#281 three feature requests

[Bryce Harrison]

I'm hoping this is the correct place to post this. Please let me know if it should go somewhere else.

I use zint to create barcodes for product packaging and there's a couple little things that would make it perfect for me.

1. I'd like to be able to specify all font attributes. e.g. Helvetica Neue / Bold Condensed / 8 pt
2. When exporting a vector file (eps), the option to have the fonts converted to outlines.
3. When selecting colors, the option to specify a CMYK color instead of an RGB one.

[Git Lost]

Hi Bryce yes this is the place!

Re 1. support for specifying a font by name including styles and sizes is planned for the next release hopefully.

Re 2. interesting, will keep "outline" in mind, may be restricted to vector output initially.

Re 3 I can see how this would be handy. Do you use the CLI (zint command) or the API (library) primarily? The CLI has a --cmyk option in case you missed it (API output_options |= CMYK_COLOUR), although being able to specify the CMYK values directly would obviously be nicer. Thinking about it, allowing a format such as "100,75,33,100" could be the way to go, where the values are in percentages, and the presence of the commas would differentiate it from RGB. Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks very much for the feedback, Martin

[Bryce Harrison]

1. That's awesome!
2. It's something that would only be relevant for vector files. Some packaging vendors (and printers in general) will require all fonts to be converted to outlines instead of being embedded.
3. I use the QT frontend because I generally only need to make a couple at a time but your string with commas looks reasonable to me if wanted to use the command line. The big thing is just being able to specify a color easily in CMYK format for those odd times I want something other than black.

Thanks for your quick response!

[Git Lost]

Re 2. ah I see, was thinking you just wanted a text effect. Converting fonts to outlines could be the way to go to embed fonts in vector files, especially given the low amount of text normally in barcodes, will need to do some research...

Re 3. cool, will aim to get specifying CMYK into the next release...

Thanks!

[Dominik Springer]

Hi Martin! Looking forward to change the font (currently Helvetica) to another font. Will this option be also available from the GUI in the upcomming release as well?

[Git Lost]

Hi Dominik, thanks for the feedback, yes, it will be available from both the GUI and the CLI, as well as the API, all the best, Martin