I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace

The main interface of FontLab 7 adopts a modular design, primarily divided into the following areas:

Top Menu Bar and Toolbar: Contains main menus such as File Operations, Edit, View, Text, Tools, and Window, as well as shortcut icons for commonly used tools (such as Select, Pen, Zoom).
Left Panel: Typically displays the “Font Panel,” showing all glyphs in the font in a list or grid format. Clicking any glyph opens it in the main editing area.
Central Main Editing Area: The core area for font design, displaying the outline paths, nodes, and metric lines (baseline, x-height line, etc.) of the current glyph. Supports multiple tabs for editing multiple glyphs simultaneously.
Right Panel: Integrates several key function panels:
- “Info” Panel: Displays metadata of the current glyph, such as its name, Unicode, and shortcut keys.
- “Layers” Panel: Manages different layers such as outlines, components, and background references.
- “Nodes” Panel: When a path node is selected, allows precise adjustment of coordinates, node type (corner, smooth), and other properties.
- “Metrics” Panel: Sets the sidebearings, width, and other metrics of glyphs.
Bottom Status Bar: Displays information such as the current zoom ratio, cursor coordinates, and operation hints.

II. Complete Workflow from Creating a Project to Exporting

1. Create or Open a Project

Create a New Font Project: Click the menu bar “File” → “New” → “Font” (shortcut Cmd + N). In the dialog that appears, set initial parameters such as the font family name, style, and units (typically 1000 UPM).

Open an Existing Project: Click “File” → “Open” (shortcut Cmd + O). Supports multiple formats including .vfj (FontLab project files), .ufo, .otf, .ttf, and more.

2. Design Glyph Outlines

In the “Font Panel” on the left, double-click a character (such as the lowercase letter “a”) to open it in the main editing area.
Use the “Pen Tool” in the toolbar (or press B) to draw Bezier curve outlines directly.
Use the “Node Tool” (or press A) to select and adjust path nodes and their control handles to precisely shape the form.
Use the “Layers” panel to import background reference images (such as sketch photos) and place them on the bottom layer to assist drawing.

3. Set Glyph Metrics and Spacing

Ensure that character width and spacing are correct during typesetting:

In the main editing area, drag the vertical metrics lines on both sides of the character (the left sidebearing line and the right sidebearing line) to adjust the character’s sidebearings.
Alternatively, in the “Metrics” panel on the right, directly enter the values for “Left Sidebearing” and “Right Sidebearing.”
Use the “Preview” button in the “Standard” toolbar (or press Cmd + T) to open the preview panel, then enter test text to see how the character actually looks in context within words.

4. Use Components and Masters to Improve Efficiency

For repeated elements (such as the dots on the letters “i” and “j”):

First design the outline of the “dot,” then select it in the Font panel.
Click the menu bar “Glyph” → “Create Component” to save it as a component.
When editing “i,” drag the component from the “Components” panel into the editing area and align it with the vertical stem.
For multi-weight typefaces, you can use the “Masters” feature (open it via “Window” → “Master Manager”) to generate intermediate weights between the Thin and Black masters.

5. Generate and Export Font Files

Once you have designed enough characters, click the menu bar “File” → “Generate Fonts” (shortcut Cmd + Alt + G).
In the Generate dialog box, select the output format (e.g., .otf or .ttf) and set the detailed font metadata (pre-filled in “Font Info”).
Click the “Generate” button, choose a save path, and you can export a complete font file that can be installed on macOS or used in layout software.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

Quickly unify spacing: Select multiple characters and use the “Unify Metrics” feature in the “Metrics” panel to batch-apply the same left and right sidebearing values.
Smart pen tool tricks: Use the “Smart Pen Tool” (Shift + B) to automatically determine whether you are creating a new node, extending a path, or closing a path while drawing, greatly improving drawing efficiency.
Path operations: Select two overlapping closed paths and use Boolean operations such as “Merge,” “Intersect,” and “Subtract” under the “Path” menu to quickly create complex shapes.
Automate with Python scripts: FontLab 7 has built-in Python support. You can run or write scripts via the “Scripts” menu to automate repetitive tasks such as batch-renaming glyphs and automatically adjusting metrics.

IV. Common Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: The software responds slowly or lags when drawing or editing.
Solution: Check whether the characters being edited contain too many redundant nodes (you can use the “Path” → “Simplify” feature to optimize them). Also, in “FontLab” → “Preferences” → “Performance,” try reducing the rendering quality of “Real-time Effects.”

Issue 2: The exported font displays differently in other software compared to the preview within FontLab.
Solution: First, make sure that before generating the font, you have used the Cmd + T preview panel and tested various font sizes. Inconsistencies usually stem from incorrect contour direction (which should be counterclockwise) or the presence of extremely small open paths. Use the “Path” → “Check Contours” feature to find and fix the problem.

Issue 3: How can I quickly set a uniform x-height or ascender/descender height for a large number of characters?
Solution: Use the “Master” feature. Define these key metrics in two masters respectively, then generate intermediate weights through the “Master Manager”; the software will automatically interpolate the contours and metrics for all characters.

V. FontLab 7 for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Summary Table

Function	Shortcut	Description
New Font	`Cmd + N`	Create a new font project
Open Font	`Cmd + O`	Open an existing font file
Save	`Cmd + S`	Save the current project
Generate Font	`Cmd + Alt + G`	Open the Generate Font dialog
Undo	`Cmd + Z`	Undo the previous operation
Redo	`Cmd + Shift + Z`	Redo the undone operation
Selection Tool	`V`	Switch to the Selection tool
Node Tool	`A`	Switch to the Node editing tool
Pen Tool	`B`	Switch to the Pen drawing tool
Smart Pen Tool	`Shift + B`	Switch to the Smart Pen tool
Zoom In	`Cmd + +`	Zoom in the editing view
Zoom Out	`Cmd + -`	Zoom out the editing view
Fit to Window	`Cmd + 0`	Fit the current character to the editing window size
Toggle Preview	`Cmd + T`	Open/close the text preview panel
Check Contours	`Cmd + Shift + I`	Check the current character’s contours for errors
Show/Hide Grid	`Cmd + '`	Toggle the display of the background grid