Free Download of Fonts : http://www.angelfire.com/pop/top4/fonts/
Non English Webpage Making :
There are four methods :
(1) Webpage with downloadable fonts.
(2) Webpage with dynamic fonts.
(3) Webpage with unicode fonts.
(4) Webpage with p.d.f. files.
Non dynamic or non embedding fonts need to be installed manually (e.g. Marathi Lekhani).
Following are the problems associated with fonts: Some surfers do not install new fonts. Some computers have restrictions to install new software. Unicode fonts require multilanguage settings and browser encoding settings. In special purpose LANs, such settings and installations are not possible, because the computer machines (terminals) are different from general PC. Some cyber cafes and schools have old computers, which do not support unicode fonts. In such cases dynamic fonts are useful.
It is recommended to have dynamic webpages along with optional fonts' download facility. Installed fonts are helpful while working offline.
W.E.F.T. WEB EMBEDDING FONTS TOOL : WEFT can be downloaded from Microsoft's Website. WEFT is required to create EOT File of Dynamic Fonts. E.O.T. means "Embedded Open Type". Further details of dynamic fonts are available on the following websites.
http://webservices.nic.in/wsmad/ResourceCentre/hindiweb.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/web/embedding/weft3/
Limitations of Dynamic Fonts :
(1) Some fonts are not dynamic and hence can not be used for embedding. WEFT clearly classifies them as "non embedding fonts".
(2) EOT file is suitable for Internet Explorer, which is a popular browser. But some computers have Netscape or Mozilla Browser, where EOT files become inactive. The "EOT" files are not suitable to older version of Mozilla Netscape. Instead of "EOT", the "PFR" files should be used. Otherwise Mozilla Netscape users will have to install the concerned fonts manually.
(3) The "EOT" files are not permitted by some servers e.g. Fortunecity. Hence dynamic webpages can not be created there.
PDF Portable Document Format :
PDF files can be printed by any computer irrespective of installed fonts. Only condition is that, the computer should have PDF reading software e.g. Acrobat Reader. PDF maintains original typesetting and design of the document. PDF-Creater software converts a file into PDF. Some office suits like Easy Office directly save a document as PDF.
Marathi Unicode : Problems
(1) Unicode based fonts work well in Windows XP but fail to show complete character set in Windows 98. In Windows XP operating system the required language is to be activated. Then working in the desired language becomes possible. But webpages created on this new computer are not suitable to old computers. The old computers show hollow rectangles instead of words.
(2) The commonly seen Marathi-Unicode fonts are not having traditional style of Marathi script. Some letters are out of proportion. Some curves and cyphers are not in traditional proportion. This is affecting the beauty of fonts.