Flash :: Using Device Fonts & Auto Substitution

Device Fonts Vs. Embedded Fonts
Hi there!

I have a little X-File I'm trying to figure out here. Any hints would be appreciated.

I have six SWFs. All of them have the same exact design. However, each of them has a different amount of text using an embedded font. The first one has about 3,500 characters (with spaces). The second one has aproximately 6,000 characters (with spaces). The third one has 14,000 characters, more or less.

The fourth SWF is just the first one, but using a device font instead. The fifth one is the second SWF with a device font, and the same goes for the sixth one.

All six SFWs can be scrolled down.

I've taken times. I've measured the time taken to scroll down the entire text in each SWF. All tests have been run down under Windows XP and with version 9 of Flash Player, and a 'high' value of the quality parameter.

I have read in the Flash documentation that device fonts are managed faster by Flash Player, as they don't use any anti-alias settings and its renderization lays down on the OS' font technology. Let me introduce the results:

First SWF (deviced one) has taken an average time of 0 min 59 s, 71
Fourth SWF (embedded one) has taken an average time of 1 min 12 s, 04

As guessed, it seems that device fonts are a little bit lighter than embedded fonts.

Second SWF (deviced one) has taken an average time of 1 min 36 s, 04
Fifth SWF (embedded one) has taken an average time of 1 min 52 s, 64

In this set of tests, we can appreciate a similar behaviour. But, pay attention...

Third SWF (deviced one) has taken an average time of 5 min 50 s, 81
Sixth SWF (embedded one) has taken an average time of 3 min 52 s, 60

Funny, isn't it? This set of tests just drives me nuts. One would think that results may be swapped, but, no matter how many times I try it, it always goes the same way.

Has anyone observed this behaviour before? Is there any known bottleneck in the underlying Windows Font Technology? Does it make any sense at all?

Thanks in advance!

Edited: 04/26/2007 at 02:40:15 AM by josermae

Device Fonts
hello all,

i have a question regarding device fonts. my current situation is:

1) main movie (main stage)
2) on this main stage, a movieclip which is a sliding navbar.
3) in this movie clip, i have another movieclip. If i use hooge and choose device fonts, it doesn't appear in the movie but if i uncheck device fonts, it apprears but is blurred.

Does anyone know why it disappears?

Thanks in advance,
kusaDJ

USING DEVICE FONTS....WHY CANT I AS IT?
When I apply text using the Use Device Fonts property...

...Why is it when I try to adjust, animate or add AS to the MC it is contained in...It just dissapears.....

is there any way to keep fonts clear.... Im just trying to fade in some text to look really clear and readable...

thanks..
mannyme80

USE DEVICE FONTS
guys i was wondering, whats the USE DEVICE FONT checkbox in the text panel for?

Device Fonts
you might want to try using device fonts, if you are not already using them

Use Device Fonts
Ok people here is my problem
if I make some text and if I make flash to use device fonts,
they are nice and without AA, but if I put mask over it it`ll, the user can`t see it, is there a way to do it on a similar way, cause I realy need to make that mask over it.

Device Fonts
How to export a Dinamic text with the original font used on fla???...or the fonts exportex like dinamic text will be renderizing like html?.....

Icaro

Device Fonts
All the text that I have having on a new site that i am designing, i have set to use device fonts!

I use "_san" font while in designing, but when I preview the movie, the device font is in a slightly different position than I designed it to be.

Why cant I use the device font when designing?

HELP!!

USe Device Fonts
im sure you guys have noticed that using the "USE DEVICE FONTS" options for your static texts can be a problem as their display differ from the Authoring Enviroment display, and the actual runtine display.. One common problem is, using device fonts makes your static texts longer than they are in authoring enviroment.

Is there a way to fix this?

What Happens When I Use Device Fonts?
Can someone tell me what happens when I use device fonts?
What exactly is this?

From a previous reply to a posting, I found out that if you use device fonts, then this won't slow down any animations you have.

What I'm afraid of is the fact that my work will look different on different systems.

