# Using Arabic font in RNDR

**URL:** <https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/using-arabic-font-in-rndr/214>\
**Category:** OPENRNDR\
**Created:** [March 7, 2021, 10:18am UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/using-arabic-font-in-rndr/214 "2021-03-07T10:18:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dilshad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/91b2a8/32.png) [@dilshad](https://openrndr.discourse.group/u/dilshad)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 10:18am UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/using-arabic-font-in-rndr/214/1 "2021-03-07T10:18:28Z")

</div>

I am trying to simulate making videos like [minute Physics](https://www.youtube.com/user/minutephysics) channel programmatically as best as I can. His style whiteboard animation. I am not looking to simulate it 100% of the way but one of the requirement I have is that some text should be rendered in Arabic script. As far as I found out RNDR Pre rendered glyphs does not recognize Arabic script.

any solution?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![abe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openrndr.discourse.group/abe/32/700_2.png) [@abe](https://openrndr.discourse.group/u/abe)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 12:14pm UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/using-arabic-font-in-rndr/214/2 "2021-03-07T12:14:44Z")

</div>

Hi, welcome to the forum! 🙂

Is there anything useful for you in this thread?

> [@Drawing text with non Latin alphabet](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/drawing-text-with-non-latin-alphabet/105):
>
> Hi, Trying to do some typography work using Polish alphabet. All characters with diacritics, (like acute accent, overdot, stroke, etc) are missing from drawn text. I am using otf or ttf fonts that support all set of characters. Is this implemented in openrndr? thanks

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dilshad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/91b2a8/32.png) [@dilshad](https://openrndr.discourse.group/u/dilshad)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/using-arabic-font-in-rndr/214/3 "2021-03-10T22:13:14Z")

</div>

I tried it but the solution is not working for me

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![abe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openrndr.discourse.group/abe/32/700_2.png) [@abe](https://openrndr.discourse.group/u/abe)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 9:37am UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/using-arabic-font-in-rndr/214/4 "2021-03-11T09:37:11Z")

</div>

I tried helping without having any idea of what I’m doing 🙂

```kotlin
import org.openrndr.application
import org.openrndr.color.ColorRGBa
import org.openrndr.draw.loadFont

fun main() = application {
    program {
        val font = loadFont("data/fonts/Amiri-Regular.ttf", 100.0,
            characterSet = "أميري".toCharArray().toSet())

        backgroundColor = ColorRGBa.WHITE

        extend {
            drawer.fill = ColorRGBa.BLACK
            drawer.fontMap = font
            drawer.text("أميري".reversed(), 50.0, 200.0)
        }
    }
}

```

![2021-03-11-103519_246x184_scrot](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/openrndr/original/1X/722cc65efe7fd856d224003a0f6393ccdd3a66a7.png)

It’s obviously not working right, but maybe it helps you?

In the OPENRNDR home page I read under future plans:

> Support for non-latin alphabets _only cyrillic is currently implemented_

How many arabic texts do you have in mind? You could work with SVG files…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![abe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openrndr.discourse.group/abe/32/700_2.png) [@abe](https://openrndr.discourse.group/u/abe)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 9:36am UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/using-arabic-font-in-rndr/214/5 "2021-03-13T09:36:17Z")

</div>

I could not avoid trying to find a workaround for this 🙂

Assuming we have a simple SVG file with Arabic text, like this:

![2021-03-13-103212_365x66_scrot](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/openrndr/original/1X/d64c7d3f20fefae8729d1ab159e798eeeb876d66.png)

```auto
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<g><text x="10" y="50" font-size="52px">
<tspan font-family="Arial">لوحة المفاتيح العربية</tspan>
</text></g></svg>

```

we can run

```bash
inkscape --export-text-to-path --export-plain-svg --export-filename=traced.svg source.svg

