[Pkg-fonts-devel] question: packaging graphics design tools?

[Andrew]

On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 8:48 PM, bgiles <bgiles at coyotesong.com> wrote:
> I have an itch and I am wondering if it's general enough to warrant
> official packaging.
>
> Briefly, I'm a code rat but need to do some graphics design work.  The
> first advice people get on "introduction to gimp" sites is usually to
> install new fonts, brushes, etc.  There are a lot of 'free' tools, but
> the licenses are usually very casual and it requires a significant level
> of technical skill to properly install the tools in the system.  The
> fonts, brushes, etc., are still outside of package management.
>
> I propose creating a set of packages for these tools.  Free packages
> where clear licenses are available, non-free packages where there's a
> clear intent to allow redistribution and use but it is impossible to
> contact the authors to request an official transfer to a CC license due
> to abandoned domains, websites without any contact information, etc.
>
> To be clear, these fonts are not yet another set of corporate
> communications knock-offs, they're the type of fonts used in packaging,
> website graphics, etc.  One of the highly-regarded starting points is
> http://fontsquirrel.com/.  Gimp brushes can use gimp-brush-xyz, but the
> fonts will probably need to use distinctive packaging to make it clear
> that they're for graphic design.  (ttf-gdesign-xyz?)
>
> I've built a lot of debian binary packages for internal use, so the
> packaging tools are familiar.  My questions are much more oriented
> towards the ecosystem as a whole.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bear
>

Hi Bear,

You might be interested in working with the Debian Fonts Task Force.
As the name implies, they maintain font packages in Debian. I've CCed
them on this email. By working with that team on the font packages
which you discussed, you would be helping the entire Debian ecosystem
including Ubuntu. You would also have people experienced with Debian
packaging policy for fonts willing to offer advise.

Homepage: http://pkg-fonts.alioth.debian.org/

- Andrew Starr-Bochicchio
Ubuntu Contributing Developer