Very Computer

We are in the process of preparing an English/Hebrew TeX.
One of the difficulties -- perhaps the main one -- is that we do not
have good fonts in metafont.

We do have, however, nice Postscript fonts, so at least meanwhile
we would like to use them.

From scanning the discussion groups and TeXHaX, it seems that this can be
done either by using the virtual font concept or by employing a program
that converts Postscript fonts to metafont.

I would like to know how exactly can the concept be used; namely,
where can I obtain a complete description about the implementation.

Also, I would like to know where can I find a program that converts
postscript fonts to metafont.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

Michael Maschler                        One should observe two rules
Department of Mathematics               in order to succeed in one's career:
The Hebrew University
Jerusalem, Israel                       1. Never reveal to others everything
                                           you know.

   We are in the process of preparing an English/Hebrew TeX.
   One of the difficulties -- perhaps the main one -- is that we do not
   have good fonts in metafont.

   We do have, however, nice Postscript fonts, so at least meanwhile
   we would like to use them.

   From scanning the discussion groups and TeXHaX, it seems that this can be
   done either by using the virtual font concept or by employing a program
   that converts Postscript fonts to metafont.

No.  You can use postscript fonts in TeX without virtual fonts.  All
you need are the AFM files (Adobe Font Metrics), from which the
afm2tfm program produces TFM files that TeX uses.  It's then up to the
dvi-to-Postscript driver to note that a font is in fact a PostScript
one and act accordingly (download the font together with your
document).  Rokicki's dvips includes afm2tfm.  Dvips and most other
dvi-to-PS drivers support PostScript fonts.

Virtual fonts can be an aid if you want to remap the PostScript font,
but are not necessary.

It might be conceivable to turn a PS font (after decryption, if it's
in Type 1 form) into METAFONT source, but I don't know of any such
work.  Besides, the font manufacturer wouldn't like it.

Isn't the writing direction a bigger problem when using TeX for
Hebrew, or have you already a solution to that?
--
Tor Lillqvist,
working, but not speaking, for the Technical Research Centre of Finland