AFAIK the standard fonts specified in the PDF spec match the base 14 fontset of PostScript which includes Helvetica, Times, Courier, Symbol and ZapfDingbats. Acrobat 3.x, I think, used Helvetica and Times. Current versions include Arial. Helvetica is then replaced by ArialMT. Furthermore, I've read (and experienced myself) that Arial (by Microsoft) is not the same as Helvetica. Don't know about ArialMT (by Adobe).
> Scott Moore wrote: > > There's a debate raging in our company right now about the use of Arial and > > Helvetica in FOP produced PDF. After careful examination of both fonts, I > > can see absolutely no difference, even though Helvetica has minor but > > distinguishable differences from Arial. > > > > I'm using the information on this website to distinguish between the two > > fonts: http://www.ms-studio.com/articlesarialsid.html > > > > It appears to me that Helvetica is actually Arial in the PDF. Even when I > > have Acrobat Reader 5.0 list the fonts, it says Helvetica maps to ArialMT. > > > > So, my question is: is this a problem with FOP or Acrobat Reader? Is > > Helvetica something that Acrobat Reader renders or did FOP use Arial for the > > Helvetica font? I'm not exactly sure how fonts work in PDF, but I've read > > Helvetica comes standard with PDF. I find it strange that Helvetica is > > mapping to Arial though. > > AFAIK the standard fonts supported by the Adobe tools (and the > PDF format) include Arial, but not Helvetica. The glyphs rendered > for FOP "Helvetica" are certainly taken from Arial. I'm not sure > whether the font metrics used by FOP is indeed generated from an > Helvetica font, or whether it is actually an Arial font, with the > name being some historic relict (AFAIK early PDF specs had > Helvetica instead of arial in them). Cheers, Jeremias Märki mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] OUTLINE AG Postfach 3954 - Rhynauerstr. 15 - CH-6002 Luzern Tel. +41 41 317 2020 - Fax +41 41 317 2029 Internet http://www.outline.ch
