2008/6/2 jeff <moe@???>:
>
> Fonts have editable source code though. I mean, you can
> open a font in a *text* editor and change it.
You can open an SVG in a text editor and change it; we really need
something like Inkscape to do that properly though.
> This package contains 1 file: PCLite.sf2
> PCLite.sf2: RIFF (little-endian) data SoundFont/Bank
> It's quite similar to a .wav, in sum (basically a compilation of mini-wavs if I
> understand it correctly).
But this is about social policy, not technical detail :-) That it is a
compilation of data that could easily be several files is a minor
detail.
A compilation of stories need not be modifiable; a compilation of
political manifestos need not be modifiable; a compilation of how-tos
needs to be modifiable, since the job they explain how to do will
change.
Fonts are digital versions of type designs; the same type design can
be in metal, wood, or bitstreams. They are collections of very small
shapes that are recognised as letters and are intended to be arranged
into arbitary words; you can display a text using a well-spaced type
design and it reads easily, then display it again with a poorly spaced
type design and it reads poorly. People need to change the type
designs they use because they can improve or inhibit reading in
different contexts; font software adds an additional motivation for
having free type designs, since fonts can have bugs that need fixing
like other kinds of software (separate from the issue of the type's
design.)
SoundFonts are collections of very short recordings of sounds that are
arranged into musical compositions; you can play a composition using a
well-keyed soundfont and it sounds harmonious, then play it again with
a off-keyed soundfont and it sounds cacophonous. People need to change
the sounds in a soundfont in order to render compositions correctly;
akin to the piano tuner who works on physical pianos.
The license for this sound font permits converting to other formats,
which is also an issue for font software. But this is separate to the
issue of changing the sounds themselves, like changing the type design
versus converting the format of the curves from cubic Type 1 beziers
to quadratic TrueType beziers.
> I have contacted licensing@???. I don't know whether that means
> we get an answer in a day or a month or a year though.
I hope we hear back soon.
--
Regards,
Dave
I support
www.gnuherds.org -
democratic free software jobs
