Generate Playdate compatible font files (.fnt) from your imported Font Book files.
Use as the basis for creating your own unique custom PlayDate fonts.
Because fontsheet is converting smooth high resolution vector fonts into low res monochrome bitmaps some fettling1 with a tool like Caps (https://play.date/caps/) will be required to tune the font files to best meet your needs.
fontsheet
The core parameters
./fontsheet ./sample/glyphs.txt -o ./fontFolder -f MyTTFFont -s 20 -n MyPlaydateFont
| glyphs.txt | This is a file containing a single glyph per line. It feeds fontsheet the glyphs symbols to be included in the generated font file. space is a special keyword in indicate the glyph for… a space. |
--output or -o |
The folder to save the new Playdate font files |
--font or -f |
The name of a font to convert that is installed in the Font Book app. The Postscript Name in the Font Book information panel is usally the best choice for the name value. |
--size or -s |
The point size to render. |
--name or -n |
The save name for the font. |
Including the --embedded flag will create a self contained .fnt file that includes font pixel data embedded inside the file. A sample-*.png file is created as a visual reference but can be deleted without affecting the .fnt file.
For more options read ./fontsheet --help
- MacOS 14+
- Swift 5
From the Mac Terminal app.
This will install a sample font and then convert it to a .fnt file to demonstrate how the tool works.
cd ~/Developer
git clone [email protected]:ChrisFromHexx/PlayDateFontSheet.git
cd ./PlaydateFontsheet
./scripts/installSampleFont.sh
./scripts/setupFontSheet.sh
This will build the tool.
cd ~/Developer
git clone [email protected]:ChrisFromHexx/PlayDateFontSheet.git
cd ./PlaydateFontsheet
swift build -c release
cp .build/release/fontsheet .
./fontsheet --help
The source code of Fontsheet for Playdate is licensed under the MIT license. The license for the Bitstream Vera font is found with the font files. Playdate is a registered trademark of Panic.
Footnotes
-
Fettling; to trim or clean rough edges ↩