Please anyone could tell me the conversion rate between font's points and 
centimetres.

Thanks so much

In article <c77ohu$oq2$2@nsnmpen2-gest.nuria.telefonica-data.net>, 
no@mail.com (dalbert) wrote:

> Please anyone could tell me the conversion rate between font's points 
> and centimetres.
> 
> Thanks so much

There are 72 points to 1 inch
There are 2.54 cms to 1 inch
So 1 cm = 28.35 points


Neil Beshoori
NRB Systems UK

In article <c77p7v$7kv$1@thorium.cix.co.uk>, <besh@cix.compulink.co.uk>
wrote:

> In article <c77ohu$oq2$2@nsnmpen2-gest.nuria.telefonica-data.net>, 
> no@mail.com (dalbert) wrote:
> 
> > Please anyone could tell me the conversion rate between font's points 
> > and centimetres.
> > 
> > Thanks so much
> 
> There are 72 points to 1 inch
> There are 2.54 cms to 1 inch
> So 1 cm = 28.35 points
> 
> 
> Neil Beshoori
> NRB Systems UK

Actually 1 cm = 28.45 points

You have to give us more information. We type types have two different 
points (the modern 72 per inch and the traditional 72.27 per inch), but 
there are some European sources that call a didot a point, and that's 
quite different.

dalbert wrote:

> Please anyone could tell me the conversion rate between font's points and 
> centimetres.
> 
> Thanks so much

In article <c77p7v$7kv$1@thorium.cix.co.uk>
besh@cix.compulink.co.uk  writes:

> There are 72 points to 1 inch
> [...]

Here we go... <g>  See Deja-Google for past threads on 'points'.
--
Andrew Stephenson

dalbert <no@mail.com> wrote in message news:<c77ohu$oq2$2@nsnmpen2-gest.nuria.telefonica-data.net>...
> Please anyone could tell me the conversion rate between font's points and 
> centimetres.

A point is usually 1/72 inch (there are other definitions, but this is
the most common in DTP, as defined by Adobe).

However, if you mean to calculate the size of a character, note that
the "point size" is a property of the font as a whole, and refers
(usually...) to the closest vertical spacing lines of text can be
placed, so it's the maximum height (say from the top on an l) to the
lowest point (say the tail of a y).

So for example, if you make a Times A at 100 points (35mm) you will
see that it is actually about 68 pts (24 mm) from foot to apex.

peter <ps@cogeco.ca> wrote in message news:<040520040635584797%ps@cogeco.ca>...
> In article <c77p7v$7kv$1@thorium.cix.co.uk>, <besh@cix.compulink.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
> Actually 1 cm = 28.45 points

If you happen to be setting hot metal type.

See <http://jeff.cs.mcgill.ca/~luc/measurements.html> for a roundup of
all the units. But practically, Adobe's 1/72 inch is the standard for
DTP.

In article <2a7ef8ef.0405040750.3a0658b8@posting.google.com>, Alan
<7ibehx001@sneakemail.com> wrote:

> peter <ps@cogeco.ca> wrote in message
> news:<040520040635584797%ps@cogeco.ca>...
> > In article <c77p7v$7kv$1@thorium.cix.co.uk>, <besh@cix.compulink.co.uk>
> > wrote:
> >
> > Actually 1 cm = 28.45 points
> 
> If you happen to be setting hot metal type.
> 
Postscript is the only system that has 72 points to the inch. All the
other systems use(d) the traditional AT system - metal,
photomechanical, phototypesetting.
And, BTW, hot metal type is a misnomer. The only hot type was what came
off the Linotype or Monotype - and that was only warm for about 15
minutes. All the other metal type was just that - metal type.

> See <http://jeff.cs.mcgill.ca/~luc/measurements.html> for a roundup of
> all the units. But practically, Adobe's 1/72 inch is the standard for
> DTP.

Yes, Postscript is the standard for DTP, and they decided on 72 points
to the inch.
Luc's site is a compilation of other people's sites, so be careful that
you don't take everything there as the definitive source. Like most
websites, there are mistakes in it. 

Peter

peter <ps@cogeco.ca> wrote in message news:<040520041840536910%ps@cogeco.ca>...
> In article <2a7ef8ef.0405040750.3a0658b8@posting.google.com>, Alan
> <7ibehx001@sneakemail.com> wrote:
> 
> > peter <ps@cogeco.ca> wrote in message
> > news:<040520040635584797%ps@cogeco.ca>...
> > > In article <c77p7v$7kv$1@thorium.cix.co.uk>, <besh@cix.compulink.co.uk>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > Actually 1 cm = 28.45 points
> > 
> > If you happen to be setting hot metal type.
> > 
> Postscript is the only system that has 72 points to the inch. All the
> other systems use(d) the traditional AT system - metal,
> photomechanical, phototypesetting.

Yes, but you must admit these are all virtually obsolete. I'd be
amazed if the original poster was doing anything but DTP, which, in
the English-speaking world at least, uses PS points almost
exclusively. (I say almost, but I've never in over 12 years work in
publishing encountered any other unit except PS points.)

> And, BTW, hot metal type is a misnomer. The only hot type was what came
> off the Linotype or Monotype - and that was only warm for about 15
> minutes. All the other metal type was just that - metal type.

Sorry for that. I was thinking about lead type. My direct knowledge of
metal type is limited to a tour of a newspaper I went on about 40
years ago.
 
> > See <http://jeff.cs.mcgill.ca/~luc/measurements.html> for a roundup of
> > all the units. But practically, Adobe's 1/72 inch is the standard for
> > DTP.
> 
> Yes, Postscript is the standard for DTP, and they decided on 72 points
> to the inch.
> Luc's site is a compilation of other people's sites, so be careful that
> you don't take everything there as the definitive source. Like most
> websites, there are mistakes in it. 

Luc disclaims his pages being authoritative, he compiles information
and gives lots of links if you want to follow up yourself. If you have
something additional or contradictory opinions on something write to
him and he'll often put your say up as well.

Since Norm Walsh gave up keeping the comp.fonts FAQ up to date in
about 1995, this has effectively taken its place.

Alan

Also sprach/Thus spake Alan:
> peter <ps@cogeco.ca> wrote 

>> Postscript is the only system that has 72 points to the inch. All the
>> other systems use(d) the traditional AT system - metal,
>> photomechanical, phototypesetting.
> 
> Yes, but you must admit these are all virtually obsolete. 

In addition: Virtually all DTP and word processing applications
have adopted that point system, independently of whether PS
or TT or printer fonts are used.

Andreas
-- 
To reply by mail add "from usenet" in subject line,
other mails will be filtered.