Abstract: A multiple master typeface can generate and display kanji characters. The graphical elements of the characters in the typeface are classified into shape types, and a glyph set is provided for each shape type. Each glyph set contains base glyphs which represent the variations in the shape type. To generate the character, the shape type of and position of each element in the character is identified. For each element in the character, a weighting factor is determined for each base glyph in the glyph set for the shape type of that element. A composite element is created from the base glyphs in the glyph set for the shape type of that element. The relative contribution of each base glyph to the composite element is determined by the weighting factors determined for that element and that base glyph. To display the character, the composite elements are placed in the identified positions.

Abstract: A method of displaying predefined characters contained in a font which maintain their artistically pleasing shapes as font design properties change over a font design axis (which defines a variable font design property) including the steps of:(1) including within each character definition a character-specific transition point which will be used to select a predefined character attribute of the character when it is displayed, the transition point lying along the font design axis;(2) selecting a value for the variable font design property of the character along the font design axis, and then determining a predefined character attribute for the character based upon the location of the selected value in relation to the character-specific transition point along the font design axis; and(3) displaying the character using the selected value of the variable font design property and the determined, predefined character attribute.