Soquili Font: ready to proceed!!!

[angelize]

I guess it's suitable that the horse is a stallion, but I'll defer to Gary on this

For anyone who hasn't volunteered for a font project before you can see in the Roundhead TG thread how the process works

[Gare]

I feel what I have to say here needs to strike a fine balance between calling too much attention to a detail in a subject, and ignoring the question altogether.

In brief: yes, the 26 images need to be traced over as they are. If individuals start editing their work based on what they feel comfortable seeing or drawing, then the animation won’t work, nor will the font represent a unified group effort.

Let me say that if anyone on this thread has downloaded the files (I see several downloads) and doesn’t want to help complete the project for any reason, write me a PM to keep this diversion on this thread to a minimum. I really would like this post to be the last on the subject Christine is asking about.

Moreover, neither I nor the members I know here, would make a judgment on a personal decision not to participate, for whatever reason.

I really didn’t mean to light any fuses here, so let me briefly explain a little about this animation, its background and an observation about the project as a whole.

Our Administrator, also known as Barbara Bouton, came to me with the idea of a horse animation font, while we were collectively creatively stalled on what to do typographically to honor the memory of Bill Taylor. Once we proposed the idea publicly and it was met with approval, I bought the model of a stallion—a male horse—and the animation tracks online and Barbara and I agreed upon the purchase and she saw the model and my progress with it along the way. And had and has no problem with it as a person or as a woman.

I chose a highly detailed stallion because I always start a project with good data. Bill Taylor is a man, thus the choice of a stallion and not a mare as a 3D model was an appropriate one. The optimum angle for rendering a gallop is from the side, where unavoidably the gender of a horse can be noticeable. Not obvious, not the focal point of this illustration, but a fairly innocuous bump is there, yes.

I cannot say that I ever gave this area even the slightest thought while working on the animation and the frames, and thinking about it, I don’t think it’s because I’m a guy. It’s because this is an animal, and unless one lives in a city their entire life, you are bound to see nude animals—animals in a natural state (as opposed to cats people dress up!)—at petting zoos, on ranches and farms, and even in motion pictures depicting American settlers and Native Americans—of which Bill shared a heritage.

There is no detail in the area I’m addressing, absolutely nothing suggestive of any action other than being part of a galloping horse.

I've written too much, sorry! Can we get back to the project?

Thanks!

Gary

[angelize]

Ok so we've got Larry and Christine each doing a set Anyone else out there want to take part in this tribute to Bill?

Rik, you indicated in the other thread you would like to help do you still want to?

[Gare]

I know it's been about half a year since we got together and collaborated on a tg typeface.

So if anyone has questions about how you build path, you can post and attached one file if you like, a Xara file, and I can guide anyone with the construction of the path because characters (glyphs) need to have an economy of control points and there can only be one combined path, no more than one per character.

Oh, and control points where there is a sharp change in direction of the path. Control handles shouldn't extend beyond Mars, Saturn at very most.

My Best,

Gary

[angelize]

Here is the first one of mine maybe Gary if you can have a look and see if it needs any corrections and maybe others can learn from this I have traced the horse and the shadow as two separate objects.

And do you want each glyph as a separate page in a single .xar file?

[Gare]

Thanks for having the courage to go first, Frances!

Okay, attached is "Soquili POC" (Proof of Concept), and let me say right now that 1.) you did an excellent job, and 2.) you used 270 control points. Which is fine for TrueType, but 200 is usually a good limit. I used a utility in FontLab to "optimize" the outline, it automatically took out what it thought were unnecessary nodes to wind up with 206.




I think we're okay. Frances, how do you feel this screen cap compares to your original? And the typeface?

I'd like to see fewer control points in subsequent drawings, but not at the price of accuracy, of course.

Thanks!

-g

[Rik]

Sorry guys.
I don't look here often, but, Frances reminded me.

So, as all the others are taken, I'll take 20-26.

I will get onto this asap.

I do have a question though.
If you look at frame 20, the two hooves near the ground are obscured by the shadow on the ground.
This would lead to doing a bit of guesswork.
Is guesswork OK?

[Gare]

Rik—

Welcome aboard, matey!

In 20, I see the very tip of the left front hoof obscured. And there is no way except re-rendering (unpacking, loading, etc.) the sequence to truly see where the edge is.

I recommend your eye, skill, and an educated guess, Rik.

I'm sure that will do the trick.

Thanks!

Gary