Helvetica Font off centre

[Brendon Reid]

Hi All

I have encountered a Font issue that is not specific to Archicad version or platform. I have a commercial Font (Helvetica) that displays offset from its centre. It means that when called into an object (such as a Label or Marker etc), it never displays in the position intended. See attached image: 'OFFSET FONT' is the offending font - notice it sits higher in its bounding box. 'PERFECTLY ALIGNED FONT' is how most other fonts locate within its bounding box. It has nothing to do with the Text Style setting 'Leading' as this is set to 100%.

I have tested this in multiple Archicad versions (22,23,24,25) and on both Windows 10 and Mac OS 10 and 11. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know of a fix? It is driving me around the bend!

[Lingwisyer]

So, if you line up the bottoms of two text boxes, and put multiple lines of text in both, one in Helv LT Pro and the other in some other default font, the top lines become out of line?

[Karl Ottenstein]

If it is happening on both platforms, Brendon, then it is likely a glitch in the invisible 'font metrics' embedded in that OpenType font.  You might look for a free font editor that lets you examine the metrics, or see if the vendor has an update.

If you have Adobe apps, you might try seeing what the bounding box is in Illustrator or Photoshop vs a font that centers text vertically?

[Karl Ottenstein]

P.S. to last message (can't edit message from Safari for some reason)... I just tested with Photoshop... and a variety of the 100's of fonts I have show the issue you're seeing.  In PS, if you have it, place some text, highlight it, and then with the font drop-down, just moved your mouse down the list of fonts.   The text changes dynamically as rapidly as you drag into the various fonts... and all kinds of fonts have spacing like you're seeing... and some much worse.  I'm guessing that the font metrics for these fonts allocate space for some kind of subscripts or other below-the-line elements included in the font.   So.... I'd recommend just switching to a font that 'works' (or get a font editor and 'fix' yours if attached to it).

[Brendon Reid]

Hi Ling

See attached. You are right, the Line Spacing is actually impacted. Other than the font itself, the text settings are identical

[Brendon Reid]

Hi Karl

Really appreciate you looking into this and making comments. Unfortunately, I think you might be right! It is frustrating that these problems aren't identified until after their purchase!

[Lingwisyer]

Ok, so AC lets fonts dictate the line spacing. Always used the same two fonts that have the same spacing so did not know that. If you are able to edit the font, you will want to increase the Ascent of the font.

Ling.