(I'm using Arial, if that's relevant.)

Can someone please put my mind at rest.

Thanks.

Jam

Device Fonts
I have tried to put text inside my movie that uses device fonts. I set the font to _sans and clicked the "use device fonts box" but when I test or even publish the movie, the text disappears. I can see it on the stage when I am editing the .fla file, but as soon as i publish/test the movie, it is as if there was not text there!

What's going on?

Use Device Fonts
dudes,

my prob is i cant display the text i wrote in flash, if the text is inside a movie. and this movie is in layer mask.

the text is "use device fonts" mode.

how ?

the output is none.

ahmadzombie

Device Fonts
hi!

is it possible to use device fonts with layer mask?
i`ve created text scroll with mask. when i change font to use device font nothing is displayed.

Is it possible to do it some other way?

Rok

Using Device Fonts
Why can't you assign a device font for a MAC? Just curious if you can ... how?

Using Device Fonts
Hi

I am trying to use the _sans font so that it will access the device font on the system, can anyone give me any tips on doing this?

I have laid my text out just how I want it, but when I export it moves and gets bigger.

I have Use Device Fonts selected (I don't want the font embedded and used but for the system to use the default sans font).

Any ideas on why it moves? Surely if I am using the _sans font in my drop down i am using my sans system font so therefore it should look the same when exported? no?

I have tried it with selectable on and off, auto kern on and off, the only way i can get what i'm looking at is to uncheck the use device fonts, defeating what I want to accomplish.

I see so many sites that are created this way, I just can't work out how it is done, any help appreciated.

Thanks

Frankie.

Mac Device Fonts
I've made a form with input fields on Flash for Windows. The font of the input fields is Arial. So basically I don't have to embed it and on all browsers upon typing text, Arial is shown.

I've noticed however that when I view my site on a mac browser, the font of the input fields are Times? Shouldn't that at least be Helvetica? When I open my fla on Flash for mac 'test movie' it (leaving it to Arial), it stays Arial. But using the windows made swf it changes to Times. Why's that?

Device Fonts
Why do device fonts not work with masks? Is there a way to make it work? The thing is, is that the font looks so much cleaner when 'use device fonts' is enabled. Have any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Cheryl

I'm a newbie, please be gentle.

Device Fonts
Can anyone fill me in on the significance of Device fonts. What are they? How are they best used? What exactly are they?

Device Fonts
I have a long paragraph that has some key words in it that I would like to use to link to other parts of my sites. I am concern about creating buttons that float above the text because the fonts in the paragraph are device fonts and may change position or look on certain computers. Can I link a word that is a device font in a paragraph to an ACTION or to a FRAME. Or any other suggestions on making a word that is in the middle of a device font paragraph a button (or link)?

Device Fonts In MX
Just wanted to say how cool this site, and what help it has been in my never ending battle to understand Flash.

The new question. I'm a little confused on some text aspects in Flash. Let's say that I have a static text block and I use some font that the user might or might not have on their machine. I know if I have the "use device font" check box deselected it will just embed the font outline in my file and jack up the size. What I don't understand is if I do check this box, does this then tell the end user's machine to use the font that I specified if it is installed on their machine or just automatically use the device font regardless if they have the font or not. I've run some tests on my own machine, and it seems when I check the use device font, and then view it through the HTML preview it doesn't recognize then font and uses the default on my system.....hmmmmm.....

Also, are using bitmap fonts the way to go when using text at 10pt. and below?

Thanks again,
Brock

Use Device Fonts?
Hello people!

I don't understand this, when you select device fonts, the font u are using in flash should be included in the swf file, right? Or I'm missunderstanding how it works?

Im using a font called FFF_Galaxy on my flash site.
http://www.eyelezz.com/2006/fear.htm but thats not working for no one more then me :/.
Can someone help me ?

Using Device Fonts
I want to use device fonts for a flash based nav-menu. I want to use Verdana, seeing as just about everybody must have this font. Right?

