DMD is software that allows moving display manufacturers and designers to design displays digitally rather than with physical graph paper. It allows loading fonts and images to create binary files for electronic displays. The software provides tools to set display attributes, add text or images to a grid, edit designs by cutting, copying and pasting portions of the grid, and save designs in a format readable by microcontroller code.

1. dFontographer
A Demonstration
Designed and Developed by:
Insforia Technologies Pvt Ltd

2. Display Message Designer (DMD), helps moving
display manufacturers and designers substitute graph
paper work using software.
Based on the dimensions of the display, the user can
set its attributes accordingly.
DMD can be used to load various vernacular language
fonts and images (mono-colour bmp images), which
once converted into binary, can be used for creating
various designs on electronic display units.
DMD is architecture independent, i.e it does not
depend on any specific microcontroller architecture.

3. This figure shows the basic diagram of the interface.
This figure shows the basic diagram of the interface.
Once the interface is loaded, the user can choose
Once the interface is loaded, the user can choose
amongst various options to create the binary image of
amongst various options to create the binary image of
the file.
the file.
The various options of creating binary files are
The various options of creating binary files are
discussed in the forthcoming slides.
discussed in the forthcoming slides.

4. 1.The first option is the ‘DOT’ wherein the user
1.The first option is the ‘DOT’ wherein the user
can manually select the pixels on the Grid.
can manually select the pixels on the Grid.
2. Second option is to add text in the existing
2. Second option is to add text in the existing
Grid panel. In the figure shown, ‘CSPL’ is
Grid panel. In the figure shown, ‘CSPL’ is
written in Sans Serif with a ‘Bold’ style and a size
written in Sans Serif with a ‘Bold’ style and a size
of 12.
of 12.

5. Once the font style is selected as shown in the
Once the font style is selected as shown in the
previous slide, ‘CSPL’ is loaded on the Grid Panel.
previous slide, ‘CSPL’ is loaded on the Grid Panel.
This can now be fine-tuned as per your requirement
This can now be fine-tuned as per your requirement
also.
also.

6. After loading the text, the Grid Panel includes some
After loading the text, the Grid Panel includes some
redundant rows in the beginning. This is purely
redundant rows in the beginning. This is purely
because of the way ‘windows fonts’ are designed. In
because of the way ‘windows fonts’ are designed. In
order to overcome this issue, DMD provides an
order to overcome this issue, DMD provides an
option of removing rows and even adding rows as
option of removing rows and even adding rows as
shown in the figure.
shown in the figure.

7. As shown, the spaces above the
As shown, the spaces above the
actual text is truncated. This gives the
actual text is truncated. This gives the
end user a flexibility of configuring
end user a flexibility of configuring
the rows and columns of the display
the rows and columns of the display
boards.
boards.

8. Another text example of loading vernacular languages.
Another text example of loading vernacular languages.
This often saves the end-user a lot of time while designing
This often saves the end-user a lot of time while designing
display boards for regional languages. Here. we
display boards for regional languages. Here. we
demonstrate an example of Hindi using kruti Dev 010
demonstrate an example of Hindi using kruti Dev 010
font.
font.

9. As described in the previous slide,
As described in the previous slide,
hindi font is being loaded directly onto
hindi font is being loaded directly onto
the grid panel.
the grid panel.

10. DMD comes along with a lot of editing features. It’s rich user
DMD comes along with a lot of editing features. It’s rich user
interface designs help create complex images and fonts in a jiffy.
interface designs help create complex images and fonts in a jiffy.
Here, using select option 1, the end-user can select a certain
Here, using select option 1, the end-user can select a certain
portion of the text or image; cut or copy it and paste it elsewhere
portion of the text or image; cut or copy it and paste it elsewhere
on the grid.
on the grid.

11. Select option 2, lets the end
Select option 2, lets the end
user choose a certain
user choose a certain
portion of the grid panel
portion of the grid panel
row and column matrix.
row and column matrix.

12. 1.As shown in the figure, the hindi letter ‘tah’
1.As shown in the figure, the hindi letter ‘tah’
has been cut and pasted elsewhere on the grid.
has been cut and pasted elsewhere on the grid.
2. DMD allows to select various click modes
2. DMD allows to select various click modes
too, i.e. the user can create a vertical,
too, i.e. the user can create a vertical,
horizontal, diagonals using a single click.
horizontal, diagonals using a single click.

13. For having a complete look and feel of the
For having a complete look and feel of the
original display units, various colour
original display units, various colour
LED’s along with the display background
LED’s along with the display background
can be chosen. In this example, RED
can be chosen. In this example, RED
LED’s with a black background is being
LED’s with a black background is being
demonstrated.
demonstrated.

14. DMD provides with extensive user-friendly edit
DMD provides with extensive user-friendly edit
based menu. Some of the features includes
based menu. Some of the features includes
deleting and adding rows on the Grid panel
deleting and adding rows on the Grid panel
along with basic editing options of cut copy and
along with basic editing options of cut copy and
paste.
paste.

15. The Tools menu provides options of resizing
The Tools menu provides options of resizing
images (bmp files) and even monochromize a
images (bmp files) and even monochromize a
coloured image.
coloured image.
Another awesome feature in the DMD is to
Another awesome feature in the DMD is to
convert character files to be used for Vertical
convert character files to be used for Vertical
displays.
displays.

16. Once the binary image is created on the grid
Once the binary image is created on the grid
panel, it can be saved for future use.
panel, it can be saved for future use.
The file thus created can be opened directly
The file thus created can be opened directly
in the DMD using the ‘Show Hex File’
in the DMD using the ‘Show Hex File’
option. Also, different binary files can be
option. Also, different binary files can be
merged together to create a completely new
merged together to create a completely new
file!
file!

17. The Hex
The Hex
Editor
Editor
shown in the
shown in the
figure loaded
figure loaded
with a test
with a test
file. This file
file. This file
is ready to be
is ready to be
used in your
used in your
application
application
code.
code.

18. We’ve tried our best to explain the
‘dFontographer’ to you!
In case of any other query please mail us
at
contact[at]insforia.com
and we’ll be glad to assist you!