The resolution of the intended output device determines the number of pixels available for displaying any glyph. Based on the pixel grid of the output device, a font designer determines the lowest pixel per em (ppem) size that will produce satisfactory results for all other sizes. Usually this is 9 ppem, which is the equivalent of 9 points on a Macintosh computer, about 7 points on a VGA screen, and 5.5 points on a SVGA screen.
Note An em square equals the square of the point size, measured in F-units (or font units). The number of F-units per em square determines the resolution of the em square, or the maximum design coordinates the font designer can create in that space. The scaled size for rasterized outlines (bitmaps) is referred to in terms of pixels per em (ppem), or the number of pixels occupied by an em-square at that point size.
The Resolution menu lists the most common device resolutions. Usually, you hint at a particular resolution, but review your hinting at other resolutions to identify and correct conspicuous problems. If the resolution you need isn’t listed, you can use the Other Resolution command to set X and Y values for the device.
Use the Other Resolution command to customize X and Y values for an output device.
To change the device resolution
1. Select the Display menu.
2. On the Resolution submenu, click one of the listed sizes.
OR
1. Select the Display menu.
2. On the Resolution submenu, click Other Resolution.
3. After Resolution, type new values in the text boxes for (X) dpi and (Y) dpi.
4. Click OK.
OR
1. With the Main window selected, press Ctrl + Up arrow or Ctrl + Down arrow to cycle through the pre-defined resolutions listed in the Resolution submenu.