To a person trained in the mechanics of manuscript composition or familiar with standard typography, some of the typographic terms used in this overview may be unusual. Most of the differences between standard typography and Win32 fonts and text reflect changes in technology. The original typographic terms were based on hot-metal composition, whereas the terms used here, which appear as member names for the font and text output structures, reflect a new technology based on laser-printer output and composition performed on a personal computer using desktop publishing software.
The following sections discuss Win32 fonts: