x-height, cap height or any other part of the font information or description? Does the original size that I make it in CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator have any effect on the quality of the character when viewed (hinting) or printed.

FontLab 4.6 scales imported EPS to fit in 70% of font's UPM, starting from 0. FontLab Studio 5 scales imported EPS to fit between the baseline and the ascender line. Everything is limited by UPM that you can set in FontInfo/Dimensions page. You can prevent the scaling by setting an option in Options/Preferences.