Several feature requests (related to converting handwriting)

[fixedwidth]

I would like to be able to manually trace graphics.
(You might want to see this other post for more details of what I am trying to accomplish.)

What I would like to do is create a font based on my handwriting. However, I would not like to slavishly copy every minor imperfection of my handwritten glyphs.

Here are some features I would like:

1) A version of the "trace graphic" tool that displays the image in the background, for me to trace manually. This way, I would be able to much more easily create smoother, better-looking curves than my actual handwriting.

2) A stroke tool that works on closed contours (for example, for the numerals 0 and 8).

3) A "union" tool, which takes two closed contours, and returns a single closed contour which encloses the same area as the two original contours taken together. Together with request #2, this would be extremely helpful to create e.g. a European-style digit 7.

4) A different kind of "knife" tool, which splits a (closed or open) contour into two separate contours.

[Allan Murray]

Sorry, I may have misunderstood your original post.

1. Yes this option already exists (view/background image/insert) - page 22 of the manual

2. The current stroke tool works on closed and open contours. How would you like it to differ?

3. Yes, this ("union" tool) is currently listed as a function to be added to a not-to-distant update

4. Again, I am not sure how you want this to differ from the current tool. With the current knife tool, you can draw a cut line through a contour and it will be split where the line intersects the contour.

[fixedwidth]

1) Thanks, I didn't see this option. (I was looking under "trace graphic".)

2) Draw a C with the mouse and try the stroke tool on it. You get the outline of a C.
Next, try drawing an O (a closed shape) with the mouse and using the stroke tool on it, and see what you get.
You could also try a figure 8 (this is also closed) and see what the stroke tool does.

3) I'm looking forward to it.

4) My mistake. (I didn't investigate thoroughly enough.)

[Allan Murray]

Regarding 2:

Yes, now I understand. For a closed O etc, you can use this trick before you use the stroke tool:

Perform this sequence of operations:
glyph menu/select all
edit menu/copy glyph
glyph menu/reverse
edit menu/paste

What this does is it places an exact copy of your glyph (but with reversed contour directions) over the original. Now try using the stroke tool, and you will get the effect you wanted.

You can put all this into an action script, and assign a shortcut key so that you can do this operation at a key press. The script would be:
use all
copy
reverse
paste

This works perfectly for an O, but for a figure 8, you will have the problem of overlapping contours afterwards (which, I guess, is why you are requesting 3), but at present you can fix this manually using the knife and touch-up connect tools.