The fvar Table

fvar - Font Variations Table

This table contains axis and instance data for presentation to the users of multiple master fonts. The fvar table consists of a header, followed by the list of axis records, followed by the list of instance records.

fvar Header

The format of the fvar header is shown in the following table.

Type Name Description

FIXED32 version Version of fvar table, initially 0x00010000

UINT16 offsetToData Offset to Axis table, from beginning of fvar table.

UINT16 countSizePairs Axis + instance = 2

UINT16 axisCount Number of axes

UINT16 axisSize Axis record size in bytes, set to 20

UINT16 instanceCount Number of instances

UINT16 instanceSize Instance record size (bytes), set to 4 + axisCount * 4

STRUCT AxisRecord [axisCount] Array of AxisRecords

STRUCT InstanceRecord [instanceCount] Array of InstanceRecords

Type	Name	Description
FIXED32	version	Version of fvar table, initially 0x00010000
UINT16	offsetToData	Offset to Axis table, from beginning of fvar table.
UINT16	countSizePairs	Axis + instance = 2
UINT16	axisCount	Number of axes
UINT16	axisSize	Axis record size in bytes, set to 20
UINT16	instanceCount	Number of instances
UINT16	instanceSize	Instance record size (bytes), set to 4 + axisCount * 4
STRUCT	AxisRecord [axisCount]	Array of AxisRecords
STRUCT	InstanceRecord [instanceCount]	Array of InstanceRecords

Axis Record

An axis record specifies an axis tag (axisTag) that identifies the axis to software, the minimum (minValue), default (defaultValue), and maximum (maxValue) user design coordinates, attribute flags (flags), and a name table identifier (nameID) of the axis name.

Type Name Description

TAG axisTag Axis tag

FIXED32 minValue Minimum user design coordinate

FIXED32 defaultValue Default user design coordinate

FIXED32 maxValue Maximum user design coordinate

UINT16 flags Axis attributes flags, unused, set to 0

UINT16 nameID Axis name identifier, must be greater than 255

Type	Name	Description
TAG	axisTag	Axis tag
FIXED32	minValue	Minimum user design coordinate
FIXED32	defaultValue	Default user design coordinate
FIXED32	maxValue	Maximum user design coordinate
UINT16	flags	Axis attributes flags, unused, set to 0
UINT16	nameID	Axis name identifier, must be greater than 255

The following axis tags have been defined.

Tag Description

wght Weight variation axis

wdth Width variation axis

opsz Optical size variation axis

serf Serif variation axis

Tag	Description
wght	Weight variation axis
wdth	Width variation axis
opsz	Optical size variation axis
serf	Serif variation axis

Instance Record

An instance record specifies a name table identifier (nameID) of the instance name, attribute flags (flags), and the user design coordinate of the instance (coord).

Type Name Description

UINT16 nameID Instance name identifier, must be greater than 255

UINT16 flags Instance attribute flags, unused, set to 0

FIXED32 coord [axisCount] User design coordinate of this instance

Type	Name	Description
UINT16	nameID	Instance name identifier, must be greater than 255
UINT16	flags	Instance attribute flags, unused, set to 0
FIXED32	coord [axisCount]	User design coordinate of this instance

Example

The following table shows the data recorded in the fvar table for a 3-axis, 7-instance font (MinionMM). The name table text strings corresponding to the nameIDs in the axis and instance records are shown for the English language.

### [fvar] (00000ce0)

version =1.0 (00010000)

offsetToData =0010

countSizePairs=2

axisCount =3

axisSize =20

instanceCount =7

instanceSize =16

--- axis[0]

axisTag =wght

minValue =345.000 (01590000)

defaultValue=367.000 (016f0000)

maxValue =620.000 (026c0000)

flags =0000

nameId =256 (Weight)

--- axis[1]

axisTag =wdth

minValue =450.000 (01c20000)

defaultValue=585.000 (02490000)

maxValue =600.000 (02580000)

flags =0000

nameId =257 (Width)

--- axis[2]

axisTag =opsz

minValue =6.000 (00060000)

defaultValue=11.000 (000b0000)

maxValue =72.000 (00480000)

flags =0000

nameId =258 (Optical Size)

--- instance[0]

nameId=259 (Regular Normal Optical Size 11)

flags= 0000

coord[0]=367.000 (016f0000)

coord[1]=585.000 (02490000)

coord[2]=11.000 (000b0000)

--- instance[1]

nameId=260 (Regular Condensed Optical Size 11)

flags= 0000

coord[0]=367.000 (016f0000)

coord[1]=465.000 (01d10000)

coord[2]=11.000 (000b0000)

--- instance[2]

nameId=261 (Regular Normal Optical Size 72)

flags= 0000

coord[0]=367.000 (016f0000)

coord[1]=585.000 (02490000)

coord[2]=72.000 (00480000)

--- instance[3]

nameId=262 (Semibold Condensed Optical Size 11)

flags= 0000

coord[0]=485.000 (01e50000)

coord[1]=465.000 (01d10000)

coord[2]=11.000 (000b0000)

--- instance[4]

nameId=263 (Semibold Normal Optical Size 11)

flags= 0000

coord[0]=485.000 (01e50000)

coord[1]=585.000 (02490000)

coord[2]=11.000 (000b0000)

--- instance[5]

nameId=264 (Bold Condensed Optical Size 11)

flags= 0000

coord[0]=578.000 (02420000)

coord[1]=465.000 (01d10000)

coord[2]=11.000 (000b0000)

--- instance[6]

nameId=265 (Bold Normal Optical Size 11)

flags= 0000

coord[0]=578.000 (02420000)

coord[1]=585.000 (02490000)

coord[2]=11.000 (000b0000)