What are open type features in the font? And how to activate them.
A font file can include a few extended, hidden functions, these are OpenType features. They help organize text information more effectively, and which ones are useful depends on your needs and aesthetic preferences. First, the font itself has to include OpenType features. If it does, here’s how to turn them on. Look at these examples.
1. Tabular figures
2. Stylistic set
Good for orientation in the list of numbers. OFF/ON.
Choice of the letter ‘a’ double story/letter ‘a’ single story. DEFAULT/STYLISTIC SET
Activation in Adobe InDesign:
Main menu / Type / Character / Open type / ▸ Tabular figures
Activation in Adobe InDesign:
Main menu / Type / Character / Open type / Stylistic sets / ▸ Set 01
3. Uppercase hyphen, endash, at, question down ¿ and more
4. Variable font
Geometric centre alignment for lowercase and uppercase. CASE OFF/CASE ON
OFF – static styles/ON – choice of style from a whole typeface scale
Activation in Adobe InDesign:
Main menu / Type / Character / ▸ All caps
Activation in Adobe Illustrator:
Main menu / Type / Character / ▸ Variable Font (icon next to type style)
5. Ligatures
Good for fluent text. OFF/ON
Activation in Adobe InDesign:
Main menu / Type / Character / ▸ Ligatures