Jul 28 2009
Unicode Character Charts By Script
If you often embed fonts for use in Flash/Flex and needs to specify “unicodeRange” in the [Embed] meta tag, the following site gives you the unicode tables for the various character glyphs:
Jul 14 2009
[AS3] Embossed and Engraved Text Effects (Embedded Fonts)
Here is how to apply embossed (and engraved) text effect during run-time easily using ActionScript. This works only when the TextField instance is using embedded font and its antiAliasType property is set to AntiAliasType.ADVANCED.
Jul 10 2009
Using uiTextStyles: Defining Faux Bold Weights (Embedded Fonts)
Yesterday, the Aspire UI library was updated to version 1.2.0. Among other changes, we have also implemented support for faux bold weights for embedded fonts.
Faux bold is “fake” bold. It is an efficient way to display text in the same typeface but with different weights (bolder, thinner, etc.). It can be used as an alternative to the real bold font, or used in combination with the real thing.
Sometimes, the bold version of a font simply doesn’t exist so this is also where faux boldness comes in. Or, you can use this feature to make the typeface thinner (rather than bolder).
Apr 17 2009
Compiling embedded font SWFs with the Flex compiler for use with the uiFonts manager
In a previous demo Loading embedded fonts on-demand using the uiFonts manager, the uiFonts manager was shown to load external embedded font SWFs “on-demand”.
The uiFonts manager can work with embedded font SWFs compiled either from the Flash IDE or the Flex compiler.
When compiling using the Flash IDE, we use Font Symbols in the Library (see uiFonts usage notes).
When compiling using the Flex compiler, we use a single AS3 class file. The following shows how the AS3 Class must be written in order for the resulting SWF to work with the uiFonts manager.
Apr 09 2009
Loading embedded fonts on-demand using the uiFonts manager
Why Embed Fonts?
Embedding a font inside a SWF file means that the font does not need to be present on the devices the SWF file eventually plays back on. In order to ensure that text are rendered in the way the Flash application developer originally intended, it is often necessary to embed the fonts used in the application. This is especially so for fonts that are not commonly installed in the target devices. The use of embedded fonts is also mandatory for some features of the Flash Player to work, such as text rotation and transparency (pre-Flash Player version 10).
The Problem
Unfortunately, embedding fonts into the application SWF can seriously bloat the file size. It will also increase compile time significantly, wasting much development time.
The Solution
Using the uiFonts manager from Aspire UI Standard Edition, it is possible to use embedded fonts without compiling them into the main application SWF. Instead, each individual font exists in its own external SWF file which is loaded into the application on-demand during run-time. These font SWF files can be created once for each font and re-used across different applications.
This is especially helpful for applications where the use of embedded fonts is essential, such as an apparel print design or greeting card design application that offers multiple font choices.
