Character generator systems for broadcast television

The different kinds of written message which appear as part of television programmes are distinguished, and their requirements in terms of numbers of typefaces and character sizes listed. The history of electronic character generation on broadcast television is briefly summarised, and the types of system in current use in the UK reviewed. The ways in which digital character shape descriptions for television are made at the present time are described and discussed. A case is argued for the direct design of character shapes, rather than the use of processes which translate into television formats character shapes originally intended for other media.