Method and apparatus for manipulating outlines in improving digital typeface on raster output devices

A computer display system for manipulating the outline of a symbol image at a plurality of output sizes and improving the display of a digital typeface on raster output device having an output resolution and having an array of pixels, said computer display system comprising:

• a first memory means for storing a plurality of control points corresponding to said outline of said symbol image, at least one of said control points having predetermined information specifying different positions of said at least one of said control points for at least two of said plurality of output sizes;
• selecting means coupled to said first memory means for selecting for manipulation at least one of said control points of said outline;
• size means for selecting a first size from said plurality of output sizes to display said outline at said first size on said raster output device;
• distance and direction calculating means for calculating a distance and direction by which said selected control point should be repositioned for said first size and said output resolution said calculating means being coupled to said size means;
• manipulation means for manipulating said outline by using the distance and direction calculated for said selected control point to reposition said selected control point;
• and
• a second memory means for storing the results of said outline manipulations and outputting said outlines so that symbol image may be displayed on said raster output device.

In a computer system having a raster type output device, a method for manipulating the outlines of a symbol image at various different sizes for improving the display of the output device, comprising:

• (a) storing a plurality of control points in a memory means of said computer system, a combination of said control points corresponding to an outline of said symbol image;
• (b) indicating a size at which said outline requires manipulation in order to provide a close representation of said symbol image on said raster device;
• (c) selecting at least one of said control points to be manipulated, said selection being made according to a predetermined criteria;
• (d) specifying a distance and direction through which said selected control point should be repositioned;
• (e) manipulating said outline by moving said selected control point through said specified displacement so as to place said selected control point in a new location;
• (f) repeating each of said steps (d) and (e) for each of said selected control points;
• and
• (g) storing the results of said manipulations in said memory means.