Panorama (Layout Engine)

Infobox Software
name = Bitstream Panorama


caption = Bitstream Inc. Bitstream Panorama composes text in all worldwide languages, which includes various complex scripting languages such as, Arabic, Indian, and Hebrew.
developer = Bitstream Inc.
released = June 2004
latest release version = 4.5
latest release date = 2008
operating system = Platform Independent
genre = Layout Engine
license = Proprietary EULA
website = [http://www.bitstream.com/font_rendering/products/panorama/index.html]
Bitstream Panorama is a line layout and text composition engine to render text in various worldwide languages. Panorama uses Font Fusion as the base to support rendering of the text. The engine allows the user to manage different text formatting aspects like spacing, alignment, style effects (bold, embossed, outline, drop shadows etc.).

Panorama provides support for OpenType font tables leading to automatic character substitution for ligatures, swashes, scientific figures, etc. Panorama supports three anti-aliasing modes - monochrome, grayscale, and LCD optimized (Horizontal and Vertical) [cite web| url=http://www.bitstream.com/font_rendering/pdfs/BitstreamPanorama.pdf| title=BitstreamPanorama] .

Version history

Panorama has undergone several changes since its initial release as well as numerous additions of APIs to the core engine.

Features

* Supports bi-directional algorithms required to rearrange characters sequentially. For example in languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu, the characters may be entered on a keyboard in one way, but need to be rendered in a correct way on a visual device.
* Contextual Shaping: Applies contextual shaping to the characters, i.e., the characters are substituted, combined, or repositioned depending on the rules of the language.
* Composes text in all worldwide languages, which includes various complex scripting languages such as, Arabic, Indic, and Hebrew.
* Style Mapping: Allows grouping of style-linked fonts to be treated as a single font. The engine “knows” to access a font’s own true-drawn style when you apply styles from the style menu.
* Support key OpenType tables required for line layout such as, BASE, glyph definition (GDEF), glyph positioning (GPOS), and glyph substitution (GSUB).
* Supports kerning information in OpenType fonts.
* Supports industry-standard color formats, including monochrome, RGB, and BGR, with alpha channel support.

Font Formats Supported

* Type 1
* TrueType
* TrueType collections
* OpenType
* Compact font format (CFF)/Type 2
* TrueDoc Portable Font Resources (PFRs)
* Bitstream Speedo
* T2K
* Font Fusion Stroke (FFS)
* Embedded bitmaps (TrueType, TrueDoc, and T2K)
* Windows bitmap font format FNT/FON
* Bitmap Distribution Format (BDF)
* Mac font suitcase (Dfont)

Character Sets Supported

Color Formats Supported

* Supports monochrome and grayscale format.
* Supports industry-standard screen color formats including monochrome, RGB, and BGR.
* Supports eight different pixel depths for R, G, B, and alpha channel in RGB or BGR format.

Text Style and Effects

* Embossed
* Engraved
* Left and right drop shadows
* Algorithmic obliquing
* Algorithmic emboldening
* Underline/Overline/Strikethrough (Single/Double/Dotted line)
* Outlines
* Superscript
* Subscript

Applications/Operating Systems Supported

* Cross-platform applications
* Web (HTML) applications
* Macintosh & Windows
* BREW
* Linux & UNIX
* Embedded operating systems
* Real time operating systems

Devices Supported

Consumer Electronic Devices, Mobile Handset, Set-top box, Digital TV, Printer, Medical Imaging Device, GPS System, Automobile Display, and other Embedded System

References

ee also

* Font Fusion
* Bitstream Inc.

External links

* [http://www.bitstream.com/font_rendering/products/panorama/index.html Line layout engine for worldwide text layout, multilanguage, multilingual fonts, and international complex scripts]
* [http://www.bitstream.com/corporate/news/index.html 2007 Bitstream Press Releases]
* [http://www.embeddedtechjournal.com/news_2006/04/20060425_08.htm Embedded Technology Journal]
* [http://sec.edgar-online.com/2005/03/29/0001193125-05-063465/Section2.asp BITSTREAM INC 10-K, BITSTREAM INC Annual Report]