OpenType vs TrueType: Difference and Comparison

TrueType is a particular variation of a font created by Apple in the 1980s. TrueType has been widely used in computers and desktops since its creation. Its development, however, began far earlier than Opentype’s in the 1980s.

Key Takeaways

  1. OpenType fonts support many characters and are more versatile for multilingual typography.
  2. TrueType fonts use quadratic Bézier curves for precise control over glyph shapes, while OpenType fonts can use either quadratic or cubic Bézier curves.
  3. OpenType fonts offer advanced typographic features such as ligatures, stylistic sets, and alternate glyphs, which are unavailable in TrueType fonts.

Opentype vs Truetype

OpenType is a special type of font that was developed by Microsoft and Adobe as part of a collaboration between the two companies, and it uses the compact font format. TrueType is a specific variation of unique fonts developed by Apple, and it is used only on Apple desktops and computers.

Opentype vs Truetype

No matter Opentype’s greatness, it will always fall short of the widely used TrueType. The process of creating Opentype typefaces is a difficult one. As a result, the market for Opentype typefaces is small and constrained.

Truetype exclusively uses glyph tables for its operations. Glyph tables are used to draw characters accurately on the screen. Truetype additionally uses hinting to adjust the control so that the rasterizer can build and display better pictures and images of the characters.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonOpentypeTruetype
Developed byMicrosoft and AdobeApple
TimelineRecent developmentDeveloped much earlier

Based on
Adobe’s Type 1, TrueTypeUnique ideas
Operated viaGlyph tables, CFFGlyph tables only
CreationDifficultEasy

What is Opentype?

Opentype is a type of font created by Adobe and Microsoft as part of a collaborative venture. Opentype was created recently to compete with Truetype’s success while still incorporating some of Truetype’s features.

Adobe’s Type 1 and Apple‘s Truetype were the foundations for the creation and emergence of Opentype. On the other hand, Opentype’s structure was built on other pre-existing market items.

Opentype uses the more advanced CFF or Compact Font Format, which uses cubic Bezier spines, glyph tables, and state-of-the-art typographic elements instead of quadratic splines.

Regardless of how good Opentype is, it will always fall short of TrueType’s widespread popularity. Opentype font development is a difficult endeavour.

What is Truetype?

TrueType is a particular font variation created in the 1980s by a company called Apple. TrueType has been widely used in computers and desktops since its inception.

Truetype’s emergence and development were not based on any other pre-existing ideas but rather on Apple’s creation. Truetype’s operations are limited to glyph tables.

TrueType’s importance and superiority are unrivalled because of its early market penetration. It does, however, always rank higher than Opentype.

Because TrueType fonts have been around for decades, many people are familiar with the process of creating them.

Main Differences Between Opentype and Truetype

  1. It doesn’t matter how superior Opentype is, but it always remains under the highly popular TrueType. On the other hand, Due to the early penetration of TrueType into the market, its importance and superiority are unparalleled. However, it always remains above Opentype as well.
  2. The process of the creation of Opentype fonts is a bit challenging task. Therefore the availability of Opentype fonts in the market is less and limited. On the other hand, as TrueType has been in the market for centuries, many people are well aware of the process of the creation of TrueType fonts. Therefore, TrueType fonts are available in plenty of markets and are downloadable and free.
References
  1. https://userfiles.faso.us/7105/6456.pdf

Last Updated : 11 June, 2023

dot 1
One request?

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

11 thoughts on “OpenType vs TrueType: Difference and Comparison”

  1. The in-depth review of Opentype and Truetype is a valuable addition to understanding typographic choices. It’s essential to be aware of the differences between them.

    Reply
  2. The development and history of Truetype and Opentype are fascinating. It’s interesting to learn more about their differences and what sets them apart.

    Reply
  3. The history and origins of Opentype and Truetype are very distinguishing. There is much to learn from this detailed comparison.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!