Y. KOMACHI Proposal for standardization of Typeface classifications and their mappings

1. Typeface Font is a collection of character shapes (character representation displayed on a presentation surface, e.g., paper, computer screen, etc.) having the same design. Typeface is the design that characterizes a font. Sometimes it is called typeface design or face. Examples of font (from ISO/IEC ): Sha-ken ISHII FUTO GOTHIC MIN-CURL IWAKAGE FUTO GYOSHO

2. Purpose of typeface Major part of a document consist of characters, which are rendered to represent their shapes by using font data. Character strings are rendered as lines on a presentation surface in accordance with an appropriate document style/layout object (heading, paragraph, note, list, and etc.) for easy understanding of document semantics. In order to identify clearly each style object, several typefaces are employed in a document (e.g., Century Gothic for heading, Century for main text). A number of typefaces have been developed for many kinds of documents.

3. Requirements for typeface classification In a former days, specification of an appropriate typeface had been carried out by editing experts of printing companies or publishers. Today, however, we have document creation tools which can be used by authors as well as editing experts. Authors are not always experts of typeface and wish to be supported by a suggestion of appropriate typeface selection. Such a support can be done by a typeface classification.

4. Typeface classification Typefaces with similar features are grouped and classified. Those classes are represented as a tree structure. Typefaces within a class are often used for the same purpose. Therefore, typeface classification is applied to  font selection in a document creation  font substitution when there is no specified font  harmonized font selection in a multi-lingual document.

5. Existing typeface classification and its problems A typeface classification is shown in ISO/IEC Annex A, Typeface design grouping. (1) The classification of ISO/IEC is represented by a single three- level hierarchical structure. However, each country/area has basically its own typeface classification represented by its own multi-level hierarchical structure. (2) The ISO/IEC includes only Latin, Japanese and a few Arabic typefaces, and describes implicitly typeface mappings. (3) Typeface mapping should be specified separately between classifications. (4) Typeface classifications and their mappings should be independent from font architectures and font applications.

6. ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34 planning (1) In order to solve those problems of the ISO/IEC , ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34 proposed an NP of TS: Typeface classifications and their mappings, which includes 1 Scope 2 Normative references 3 Terms and definitions 4 Notation 5 Criteria for typeface classification 6 Typeface classifications 6.1 Latin typefaces 6.2 Chinese typefaces 6.3 Japanese typefaces 6.4 Korean typefaces 6.5 Arabic typafaces 6.6 Percian typefaces Classification mappings

6. ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34 planning (2) (1) Typeface classification of each country/region is represented by its own node tree and shown in its own clause. (2) Each National Body is expected to propose its own typeface classification. (3) Typeface mapping is specified in a separate clause. (4) The TS is an independent document from the existing ISO/IEC 9541.

7. Country specific typeface classifications We have the following country specific typeface classifications: Japanese typeface classification --- IPSJ-TS 0013, clause 5.3 Korean typefaces classification --- SC34/WG2 N444, Korean typeface classification

8. Expectation for the CJK-SITE In many countries, there are few experts on font/typeface who can participate to ISO meetings. The CJK-SITE is expected to find and appoint experts on font/typeface at least in China, Japan and Korea, and to ask them to join the discussion for standardization of typeface classifications by or face-to-face communication.