TypeStyler is one of those penultimate Macintosh programs: powerful, easy to use, and inexpensive. Although it gives effects often needed by design professionals, it’s easy enough for beginners to learn.
TypeStyler is a special effects program for creating and customizing graphic display type. Bend it. Stretch it. Curve it. Add perspective and cast shadows. All at the click of a mouse.
I recently received a copy of Version 1.5 and found that a number of new features and improvements have been added, making the program even more useful.
One of the first things I noticed was the ability to create or resize a text object at a fixed point size. In the previous version, the text was always resized to the proportions of the text object, often resulting in stretched type when you did not want it. Now you have a choice.
[ILLUSTRATION: Fixed point size]
TypeStyler comes with a number of ready-to-use “SmoothFonts,” but you can also convert both Type 1 and Type 3 laser fonts. New in version 1.5 is the ability to use family-built fonts. The earlier version would only access the normal (plain) version of laser fonts; but the new version lets you use all of the variations: bold, italic, black-oblique, and so forth.
There are also a number of new shaping options available through a dialog box. These yield a far greater level of control over the appearance of text effects.
[ILLUSTRATION: Shape Options]
In previous versions of TypeStyler, there was a discrepancy in the screen and printed appearance of thick inlines and outlines, which often resulted in having to use trial and error methods to get accurate effects. The new version corrects this problem and thus encourages the use of new combinations.
[ILLUSTRATION: “Special”.epsf]
TypeStyler 1.5 has also added some new flipping capabilities—the text itself can be flipped, or only the shape of the text object. Separate options are available for circular text objects.
[ILLUSTRATION: Flip Options]
Screen refresh times seem to be shorter in the new version, and there is also a new option which will suspend redraws after moving several points; this can speed your up work considerably.
Precision rotation (by degree) and labeled line weights have also been added. These are both suggestions that I made when I was first beta-testing TypeStyler, and it is gratifying to see them in the new version.
[ILLUSTRATION: Labeled line weights]
[ILLUSTRATION: Rotate dialog]
There are several other additions to the program, including the ability to set the shape height and a new style which facilitates printing color separations.
Are there any features I’d still like to see? Well, a step-and-repeat Duplicate command would be nice, and I’d like to see the current percentage view in the title bar—like “Untitled-75%.” One surprising oversight is that windows do not scroll when you drag objects past their edges.
A new utility is included with TypeStyler 1.5; SmoothMover is a stand-alone font moving utility for TypeStyler’s SmmothFonts. It allows you to add fonts to, or remove fonts from, an existing SmoothFont file. You can also create new SmoothFont files. SmoothMover works like Apple’s Font/DA Mover and has a similar interface.
The new TypeStyler brings a host of helpful features to one of the designer’s best utilities. If you aren’t already using TypeStyler, there’s no better time to start.
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