Device Fonts Justify?
When I use the device fonts option, the text is no longer justified? Any ideas how to correct this?

Thanks.

WHY CANT I APPLY AS TO A MC USING DEVICE FONTS?
why can i apply an action or a tween to a MC that contains text which select use device font...

i want the text to look clear like that, but i want to apply AS to the MC....

is this possible... i know ive seen some sites with crisp clean texts... how do they do it..

are they gifs... because you can make pictures of text and look clearer than they do when you type them in..

thanks for the help,
mannyme80

Device Fonts And Masking?
Is there a way to use device fonts ( like _sans) with masking? Because I have a scroll that uses masking and the device fonts do not show up! this sucks because i like device fonts since they add less file size and they do not have anti alias which makes text hard to read sometimes.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

A Mask And Device Fonts
Hi I am using a mask in a movie clip that covers text. I am running into a problem when I select "use device fonts" to get the crisp text look. When I use a mask it doesn't show up! When I de-select it, it shows up but of course it looks blurry.

Is there a solution to this. Thank-you in advance.

Device Fonts Problems
im trying to make an animation, what i want is to mask a text who is a device font. but when i do that, the text dissapears. why ??. i want to solve it inside flash, not to import any text. and by using the real mask option, no fake mask.

the same problem appears in flash 5, now using flash mx.

have i missed something, or is it not doable

Device Fonts And Mask
Hi, I have problem with static text that have set "use device font" under mask.

I have loader.swf, there is mask and under that mask is M.C. PAGE. When I load into PAGE external M.C. page.swf, the text with "use device font" did not show. If I dont use mask, its works fine. Is there any way to fix it?

If you dont understand my english, see the attached files.

Thank you very much......

Device Fonts Question...Please Help?
Why is that when using device fonts, the layout of the text changes? Also, If you put a line under the text & then test movie, the line is not lined up the same as on the stage before you test the movie...

does this make sense?

[FMX] Scrolling Device Fonts
can I get some more in depth info. tnx.

I mean I have this link with is good :

http://builder.cnet.com/webbuilding/...ript/ss03.html

but I want it to be a continous scroll on mouseDown.

Now it jumps one line on mouseDown and then another on the next.

get it..

Device Fonts Cause Inconsistency
Does anyone know why when I use device fonts they look just fine in development but when exported to swf don't line up?

The links below are samples of what I'm talking about.

When working in the fla all text lines up perfectly, but as soon as I export to swf the device font text becomes smaller and doesn't line up properly.

I'm using Arial. Shouldn't what I see on the stage in development be exactly what I see when it's exported since everything's on the same system?

Here's the swf
http://home.earthlink.net/~vidalh/Fl...onsistent.html
Here's the fla
http://home.earthlink.net/~vidalh/Fl...consistent.fla

Vector Txt And Device Fonts.
Here's hoping one of you gurus can please help.
I have having 3 problems I am trying to solve without success.

1. When I try loading an external txt. file in a flash movie I am always getting the following message in the output panel when I play the movie along with a blank panel where the text should be.

ERROR OPENING ????.txt or else CANNOT LOAD ????.txt
Anyone know what is going wrong?
I have selected dynamic text and multi-line in the properties panel.

2. In a movie clip I have some static text and when I select USE DEVICE FONTS to make the text clearer then play the movie the text does not appear. If I turn off this selection the text re-appears.
Just what is happening?

3. I have drawn a logo in Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator and Freehand. How do I transfer them in my Flash movie as vectors instead of bitmaps as the bitmap files are too large. If I use export I can only export as .swf files which I cannot use in my movie.

All help much appreciated and Happy Christmas.

Device Fonts In MX 2004 Pro
Hi

I can't figure out how to use device fonts in mx 2004 pro in layers that are masked?
Btw, I know I have to embed them, and to do that I have to make the text dynamic, I've done that...but it doesn't work.

Anybody got a clue?

thanks

Masking Device Fonts Not Possible? BS
As I had to make a multimedia presentation that required crisp fonts but where I was limited by the company's graphical chart to either use the company's font or else Arial or Verdana, I faced, like many others, the dilemma of having crisp fonts masked, let alone having device fonts masked.

