Neglected Factors in Arabic Fonts

AzizMostafa
29.Apr.2006 12.41am
AzizMostafa's picture

Peace be on All Friends,
The attached file shows One Arabic Word in 3 different Styles:
Two Computerized and the other Calligraphed (top)...

This 4-letter word begins with the egg-shaped letter (Sad) and ends with (ö),
The 2nd letter has 2 arms (like >) and the 3rd looks like dotless j.

Which style is more attractive, shorter (less horizontal) and more comfortable to the eyes?

The Top! That’s right. Why? For 4 reasons:
> the 2nd letter's upper-arm shouldered the 1st letter that happily hoped on and its lower-arm curved slightly to join the third letter
> the 3rd letter coiled itself slightly to fill(kill) the gap it makes with (ö), and
> The last letter (ö) moved up and right as she always likes to be snuggled.

Slight yet Smart Changes?

Technically Speaking, the first 2 letters are ligatured and the last 2 letters are kerned. Or: Ligatures integrate 2 or more letters into one and Kerning narrows the gap between 2 letters.

By and large, in order to join appropriately to neighbouring letters (where applicable),
1. Letter Tails (not heads) slightly change to achieve smooth connection, and
2. Meem, Ha and likewise letters (Jeem and Kha) shoulder earlier Letters.

To get all the Calligraphical possibilities of each and every letter, go explore:
http://qurankareem.info/a/OthmanyFonts.zip
http://qurankareem.info/a/othmanyQuran.zip


Hope Designers won’t neglecte these 2 factors in their coming fonts.
Happy Exploring with Flowers

AzizMostafa
12.Sep.2008 5.43am
AzizMostafa's picture

Here is a line by line translation into Malay Language thankfully translated by Syilla from Malaysia.

The attached picture shows One Arabic Word in 3 different Styles: 2Computerized and one Calligraphed (top)
(Gambar yang dikepilkan menunjukkan satu huruf arab dalam 3 stail yang berlainan : 2 dikomputerkan (agaknya diimbas (scan)) dan satu kaligrafi (diatas).

This 4-letter word begins with the egg-shaped letter (Sad) and ends with õ
(4 huruf bermula dengan huruf berbentuk telur (Sad-huruf jawi) dan diakhiri dengan õ

The second letter has 2 arms (upper and lower) and the third looks like j without dot
(Huruf kedua ada dua lengan (diatas dan dibawah) dan yang ketiga seperti j tanpa titik)

Which word is more attractive, shorter (less horizontal) and more comfortable to the eyes
(HUruf mana yang lebih nampak menarik, lebih pendek dan lebih sedap mata memandang)
...
...
That's right: The Top
(Ya betul : Yang di atas)
...
...
Why? For 4 reasons:
(Kenapa? Ada 4 sebab)

the upper-arm of the seconed letter shouldered the first letter that happily hoped on
(Lengan atas bagi huruf kedua memberi tumpang kepada huruf pertama)

the lower arm of the second letter curved slightly to join the third letter, and
(lengan dibawah bagi huruf kedua sedikit melengkung untuk bersambung dengan huruf ketiga, dan)

the third letter coiled itself slightly to fill (kill) the gap it makes with the last letter
(Huruf ketiga berlingkar sendiri sedikit untuk memenuhi ruang kosong dan menjadikan huruf terakhir)

The last letter moved up and right as she always likes to be snuggled
(Huruf terakhir berada diatas dan dikanan kerana dia suka meringkuk dgn selesa)
...
...
Slight yet Smart Changes?!
(sedikit tapi perubahan yang bijak)
...
...
By and large, in order to join appropriately to neighbouring letters (where applicable
(untuk menyambung dengan huruf-huruf yang bersebelahan (dimana sesuai))

Letter Tails (not heads) slightly change to achieve smooth connection, and
(Ekor huruf diubah untuk menghasilkan sambungan yang lancar dan rata)

Meem, Ha and likewise letters (Jeem and Kha) shoulder earlier Letters
(Meen, Ha dan huruf Jeem dan Kha menumpangkan huruf sebelumnya)

Technically Speaking, the first 2 letters are ligatured and the last 2 letters are kerned
(Secara teknikalnya, 2 huruf yang pertama diikat dan huruf kedua terakhir di keluarkan sedikit)

Ligatures integrate 2 or more letters into one and Kerning narrows the gap between 2 letters
(Pengikatan memerlukan 2 atau lebih huruf menjadi satu dan pemanjangan mengurangkan ruang diantara 2 huruf)

Hope I have succeeded in clarifying 2 factors often neglected by Arabic/Jawi font designers
(Saya berharap saya telah berjaya dalam penerangan 2 faktor yang selalunya diabaikan oleh penulis khat arab/jawi)

All the Best
(Semoga Berjaya)
____________________________________
Translation into Other languages is highly appreciated with Flowers


adam73
20.May.2009 2.14am
adam73's picture

salam to azizmostafa.
i hope you are fine and in good health too.
i am habib from malaysia i met with you at PWTC KUALALUMPUR. DOYOU STILL REMEMBER ME I HOPE SO.
actually i bought alkhatat from you but right i didn't install it. due to i want to buy new laptop for my self. i think next month i will get new one inshallah.

regarding this matter ALKHATATsoft that i bought it from you will be still in good condition and ready to be used. i need your conformation..... Aziz

i am looking forward to hearing from you.

with best regards

Habib
6122246310
goldenman73@yahoo.com
www.ameenbooks.com.my


AzizMostafa
23.May.2009 11.57pm
AzizMostafa's picture

Thanks Habib for Choosing Jawi Khattat (MirEmad).

Unless you want to use Windwos Vista or Word 2007,
You do not need to upgrade your PC to run MirEmad.

Thanks once again with Flowers.


adam73
25.May.2009 12.50am
adam73's picture

ANY BODY CAN HELP ME:
I HAVE INSTALLED THE ALKHATATSOFT IN FORM OF MirEmad.
i wonder why the softwere didn't ask me for the code...??
please i need some answers here, one more thing i cann't use it once i klick on Mirmad shows nothing.... and if you do have some thing like installer guide...step by step guide.


AzizMostafa
26.May.2009 10.58pm
AzizMostafa's picture

Salam Habib, I have emailed you the answer.
Sorry, I could not answer you earlier.
But please, post MirEmad-related Q+As here:
http://typophile.com/node/48495
Thanks with Flowers