Aligning Control Points

What looks like a straight row of control points might become distorted by hinting applied to the various points. However, you may need to keep the points on the same line.

To align three or more points, you can control them with the Align tool. Aligning is similar to interpolating in that you align one or more “child” points between two “parent” points.

Because aligns don’t have an X or Y direction, you create all aligns with one tool:

Align tool icon

When you select the Align tool, the pointer changes to two diagonal arrowheads:

Align tool cursor

First you drag from one parent control point to the other. A black arrow appears, with a rounded tail at each parent point. The arrow is flexible, like a rubber band. When you drag the arrow (avoiding the tail or arrowhead) onto a point that’s between the parents, the original arrow divides. Both arrows end in rounded-tip arrowheads at the child point.

If another point is to be aligned with these, drag either arrow onto the point, and the pair of arrows becomes a chain of arrows connecting all the points to be aligned. You can align any number of points.

Zooming in will help you see the control points you’re trying to align. If the arrow hides a control point you want to align, drag the arrow away until you can see the point, then drag it back onto the point.

To delete an Align, drag the rounded-tip arrowhead off each child point. When you do this for the last remaining child point, the arrow disappears.

Tip When you’re not working with aligns, you can hide them to make more room on the screen for other visual hinting. In the Display Options dialog, you can set the Aligns option to show or hide Align commands.

Two aligns applied to the capital A

Two aligns, applied to the same “A,” each align four points on the inside edge of the glyph outline.

To align three or more points

1.       In the Visual TrueType Options submenu of the Display menu, ensure that the Show Y Direction option is enabled.

2.      Select the Align tool by clicking its icon in the toolbar.

3.      If necessary, zoom in for a better view (for details, see Resizing the View).

4.     Drag to connect the two “parent” points.

5.      Position the pointer on the black connector line.

6.     Drag the line to the “child” point.

7.      For any other point to be aligned, repeat Steps 5 and 6.

To delete an align

1.       Select the Align tool by clicking its icon in the toolbar.

2.      Drag the rounded-tip arrowhead off each child point, one at a time.