Comparison and pricing¶
A comparison helps readers choose a route. Give each route the same questions, in the same order, so the visual treatment does not make the decision for them. For prices, the currency, billing period and conditions belong beside the amount. This page demonstrates the layout without publishing a copied price that may have changed.
Compare the work first¶
The FontLab font-conversion page defines conversion as preserving intent: names, outlines, spacing, kerning and family structure should survive the move. The blog's TransType article describes further editing as a separate job. Those two tasks make a more useful comparison than an unexplained feature count.
Convert an existing family¶
You have a typeface whose design should survive a change of format. Names, family grouping, spacing and kerning carry decisions that belong with the outlines. Keep the originals so you can inspect the result against them.
TransType is the dedicated route for conversion and family organisation. The next step is to check the current product information against the files you need to convert.
Continue designing the family¶
You need to change the design or its behaviour: extend a character set, work on OpenType features, or develop a family further. Those tasks need the editing tools and project structure of a font editor.
The FontLab blog describes a workflow in which conversion brings a font into a usable format and FontLab carries the design work forward.
<div class="fl-pattern-grid">
<section>
<h3 id="convert-an-existing-family">Convert an existing family<a class="headerlink" href="#convert-an-existing-family" title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>You have a typeface whose design should survive a change of format. Names,
family grouping, spacing and kerning carry decisions that belong with the
outlines. Keep the originals so you can inspect the result against them.</p>
<p>TransType is the dedicated route for conversion and family organisation.
The next step is to check the current product information against the files
you need to convert.</p>
<p><a class="md-button" href="https://www.fontlab.com/font-converter/">Explore font conversion</a></p>
</section>
<section>
<h3 id="continue-designing-the-family">Continue designing the family<a class="headerlink" href="#continue-designing-the-family" title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>You need to change the design or its behaviour: extend a character set,
work on OpenType features, or develop a family further. Those tasks need
the editing tools and project structure of a font editor.</p>
<p>The FontLab blog describes a workflow in which conversion brings a font into
a usable format and FontLab carries the design work forward.</p>
<p><a class="md-button" href="https://www.fontlab.com/font-editor/">Explore font editing</a></p>
</section>
</div><div class="fl-pattern-grid" markdown="1">
<section markdown="1">
### Convert an existing family
You have a typeface whose design should survive a change of format. Names,
family grouping, spacing and kerning carry decisions that belong with the
outlines. Keep the originals so you can inspect the result against them.
TransType is the dedicated route for conversion and family organisation.
The next step is to check the current product information against the files
you need to convert.
[Explore font conversion](https://www.fontlab.com/font-converter/){ .md-button }
</section>
<section markdown="1">
### Continue designing the family
You need to change the design or its behaviour: extend a character set,
work on OpenType features, or develop a family further. Those tasks need
the editing tools and project structure of a font editor.
The FontLab blog describes a workflow in which conversion brings a font into
a usable format and FontLab carries the design work forward.
[Explore font editing](https://www.fontlab.com/font-editor/){ .md-button }
</section>
</div>Text adapted from www.fontlab.com/src_docs/md/font-converter.md and the
February 2024 TransType article in blog.fontlab.com. The comparison describes
tasks; it does not certify compatibility with a particular source font.
Align the decision criteria¶
A table is useful once the reader understands the alternatives. Keep its rows concrete and its language parallel. A missing feature and a feature that has not been checked are different states; write the distinction in the cell.
| Question | Conversion task | Editing task |
|---|---|---|
| What stays central? | Preserve the existing typeface | Develop the design or behaviour |
| What do you inspect? | Names, outlines, spacing, kerning, family grouping | The parts of the font you changed |
| What source do you retain? | Original font files | Editable project and reference files |
| Where do you check suitability? | Current converter documentation | Current editor documentation |
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: left;">Question</th>
<th style="text-align: left;">Conversion task</th>
<th style="text-align: left;">Editing task</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">What stays central?</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">Preserve the existing typeface</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">Develop the design or behaviour</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">What do you inspect?</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">Names, outlines, spacing, kerning, family grouping</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">The parts of the font you changed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">What source do you retain?</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">Original font files</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">Editable project and reference files</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Where do you check suitability?</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">Current converter documentation</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">Current editor documentation</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>| Question | Conversion task | Editing task |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| What stays central? | Preserve the existing typeface | Develop the design or behaviour |
| What do you inspect? | Names, outlines, spacing, kerning, family grouping | The parts of the font you changed |
| What source do you retain? | Original font files | Editable project and reference files |
| Where do you check suitability? | Current converter documentation | Current editor documentation |On a narrow screen, the table can scroll inside its own container. A card comparison is better when each alternative needs several paragraphs. Avoid making readers swipe repeatedly between a row label and its values.
Keep offers current¶
Use a clear destination when the offer is maintained elsewhere. If you do publish a price, record when it was checked and include the conditions beside it. Do not turn an old campaign price into an apparently current offer.
TransType¶
Conversion and family organisation
Check the current product page for purchase options and compatibility. This guide does not quote an offer.
FontLab¶
{ .du-card-title }
Font design and editing
Check the current product page for purchase options and compatibility. This guide does not quote an offer.
<div class="fltheme-components fl-pattern-grid">
<article class="card">
<header>
<h3 id="transtype">TransType<a class="headerlink" href="#transtype" title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>Conversion and family organisation</p>
</header>
<section>
<p>Check the current product page for purchase options and compatibility.
This guide does not quote an offer.</p>
</section>
<footer>
<p><a class="btn" data-variant="outline" href="https://www.fontlab.com/font-converter/transtype/">View current options</a></p>
</footer>
</article>
<article class="du-card du-card-border">
<div class="du-card-body">
<h3 id="fontlab">FontLab<a class="headerlink" href="#fontlab" title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>{ .du-card-title }</p>
<p>Font design and editing</p>
<p>Check the current product page for purchase options and compatibility.
This guide does not quote an offer.</p>
<p><a class="du-btn du-btn-outline" href="https://www.fontlab.com/font-editor/fontlab/">View current options</a></p>
</div>
</article>
</div><div class="fltheme-components fl-pattern-grid" markdown="1">
<article class="card" markdown="1">
<header markdown="1">
### TransType
Conversion and family organisation
</header>
<section markdown="1">
Check the current product page for purchase options and compatibility.
This guide does not quote an offer.
</section>
<footer markdown="1">
[View current options](https://www.fontlab.com/font-converter/transtype/){ .btn data-variant="outline" }
</footer>
</article>
<article class="du-card du-card-border" markdown="1">
<div class="du-card-body" markdown="1">
### FontLab
{ .du-card-title }
Font design and editing
Check the current product page for purchase options and compatibility.
This guide does not quote an offer.
[View current options](https://www.fontlab.com/font-editor/fontlab/){ .du-btn .du-btn-outline }
</div>
</article>
</div>The two card implementations carry the same content structure. Keep the
.fl-pattern-grid rule from field-guide.css when you copy this composition.
It lets the cards stack in source order instead of shrinking their text.