Simplifying complex characters to maintain legibility

A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for implementing a method of reducing at least one character stroke to improve character legibility for a scaled character bitmap produced from a character outline at a certain size and output resolution when the character outline is scan converted, wherein the method includes acts of:

• defining a character outline that comprises a plurality of strokes and one or more features that each comprises one or more of the plurality of strokes;
• defining one or more reference character sizes and output resolutions;
• comparing an actual character size and output resolution for the character to the one or more reference character sizes and output resolutions;
• classify the character into one or more semantic character classifications that each classify corresponding characters that have common features, including one or more strokes, that when modified, do not significantly alter the meaning or legibility of the characters classified by the corresponding semantic character classifications, and such that the semantic character classifications are based on semantics of characters rather than mere visual similarity of character strokes;
• defining one or more hinting instructions for the one or more semantic character classifications that the character is classified in and that preserve semantic meaning for the character, while reducing at least one stroke of at least one feature of the character without altering the character's meaning or legibility to a significant degree, and that are executed if the actual character size and output resolution falls within one of the reference character sizes and output resolutions, as opposed to defining the one or more hinting instructions based on the visual similarity of the character strokes.