Monotype Fonts - CHEST Site Licence

2. General Information

The standard ISO/Adobe character set for text typefaces applies to most text fonts. The range of characters accessible is dependent on the application software and hardware platform being used. Certain display typefaces will have a reduced character set with some symbols, mathematical signs and fractions ommitted. Capital only fonts will often have capitals copied into lowercase positions.

Expert Fonts
The character set for "Expert" fonts is different to the standard ISO/Adobe character set. These fonts contain additional characters required for professional quality typesetting. These include small capitals (though typically only in the regular style font), old style figures, ligatures, basic fractions and superior and inferior figures and extra fractions.
Alternate
Some fonts have Alt or Alternate in their name, implying that they contain alternative forms of some characters, or extra characters such as unusual ligatures. They are sometimes similar to the Expert fonts.
Small Capitals and Old Style Figures
The character set for Small Capitals and Old Style Figures fonts is different from other character sets. It has small capitals substituted for lowercase letters and old style figures in place of lining figures. As with expert fonts, the italic and bold italic styles generally contain old style figures, but no small capitals. Fonts providing this character set typically contain SC and/or OSF in the name.
Type Designers of the World Library
Fonts in this library may not conform to standard character sets; some designers have chosen to customize their layout.
Why True Small Capitals
The following figure illustrates the design intention of small capitals. The first line shows electronically created small
Small
                  Capitals
capitals, produced by using a standard capital at a small point size. Note the slightly thin weight of these small capitals compared with the second line which produces a more pleasing colour by using true small capitals; ie capitals that were designed to be used at a small size.
Why Old Style Figures
The following figure illustrates the design intention of old style figures. The first line shows figures with upper and 
Old
                  Style Figures
lowercase text. Note how the text in line two appears more balanced with ascending and descending old style figures.

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