Character generation with extracted and transformed skeleton data

A character pattern generating apparatus comprising:

• a memory for storing, in advance, character skeleton data representing skeleton shapes of characters and element outline data representing outline shapes of elements constituting the characters for each character style;
• a processor which (1) obtains outline shape data corresponding to one constituent element in character skeleton data from the element outline data and extracts therefrom element skeleton data for the constituent element;
• (2) transforms the extracted element skeleton data based on the character skeleton data and modifies the outline shape data in accordance with the transformation;
• and (3) generates a character pattern by using the modified outline shape data.

A character pattern generating method comprising:

• storing, in a memory, character skeleton data representing skeleton shapes of characters and element outline data representing outline shapes of elements constituting the characters for each character style;
• upon inputting of a character code and a character style code of a character to be generated, obtaining outline shape data corresponding to one constituent element in character skeleton data from the element outline data and extracting therefrom element skeleton data for the constituent element;
• transforming the extracted element skeleton data based on the character skeleton data and modifying the outline shape data in accordance with the transformation;
• and
• generating a character pattern by using the modified outline shape data.