Scale-adaptive fonts and graphics

Abstract

Scale-adaptive fonts and graphics are disclosed. In some embodiments, an indication of a desired overall size for the graphic is received. The graphic is scaled to the desired overall size. A shape of the graphic is adapted to the desired overall scale at least in part by adjusting a thickness of at least a portion of the graphic in a manner that preserves one or more stylized features of the shape.

1 . A method of scaling a graphic, comprising:
 receiving via a user interface an indication of a desired overall size for the graphic; and   using a processor to scale the graphic to the desired overall size, at least in part by:
 scaling an associated spine in accordance with the desired overall size; and 
 adapting a shape of the graphic to the desired overall scale at least in part by adjusting, based at least in part on the desired overall size, a spine-to-outline distance from the spine to a point on an outline of the graphic. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spine is scaled prior to the shape being adjusted. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shape is adjusted prior to the spine being scaled. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the spine-to-outline distance includes multiplying the spine-to-outline distance by an adjustment factor that is based at least in part on a scaling factor applied or to be applied to scale the spine to the spine size associated with the desired overall size. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the spine-to-outline distance includes multiplying the spine-to-outline distance by an adjustment factor equal to the square root of a scaling factor applied or to be applied to scale the spine to the spine size associated with the desired overall size. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein scaling the spine includes scaling the outline to an outline size associated with the desired overall size. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further including receiving for the graphic a definition that includes a description of the outline and a description of the spine. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , further including providing a mapping function that maps each point on the outline to a corresponding point on the spine. 
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the description of the spine and the mapping function are included in a definition of the graphic under a font encoding format that provides for such a spine description and mapping function to be included. 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further including computing the spine. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further including converting the graphic from a first description format that does not include a spine definition to a second description format that does include a spine definition. 
     
     
         12 . A system for scaling a graphic, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive an indication of a desired overall size for the graphic; 
 scale the graphic to the desired overall size, at least in part by:
 scaling an associated spine in accordance with the desired overall size; and 
 adapting a shape of the graphic to the desired overall scale at least in part by adjusting, based at least in part on the desired overall size, a spine-to-outline distance from the spine to a point on an outline of the graphic; and 
 
   a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a definition for the graphic, the definition including at least description of the outline and a description of the spine.   
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to compute said description of the spine and store the computed spine description in said memory. 
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the graphic comprises a vector graphic defined by a vector graphic description of the outline and the processor is configured to compute said description of the spine based at least in part on said vector graphic description. 
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein adjusting the spine-to-outline distance includes multiplying the spine-to-outline distance by an adjustment factor that is based at least in part on a scaling factor applied or to be applied to scale the spine to the spine size associated with the desired overall size. 
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a display device coupled to the processor and wherein the processor is configured to cause the scaled graphic to be displayed on the display device. 
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide a mapping function that maps each point on the outline to a corresponding point on the spine. 
     
     
         18 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to in the memory a mapping function that maps each point on the outline to a corresponding point on the spine. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product for scaling a graphic, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
 receiving an indication of a desired overall size for the graphic;   scaling an associated spine in accordance with the desired overall size; and   adapting a shape of the graphic to the desired overall scale at least in part by adjusting, based at least in part on the desired overall size, a spine-to-outline distance from the spine to a point on an outline of the graphic.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program product as recited in  claim 19 , wherein adjusting the spine-to-outline distance includes multiplying the spine-to-outline distance by an adjustment factor that is based at least in part on a scaling factor applied or to be applied to scale the spine to the spine size associated with the desired overall size.