[XeTeX] wrong kerning and slow processing with xelatex in texlive 2010

[Vladimir Lomov]

Hi Vadim.

** Vadim Radionov [2010-10-11 03:39:58 +0400]:

>> Do Cyrillic small capital letters exist? I would have thought they're
>> typical Latin...
> 
> Only few cyrillic letter have different capital shapes, probably
> that's why they are no so popular.
> Anyway, many perfect modern fonts have them.
Agreed about the shape but the rest is questionable especially 'perfect'
and 'modern'.

>> I don't have fontspec version 2.x around, but Will wrote that he changed
>> many things, in xltxtra as well. Could you compare the definition of \textsc
>> in the two fontspec versions you are using?
> 
> This is probably not a fontspec issue.  This example
> 
> \font\a = "CharterITC"
> \font\b = "CharterITC:+smcp"
> \b тар \a оттого
> \end
And I don't have this font (and even won't search web or torrent
trackers for it to test). Make minimal example that everyone could run to
check the behaviour that you try to describe. 

> also gives good kerning with xetex
I don't understand here. Kerning is always matter of taste. 

> XeTeX 3.141592-0.996-patch1 (Web2C 7.5.6)
> kpathsea version 3.5.6
> Compiled with ICU version 3.4 [with modifications for XeTeX]
> Compiled with zlib version 1.2.3.3; using 1.2.3.3
> Compiled with FreeType2 version 2.3.5; using 2.3.9
> Compiled with fontconfig version 2.5.0; using 2.5.0
> Compiled with libpng version 1.2.15beta5; using 1.2.15beta5
> Compiled with libpoppler version 3.00
Mine (latest updates of TL 2009)

XeTeX 3.1415926-2.2-0.9995.2 (TeX Live 2009)
kpathsea version 5.0.0
Copyright 2009 SIL International and Jonathan Kew.
There is NO warranty.  Redistribution of this software is
covered by the terms of both the XeTeX copyright and
the Lesser GNU General Public License.
For more information about these matters, see the file
named COPYING and the XeTeX source.
Primary author of XeTeX: Jonathan Kew.
Compiled with ICU version 3.8.1 [with modifications for XeTeX]
Compiled with zlib version 1.2.3; using 1.2.3
Compiled with FreeType2 version 2.3.9; using 2.3.9
Compiled with fontconfig version 2.6.0; using 2.8.0
Compiled with libpng version 1.2.39; using 1.2.39
Compiled with xpdf version 3.02pl3

> and wrong with
what's wrong? 

> XeTeX 3.1415926-2.2-0.9997.4 (TeX Live 2010)
> kpathsea version 6.0.0
> Compiled with ICU version 4.4 [with modifications for XeTeX]
> Compiled with zlib version 1.2.3; using 1.2.3
> Compiled with FreeType2 version 2.3.11; using 2.3.11
> Compiled with fontconfig version 2.3.1; using 2.5.0
> Compiled with libpng version 1.2.40; using 1.2.40
> Compiled with xpdf version 3.02pl4
Mine (latest update of TL2010):

XeTeX 3.1415926-2.2-0.9997.4 (TeX Live 2010)
kpathsea version 6.0.0
Copyright 2010 SIL International and Jonathan Kew.
There is NO warranty.  Redistribution of this software is
covered by the terms of both the XeTeX copyright and
the Lesser GNU General Public License.
For more information about these matters, see the file
named COPYING and the XeTeX source.
Primary author of XeTeX: Jonathan Kew.
Compiled with ICU version 4.4 [with modifications for XeTeX]
Compiled with zlib version 1.2.3; using 1.2.3
Compiled with FreeType2 version 2.3.11; using 2.3.11
Compiled with fontconfig version 2.7.3; using 2.8.0
Compiled with libpng version 1.2.40; using 1.2.40
Compiled with xpdf version 3.02pl4


For me this is font problem not the engine. Also you could check that
you have only one font-file (I mean either only TTF or OTF, if both this
could be reason of descrepancy). About font desing and implementation I
think Khaled could tell you more.

Please don't post problems with commercial fonts because it could be
almost impossible to tracker down the source of the problem.

---
WBR, Vladimir Lomov

-- 
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments.  Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.