Page:A contribution to computer typesetting techniques - tables of coordinates for Hershey's repertory of occidental type fonts and graphic symbols (IA contributiontoco424wolc).pdf/7

 Tables of Coordinates for Hershey's Repertory of Occidental Type Fonts and Graphic Symbols

by

Norman M. Wolcott

Computer Services Division

and

Joseph Hilsenrath

Office of Standard Reference Data

These tables present coordinates from which it is possible to generate 1377 different alphabetic and graphic characters on either COM devices or on digital plotters The tables, originally developed by Dr A. V. Hershey of the Naval Weapons Laboratory, are augmented here by corresponding figures which show for each character the location of the tabulated points and the manner in which they are connected The tables can be used with existing typographic systems to compose pages for scientific and mathematical publications of graphic arts quality either on COM devices or flat-bed plotters. Numerous applications are discussed and illustrated The tables are also available on a magnetic tape in either BCD or ASCII format from the National Technical Information Service

Keywords: alphabets, COM, computerized typesetting digital plotting, graphics, Hershey character set, plotting, type fonts, typesetting, vectorized characters

1. Introduction

So seldom does one find, outside of the mathematical literature, a man's name in the title of a publication that a few words of explanation are in order The tables and illustrations show how to draw, either on cathode ray tubes (CRT) or on x-y plotters, 1377 characters and symbols in such detail as to provide esthetically pleasing, and economically viable alternatives to classical and even more modern methods of "setting type" for technical publications. The wide variety of alphabets and symbols illustrated in this publication can be generated on vector plotters by connecting the points given in these tables. This method of digitizing graphic-arts characters allows them to be generated on any device which can plot vectors of arbitrary length and direction. The tables are used in conjunction with typographic computer programs to drive plotters and COM (Computer Output on Microfilm) devices.

The determination of the location and number of points to use in approximating a particular character requires a rare combination of interests and talents For one