How to make a non-spacing and non-marking glyph?

Question

Inspired by:

1. The new Kellum method
2. Adobe Blank
3. GitHub: jpkempf / zero-width-web-font

... I'd like to add non-spacing and non-marking glyphs to a font I've created in FontLab Studio 5.

The only problem is, I'm not sure how to do it.

Question: How do I create non-spacing and non-marking glyphs (in FontLab)?

I'm using FontLab Studio. Though, I would be open to hearing how I'd go about making non-spacing and non-marking glyphs in general (or, in other apps). I'm hoping that even if I don't get FontLab Studio-specific guidance, maybe hearing how to do it in other apps will point me in the right direction for when it comes to using FLS.

Note: This is for a "logo" web font. I'd like to type "Business Name", where the "B" is the logo, and the other letters are non-spacing and non-marking glyphs.

Answer 1

Update:

For more information on this technique, see forum thread here.

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Note: Full credit for this answer goes to @yakunins and his answer above.

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Using FontLab Studio v5.1.3, Mac:

1) Open .vfb:

Assuming you already have your icon/logo setup:

2) Enable desired "blank" glyphs:

For this font, here's a list of characters I want to be non-spacing and non-marking:

. C E H I K L M O S U Y c e h i k l m o s u y

Note: The above will allow me to type my domain name, or real name, where only the "M" or "m" will produce a character.

Note: I'm not applying blank characters to all glyphs because I'm going to subset only the characters above when generating the web font versions at Font Squirrel (using the "Expert" mode).

Double-click to "enable" each desired glyph. The end result should look something like this:

Note: After double clicking, you'll notice that the "Glyph Properties" window will assign that glyph default values:

2) Select only the blanks:

Using Command + Click, select all of the blank glyphs:

3) Make all the glyphs to have zero width:

Choose: Tools → Action... → Metrics → Set width (0 C).

In the "Set width to" input field, type 0 and click "Ok".

Note: If prompted, click "yes" to apply to all selected glyphs.

4) Scale all the contours in glyphs to zero sized area:

Choose: Tools → Action... → Contour → Scale.

Check the "Proportional Scale" check box and type "0.01" into the "Horizontal Scale" input field.

Do not apply to entire font (as we only want to apply the scale to the selected glyphs).

Note: If prompted, click "yes" to apply to all selected glyphs.

5) Remove all hints, classes and kerning pairs:

Choose: Tools → Action... → Hints and Guidelines → Remove hints/guides [BL N].

Note: If prompted, click "yes" to apply to all selected glyphs.

6) Remove all contours and points:

Choose: Tools → Action... → Contour → CleanUp [E,4] → Simplify paths.

Uncheck "Insert nodes at extremes (recommended)" box and type "1" into the "Simplify paths" input field.

Note: If prompted, click "yes" to apply to all selected glyphs.

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Notes:

Feedback? Did I miss a step or do something wrong?

Answer 2

I just made such font in this way:

1. I made all the glyphs to have zero width: Ctrl+A → Tools → Action → Metrics → Set width (0)
2. I scaled all the contours in glyphs to zero sized area: Scale (1%) × 3 times
3. I removed all hints (via actions), classes and kerning pairs, you'll figure it out
4. Trick! I removed all contours and points: Ctrl+A → Tools → Action → Contour → CleanUp → Simplify paths (1)

Voila! You can choose a font on Google Fonts for this purpose. I guess there are many fonts that license endorse this kind of edits.