Microsoft VOLT (Visual OpenType Layout Tool) is a free, professional program used to add OpenType layout tables to fonts containing TrueType outlines. It provides a graphical user interface to implement complex typographic behavior—such as ligatures, contextual alternates, and precise glyph positioning—without requiring you to write raw code. Key Capabilities of VOLT
Glyph Substitutions (GSUB): Maps characters to specific layout features like ligatures, small caps, old-style numerals, and swashes.
Glyph Positioning (GPOS): Controls two-dimensional placement, including kerning, mark-to-base attachment, and mark-to-mark stacking.
Complex Script Support: Extensively used by type designers to handle scripts with intricate shaping rules like Arabic, Devanagari (Hindi), Bengali, and Thai. Step-by-Step Workflow to Build a Font 1. Import Your Base Font
You do not draw vector outlines directly in VOLT. You must first design your glyph shapes in an external font editor (like FontLab, Glyphs, or FontCreator) and export a standard .ttf file.
Open VOLT and go to File > Open Font to load your .ttf project. 2. Organize Glyph Groups
Grouping similar glyphs simplifies writing rules for multiple characters at once. Open the Glyph Group Tool.
Group your glyphs by function (e.g., all lowercase vowels, all digits, or all uppercase letters). Give the group a clear name for easy reference later. 3. Build the Feature Tree
You need to define the scripts and languages your font supports. Developing OpenType Fonts for Standard Scripts – Typography
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