GnuWin32: T1Lib

GnuWin32 T1Lib, a Development Tool from GnuWin32 under the IDE subcategory, stands out as a versatile library written in C. The latest version, 5.1, is designed to generate bitmaps from Adobe Type 1 fonts effectively. While initially created for use with X11R5 and newer, it cleverly avoids some well-known disadvantages associated with the original rasterizer.

One of the most notable advantages of GnuWin32 T1Lib is that even though it leverages the Type 1 rasterizer, having X11 is not a prerequisite, thus broadening its usability. The rasterizer is designed to be implemented as both a shared or static library, which offers flexibility to developers who need to link it to programs using Type 1 fonts.

Additionally, GnuWin32 T1Lib includes a test program called xglyph, which demonstrates the library's capabilities. As the name suggests, xglyph requires X11, but it runs straight out of the box without needing any X11 configuration, making it an excellent tool for showcasing the library's features.

Users looking to download this tool will find that it is completely free. Previous iterations are also available for those who might need them, although version 5.1 is the most up-to-date.

Pros:

• Implements functions for generating bitmaps from Type 1 fonts
• Does not require X11 for the rasterizer
• Available in both shared and static library formats
• Includes a robust test program, xglyph
• Completely free to download

Cons:

• xglyph still requires X11 to run, which can be a limitation for some users

You may want to check out more software, such as GnuWin32: GetText or GnuWin32: LibIconv, which might be similar to GnuWin32: T1Lib.