Before you can use any TrueType font it must first be installed. The installation process is detailed elsewhere on this web site and you can visit the installation section using one of the links shown below.

Installing a TrueType font in Windows 95/98, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000/XP
Installing a TrueType font on a Macintosh 

Once installed, a Formula Solutions custom TrueType font acts in the same way as a standard TrueType font. We have illustrated the various stages involved using a series of screen shots shown below. Our example is using Microsoft Word 97, but the principle is the same for all applications.

Stage 1 - Load your application

Load the application and if required load an existing document.

Stage 2 - Select the position of the image

Select the required position on the page that you want the image to appear.

Stage 3 - Select the Formula Solutions custom TrueType font

The custom font is selected in the same way that you would usually change font, either from a font drop down list or from a font selection dialog box. The font name that appears in the list of fonts is chosen when the font is manufactured and can be selected by the customer.

Stage 4 - Select a suitable point size

The point size is also selected in the usual way, either from a drop down list as shown or from a font size dialog box. A point size of 72 point will result in an image approximately 1 inch high. Some applications, such as Microsoft Word, only list certain sizes in the drop down list, but other intermediate and larger sizes can usually be entered allowing specific sizes of images to be created.

Stage 5 - Type the characters associated with the image

When a custom TrueType font is created, the image is usually split into several characters within the font. In the example below the logo is associated with the characters 'abc'. When these characters are typed the logo is displayed. There are various reasons for splitting the image over several characters and this topic is covered in more detail on the TrueType font FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page.

Stage 6 - Colour the image if required

As the TrueType font specification does not support colour we manufacture the fonts split in such a way that it is possible for the user to colour an image using facilities within the application. If it is possible to change the colour of text within a document then it is possible to colour a TrueType image such as a logo.

In the example below the character 'a' produces the 'BT' letters, the character 'b' produces the sections of the piper to be coloured blue and the character 'c' produces the remaining sections of the piper to be coloured red. Once the characters 'ab' are coloured blue and the character 'c' is coloured red the image shown below will be displayed.

There are several methods that can be used to colour a custom TrueType font and they are detailed on the Colouring a TrueType font page.

Stage 7 - Modify the size or colour if required

If at any time you wish to modify either the size or colours, the image can simply be highlighted and changed in the same way that you would modify any other text within a document.

Tip: If you are using a Microsoft application you may find the following helpful when changing the size of any text. Select the text and then hold down both the Control and Shift keys together, then press '<' to make text smaller and '>' to make text larger. This will increase or decrease the point size in large steps. If you want to finely adjust the size hold down Control and press either '[' or ']' to decrease or increase the point size respectively in single point increments.

The example we have shown here is of a logo but the same method is used for adding signatures, symbols and quality marks to a document.