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Ligatures Feature Type

The ligatures feature type (kLigaturesType) specifies the use of linguistically required ligatures and a variety of optional ligatures. Figure B-10 shows several levels of ligature formation specified through ligature feature selectors. In the top line, the ligatures feature type is set to have required ligatures enabled. In the middle line, the value is set to have common ligatures enabled. In the bottom line, the value is set to have rare ligatures enabled.


Figure B-10  Levels of ligature formation controlled with ligature feature selectors

Levels of ligature formation controlled with ligature feature selectors

Figure B-11 shows the results of selection and deselection of diphthong ligatures. In the top line, the ligatures feature type (kLigaturesType) is set to have diphthong ligatures enabled; in the bottom line, the ligatures feature type is set to have diphthong ligatures disabled.


Figure B-11  Use of diphthong ligatures

Use of diphthong ligatures

If the font supports the ligatures feature type, you can select features related to ligature formation, including those shown in Table B-14. This is a contextual, nonexclusive feature type.

Table B-14  Selectors for the ligatures feature type

Feature selector

Description

kRequiredLigaturesOnSelector

Allows the use of linguistically required ligatures (such as occur in Arabic or Hindi). This is the default setting.

kRequiredLigaturesOffSelector

Prevents the use of linguistically required ligatures (such as occur in Arabic or Hindi).

kCommonOnSelector

Allows the use of ligatures that are common, or that usually appear in well-set text, such as the “fi” and “fl” ligatures in English.

kCommonOffSelector

Prevents the use of ligatures that are common, or that usually appear in well-set text, such as the “fi” and “fl” ligatures in English.

kRareOnSelector

Allows the use of ligatures that are used less than those in the Common category, such as “ct” or “ss” ligatures.

kRareOffSelector

Prevents the use of ligatures that are used less than those in the Common category, such as “ct” or “ss” ligatures.

kLogosOnSelector

Allows the use of ligatures that represent logos; typically used for trademarks or other special display text. For example, typing the word “Apple” to display the Apple logo.

kLogosOffSelector

Prevents the use of ligatures that represent logos; typically used for trademarks or other special display text. For example, typing the word “Apple” to display the Apple logo.

kRebusPicturesOnSelector

Allows the use of pictures that represent words or syllables.

kRebusPicturesOffSelector

Prevents the use of pictures that represent words or syllables.

kDiphthongLigaturesOnSelector

Specifies to replace diphthong sequences, such as “AE” and “oe” with their equivalent ligatures.

kDiphthongLigaturesOffSelector

Specifies not to replace diphthong sequences, such as “AE” and “oe” with their equivalent ligatures.

kSquaredLigaturesOnSelector

Allows the use of ligatures in which the component letters are arranged in a lattice, such that the ligature fits into the space of a single letter. For examples, see Unicode characters U+3300 through U+3357 and U+337B through U+337F.

kSquaredLigaturesOffSelector

Prevents the use of ligatures in which the component letters are arranged in a lattice, such that the ligature fits into the space of a single letter. For examples, see Unicode characters U+3300 through U+3357 and U+337B through U+337F.

kAbbrevSquaredLigaturesOnSelector

Allows the use of ligatures that are similar to squared ligatures, but abbreviated in form.

kAbbrevSquaredLigaturesOffSelector

Prevents the use of ligatures that are similar to squared ligatures, but abbreviated in form.

kSymbolLigaturesOnSelector

Allows the use of symbol ligatures.

kSymbolLigaturesOffSelector

Prevents the use of symbol ligatures.



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Last updated: 2007-07-10




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