Well it is possible ... you only need to cheat a little and add an extra frame in your timeline, that's all!

You can view the example here. I used Arial 10 (device font).

For the mask tween I used the Penner tween actions, which are ideal for smooth tweens and masks.

For some interesting tweening applications and to download the
movieclip tweening prototypes visit
this site.

Cheers,
Smalco ..

Device Fonts Issue
Hi,

I have a simple text box in my movie. when i set it to use device fonts it doesnt display the text. i have sent system.useCodePage to false and have tried setting it to true but no luck.

I have tried a variety of fonts and none work.

does any one have an idea as to what maybe causing this?

thanks

Fading Device Fonts?
For some reason the search function isn’t working for me today so I apologize if this has been asked recently.

I’m trying to fade a “_sans” font or a device font inside a static text box. Is this possible? Or will fading only work with embedded fonts?

I’m finding that my text (10pts) is hard to read when anti-aliased. I’d like to keep it crisp but I also need it to fade into the scene. Anyone have any tips?

Thank a lot.

Why Am I Losing Device Fonts?
on buttons within movies? Only vector fonts are rendering, but too blurry. Any help would be gretaly appreciated. Thanks

Device Fonts And Tweens ?
I have a simple 10 frame tween that fades some text from 0% alpha to 100% alpha.

If I tick the 'use device fonts' box for the text in question, then the fade no longer occurs ?. Does anyone know what is going on here and if there is a solution ?

Thanks.

Device Fonts Not Working
I feel like such a goof! I am trying to use a static text box in Flash MX that uses the device font Verdana. However, whenever I click on the 'device fonts' check box it dissappears. Sure enough, when I un-click the 'device fonts' check box it shows back up. How do I get it to show up as a device font (with nice sexy and crisp edges)?

Draggable TF With Device Fonts
All:

I've read about a billion posts on using device fonts or embedding fonts and all the other miscellaneous whatnot.

On a dynamically loaded text box I acheive the clarity I want with a device font.

HOWEVER:

The TF is in a draggable box. When I use the crisp device font, the dragging performance is less than when I embed the font (ie the box lags more). Is this due to the clarity or is there something else to it? If I had an embedded font with the same clarity would it still lag as badly? Thanks a lot.

J

AS3: How To Get Device Fonts From A *.ttf Font?
Hiya,

There are a few examples out there on how to embed fonts into your AS3 file, like here. This ensures that the user get teh correct font.

However, (like i ask in the post in the link), i can only get this to work with aliased fonts. I need device-fonts, and after alot of testing, i still cant figure out how i can do that.

Anyone

Device Fonts And Masking
When I use device fonts for text content and masking together for use in a scroll box the text doesn't show. I use the device fonts for reading content as it is easier for users to read.

Is there anyway to get around this?

Why Do Device Fonts Suck?
Hello again!

Why do texts with antialiased fonts (when you check the "use device font" box) are displayed differently in the exported .swf than in my .fla file?

I mean they are not positioned quite the same.

What can I do? Make jpg text and import it in flash, or is there a trick somewhere?

_root.c1._alpha=0 And Device Fonts
hello,

little problem:
i'm loading a movie with the loadmovie command into an empty clip called _root.c1.

when i want to use action script to make this additionally loaded movie invisible i script: _root.c1._alpha=0;

this works perfectly but if the movie in c1 contains text using device fonts everything is made invisible but NOT the text!!!

how to make text using device fonts invisible too using action script?

thanks for any help,
elo.

Device Fonts Not Showing In Movie...Help
This just started happening yesterday, and I can't for the life of me figure out why. When I export the movie regular text shows, but any text that I have used the "use device font's" option doesn't show.

Also any text that should display in the text boxes of my submission form also don't show up ???

Has anyone ever had this problem before...I'm not sure if I select some odd preference by mistake, or some exoport setting....I really have no idea.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated