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Alphabix user guide

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Download DirectX

Alphabix requires DirectX version June 2007 or later. DirectX is available as a free download from Microsoft:

DOWNLOAD DIRECTX

If the web installer refuses to work (or if you would like to install DirectX on an offline computer) you can download the DirectX end-user redistributable.

More info about DirectX.

Download Alphabix

version Alphabix 1.1
size 1 MB
date released Thursday, Januari 14th, 2010

DOWNLOAD ALPHABIX

If you do not like installers you can download the program as a ZIP file.

Alphabix requires DirectX version June 2007 or later. If the program complains about not being able to find D3DX9_34.dll you will have to install the latest version of DirectX.

Ordering info

A single user license of Alphabix costs € 19.95

What you get

When you buy Alphabix you will receive your own personal license keys. Entering them into the program with the menu item Settings > Enter License Keys... will turn the evaluation version into the fully functional version.

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How do I convert a vector font into a bitmap font?

  • Choose File > New... (or press <F2>)
  • Left-click on a character to add that character
  • Right-click on a character to remove that character
  • Use the other GUI items in the dialog to change the other settings
  • Click on the OK button

How do I replace a character by a picture?

  • Choose File > Add/Replace Picture... (or press <F4>)
  • Select a picture by pressing the Browse button
  • Type the character you would like to replace in the Character textbox
  • Use the other GUI items in the dialog to change the other settings
  • Click on the OK button

TIP: Alphabix can automatically load successive pictures when you name your files like this: A.png, B.png, C.png,...

Examples of filenames that Alphabix recognizes as the letter 'A' are: A.png, GoldenA.png, 65.png (the unicode value of A is 65), Golden65.png.

How do I save my bitmap font?

  • Choose File > Save as... to save your bitmap font

Saving your bitmap font creates 2 files: a texture file and a datafile.

The texture file is a picture saved in the standard PNG format and contains a collage of all the character pictures. You can view its content by loading the .PNG file into a paint program.

The datafile is saved as a .BF (BluffTitler Font) file and contains the positions and sizes of the characters in the texture file. You can view its content by loading the .BF file in a text editor, like Notepad

How do I load my bitmap font into BluffTitler?

  • Start BluffTitler
  • Create a new text layer by choosing Layer > Add Text Layer
  • Choose Media > Change Font (or press <F6>)
  • Press the Select Bitmap Font button and select the .BF file you've created with Alphabix

In most situations you do not want the bitmap font to be lightened. You can do that by pressing the Change Effect button and selecting the NotLightened.fx or NotLightened_NoZBuffer effect.

How do I turn my handwritten letters into a bitmap font?

When you save your characters as transparent PNG files, you can import them into Alphabix by choosing File > Add/Replace Picture... (or by pressing <F4>)

When you've used a non-digital drawing technique like paper and pencil you will have to scan or photograph every character.

TIP: Alphabix can automatically load successive pictures when you name your files like this: A.png, B.png, C.png,...

How do I use BluffTitler to create a bitmap font?

  • Start BluffTitler
  • Create a new show by choosing File > New Show
  • Change the text into a single character
  • Add all the effects you like
  • Select the render window and press 'b'
  • Import the pictures into Alphabix with the File > Add/Replace Picture menu item.

Menu Items

File > New...

Clears all characters and starts a new font project.

File > Open...

Opens a .BF bitmap font. A font can also be opened by double clicking on its icon or by dropping it on Alphabix's window.

File > Save as...

Saves the current font as a .BF file for use in BluffTitler.

File > Export as HTML...

Exports the current font as a .HTML file.

File > Export as single Files...

Exports all the characters in the current font as single files.

File > Add/Replace Characters...

Opens a dialog that allows you to add and replace characters by importing characters from a vector font.

File > Add/Replace Picture...

Opens a dialog that allows you to add and replace a character by importing a picture file.

File > Exit

Exits the application.

Settings > Set Preview Background Colour...

Opens a dialog that allows you to set the background colour. This way you can test the alpha channel.

Settings > Normalize Fonts

If this menu item is flagged, all fonts are scaled to match the Arial Black font. This makes it easier to change fonts.

Settings > Trim Pictures

If this menu item is flagged, imported pictures are horizontally trimmed. This makes the exported font texture smaller.

Settings > Enter License Keys...

Opens a dialog that allows you to enter your license keys.

Help > User Guide...

Displays this user guide.

Help > Ordering Information...

Displays the order page.

Help > About...

Shows general information.

Frequently asked questions

What are the differences between the demo and the full version?

In the demo (evaluation) version the vowels (a,e,i,o,u) are not exported. Apart from that, all features are enabled allowing you to fully test Alphabix before you decide to buy it.

Does the demo run forever?

The demo (evaluation) version never times out. This way you can test Alphabix for as long as you want.

Program history

Version 1.1

Released: Thursday, Januari 14th, 2010
Price: € 19.95, free upgrade for registered users!

Rebuild. No new features.

Version 1.0.3

Released: 2009-3-16
Price: € 19.95, free upgrade for registered users!

  • bugfix: ampersand (&) problem fixed!

Version 1.0.2

Released: 2009-1-12
Price: € 19.95

  • HTML export settings dialog
  • New menu item: File > Export as Letter Cubes Cut-Outs...
  • Maximum fontsize raised to 1024
  • Padding left en right options in <F4> dialog
  • Transparent option in HTML export dialog

Version 1.0

Released: 2008-12-1
Price: € 19.95

  • First release!

Contact

Feedback is greatly appreciated. You can contact us here:

info@outerspace-software.com