Definition

Guidelines are moveable lines which can be used as visual aids during the design process. They are defined by a point and an angle, and are not part of the glyph’s contours.

Guidelines can be of two kinds:

font-level (global)
displayed in all glyphs
glyph-level (local)
displayed in one glyph only

Each guideline may also have a color attribute and a unique identifier.

Adding guidelines

To create a new guideline, right-click on the Glyph View and select “Add Local Guideline” from the contextual menu.

Or use the Click + add guidelines hot key (default is G) to create a new guideline.

Removing guidelines

To remove a guideline, click and drag it outside the Glyph View. You’ll see a X appearing near the cursor.

Editing guides

Guidelines can be edited with the Guidelines Sheet or the [Guidelines Inspector][Guidelines].

Actions

action description
Click + add guidelines hot key (default is G) Add a guideline
Click + ⌥ + add guidelines hot key (default is G) Add a global guideline
Click + ⇧ + add guidelines hot key (default is G) Add a guideline following the italic angle (if set in the current font)
Double-click on a guide Open the Guidelines Sheet
Drag out of the view Delete the guideline
⌥ + drag Rotate the guideline
⌃ + drag Copy the guideline
Mouse over Cursor displays guideline values
Drag over point in glyph Snap the guideline to a point

Guidelines popover

All guideline properties can be edited with a Guidelines popover, which can be opened by double clicking on a guideline using the Editing Tool.

action description
Name The name of the guideline. (optional)
Position The guideline’s center point as a (x,y) coordinate
Angle The angle of the guideline
Color The color of the guideline
Is Global Make the guideline global (font-level) or local (only this glyph)
Show Measurements Show measurements where the guideline interesects the glyph
Locked Locks this guideline
Magnetic Determine how fast a dragged selection should snap to the guideline

Contextual menu

Some global guidelines properties can be edited from the Glyph View contextual menu (right-click on the Glyph View)

action description
Add Guideline Add a glyph guideline
Remove Guidelines Remove all glyph guidelines
Slice Glyph with Guideline Every contour intersecting the guideline will be sliced
Last edited on 01/09/2021