Re: Fonts for sundials
On Thu, 9 Nov 2000, John Davis wrote: Does anyone know of a good source for computer fonts (preferably Windows-compatible) of antique characters? There are many sites with free- or share-ware fonts available. One that offers a few free sets, and has a LOT of quality fonts and graphics is: http://www.fontcraft.com/scriptorium Dave N37.29W121.97
beaded EOT DXF file available
Hello all: From what I'm hearing, some of you are finding it easier to open a DXF file of my beaded EOT graph. For some reason, when I convert a Delta Cad file to DXF, the beads (which are actually circles of small radii) are smaller than the beads on my original DC drawing. The lines are also thinner, but the text is all ok. Despite these differences, the graph is still good. If anyone would like the DXF file instead, let me know. John Carmichael Tucson AZ
Re: beaded EOT graph available
Hi John, I'd like a copy of the file, please. An alternative to an EoT graph (which some members of the public find surprisingly difficult to read), many old dials used a form of table, often curved around the dial. The months, with individual days, were laid out in a linear (or circular) strip, with a nonlinear scale of EoT (in whole minutes) running next to it. I've recently put this on a new dial, and find that it can be read to half a minute on any day. This is about the same accuracy that the 12 horizontal dial can be read to. Best regards, and thanks for making the DeltaCAD file available, John --- Dr J R Davis Flowton, UK 52.08N, 1.043E email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: John Carmichael [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: sundial@rrz.uni-koeln.de Sent: 08 November 2000 15:27 Subject: beaded EOT graph available Hello All: About a year ago, Tony Moss made some beautiful 4 x 8 inch bronze Equation of Time plaques for me. When we were working on their design, I originally wanted them to have horizontal lines of one minute increments and vertical lines of five day increments. This made a graph which was very busy with way too many closely spaced lines, so we ended up using horizontal lines of five minute increments and vertical lines with 5 day increments. To avoid using so many lines, I recently designed a beaded EOT graph with beads on the curve representing dates at ten day increments, and horizontal lines with one minute increments. I also indicate the solstices and equinoxes with larger beads. This version is attractive, precise and very easy to read. If anybody would like my original Delta Cad file (14.2 KB) of my beaded EOT graph please tell me and I'll send it as an attachment. (note: you must have Delta Cad to view this. Unfortunately,I tried converting the DC file to GIF, JPEG, and BMP files, but for some reason the beads don't show up in these formats). Best John Carmichael Tucson Arizona p.s To draw this graph on Delta Cad, I went about it in a roundabout way. Because there are no programs available for drawing customized Delta Cad EOT curves, I scanned the EOT graph in the Shadows generator program and placed the scanned photo in DC. Then I traced over all the lines, added some nice text and borders, then erased the photo. pps. It would be nice to have a DC macro which would allow the user to draw customized EOT graphs with different time and date increments and different allowable spacings between these lines. This way, you could make EOT curves of different sizes and shapes which would be convenient for adding to dial faces that have limited available free space.
Fonts for sundials
Hi all, Does anyone know of a good source for computer fonts (preferably Windows-compatible) of antique characters? Old hand-engraved dials had a very particular style which it is difficult to replicate with modern fonts. For example, the figure "8" was often flat-topped, as was the"3", and it and the "5"s and "7"s usually extended below the line. The Roman numerals for the hour-ring were usually very tall and thin, with extreme variations between the thick and thin strokes, and very narrow gapsbetween letters (eg in III). It is time-consuming generating these from scratch, or stretching existing characters. The reason for the question is that I'm making a replica or the 17th century dial (from poor-quality photos!) and it is difficult to get the "feel" right. Any help would be gratefully received. John - Dr J R DavisFlowton, UK52.08N, 1.043Eemail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: beaded EOT graph available
John Carmichael contributed: When designing a sundial, sometimes blank available space for an EOT graph on the sundial face is limited to a certain size and shape. It would be nice to be able to design EOT graphs of different shapes for this reason. This is a very simple task in Adobe Illustrator with the Draw Tools filter. A pre-drawn graph, complete with lines and numerals, can be skewed or stretched to fit any rectilinear shape, wrapped around a sphere, cone, cylinder etc. or even placed accurately on a waving flag of your own design with a few simple 'drags' and keystrokes. Contrary to popular belief I do not own shares in Adobe. :-) but I wish I did! Tony Moss P.S. Just to amuse myself I made a 'Waving Flag' out of the beaded EofT John kindly sent me and saved it as an Acrobat file which anyone with an Acrobat Reader/Viewer should be able to see. His DXF file was 'Opened' in Illustrator, text Converted to Outlines, Grouped, and committed to a Free Distort rectangle in Draw Tools which I'd previously dragged into a flag shape. The whole operation took less than a minute. It's only 170k. Copies on request. P.P.S. I'm not nutty enough to think that EofT Flags may have some use. This is merely to illustrate what is possible.