```

which produces

```auto
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<svg
   xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
   xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#"
   xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
   xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
   xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
   version="1.1"
   id="svg8">
  <metadata
     id="metadata14">
    <rdf:RDF>
      <cc:Work
         rdf:about="">
        <dc:format>image/svg+xml</dc:format>
        <dc:type
           rdf:resource="http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage" />
      </cc:Work>
    </rdf:RDF>
  </metadata>
  <defs
     id="defs12" />
  <g
     id="g6">
    <g
       aria-label="لوحة المفاتيح العربية"
       id="text4"
       style="font-size:52px">
      <path
         d="m 353.63672,42.560547 h -12.54297 v -4.417969 h 9.97852 l -3.02149,-21.53125 -1.32031,-0.634765 q 0,-1.751954 0.30469,-3.275391 0.30468,-1.548828 0.91406,-2.9960939 l 0.38086,0.2792969 q 0,1.472656 1.65039,2.208984 1.26953,0.507813 2.56445,1.015625 0,1.269532 -0.20312,2.716797 -0.20313,1.447266 -0.48243,2.158203 l -1.21875,-0.40625 2.9961,19.90625 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path16" />
      <path
         d="m 342.87109,41.037109 q 0,4.189453 -3.09765,8.328125 -3.45313,4.621094 -7.97266,4.621094 -1.67578,0 -3.45312,-0.380859 -1.29493,-0.279297 -3.37696,-0.964844 -1.65039,-0.583984 -3.30078,-1.142578 l 0.43164,-0.888672 q 1.42188,0.330078 2.97071,0.685547 1.57421,0.380859 2.81835,0.380859 3.09766,0 5.86524,-1.574219 2.1582,-1.24414 4.31641,-3.605468 1.09179,-1.19336 3.09765,-3.884766 -3.42773,0 -5.1289,-1.091797 -1.92969,-1.24414 -1.92969,-4.08789 0,-2.615235 1.21875,-4.84961 1.42187,-2.589844 3.60547,-2.589844 2.20898,0 3.17382,2.564454 0.76172,2.005859 0.76172,5.585937 z m -1.59961,-2.767578 q -0.55859,-2.4375 -1.3457,-3.376953 -0.68555,-0.8125 -1.67578,-0.8125 -0.71094,0 -1.24414,0.482422 -0.50781,0.457031 -0.50781,1.167969 0,1.24414 1.11718,1.904297 1.11719,0.634765 3.65625,0.634765 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path18" />
      <path
         d="m 320.14648,42.560547 h -29.07226 v -4.417969 h 20.43945 q -2.58984,-2.005859 -4.36719,-3.123047 -2.20898,-1.396484 -4.03711,-2.03125 -2.05664,-0.710937 -4.16406,-0.710937 -1.29492,0 -2.61523,0.177734 0.73633,-1.878906 1.92969,-3.021484 1.72656,-1.650391 4.36718,-1.650391 2.58985,0 6.11914,2.539063 1.75196,1.269531 5.71289,4.824218 3.07227,2.767578 4.16407,2.996094 h 1.52343 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path20" />
      <path
         d="m 286.42773,12.21875 -1.98046,3.65625 -4.11329,-2.183594 1.9043,-3.630859 z m -5.83984,2.285156 -1.92969,3.681641 -4.11328,-2.132813 1.87891,-3.68164 z m 12.26367,28.056641 h -3.63086 q -1.82812,0 -3.22461,-3.123047 -1.04101,-2.335938 -1.67578,-6.017578 -0.76172,1.421875 -1.92969,2.208984 -1.16796,0.78711 -2.46289,0.78711 -2.91992,0 -4.875,-0.38086 -1.92968,-0.40625 -1.92968,-1.015625 0,-2.183594 2.84375,-4.824219 2.84375,-2.666015 7.10937,-4.646484 -0.0508,-0.203125 -0.22851,-1.066406 -0.15235,-0.863281 -0.15235,-1.066406 0,-0.863282 0.58399,-1.929688 0.48242,-0.863281 1.26953,-1.777344 0.2539,1.574219 0.50781,3.046875 0.2793,1.472657 0.63477,3.046875 l 0.76171,4.367188 q 0.63477,3.605469 1.14258,5.332031 0.78711,2.640625 1.625,2.640625 h 3.63086 z m -8.86133,-11.34961 -0.48242,-2.767578 q -2.20898,0.78711 -3.47851,1.650391 -1.26953,0.837891 -2.13282,2.234375 0.53321,0.228516 1.24414,0.355469 0.71094,0.126953 1.95508,0.126953 1.52344,0 2.89453,-1.59961 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path22" />
      <path
         d="m 254.94336,36.085937 q 0,2.03125 -0.73633,3.935547 -0.38086,1.015625 -1.65039,3.22461 l -0.45703,-0.253907 q 0.0762,-0.736328 0.12695,-1.701171 0.0762,-0.964844 0.0762,-1.294922 0,-2.640625 -0.43164,-7.363282 -0.40625,-4.748046 -0.99023,-9.902343 -0.35547,-3.123047 -0.78711,-6.373047 0.50781,-1.117188 1.14258,-2.412109 0.66015,-1.294922 1.24414,-2.4375 0.40625,2.894531 1.01562,7.921874 0.63477,5.027344 0.99024,9.064454 0.45703,5.027343 0.45703,7.591796 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path24" />
      <path
         d="M 248.13867,42.560547 H 235.5957 v -4.417969 h 9.97852 l -3.02149,-21.53125 -1.32031,-0.634765 q 0,-1.751954 0.30469,-3.275391 0.30469,-1.548828 0.91406,-2.9960939 l 0.38086,0.2792969 q 0,1.472656 1.65039,2.208984 1.26953,0.507813 2.56445,1.015625 0,1.269532 -0.20312,2.716797 -0.20313,1.447266 -0.48242,2.158203 l -1.21875,-0.40625 2.99609,19.90625 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path26" />
      <path
         d="m 237.37305,42.560547 h -2.64063 q -1.70117,0 -3.83398,-0.761719 -2.46289,-0.888672 -4.3418,-2.4375 -1.47266,1.802734 -3.02148,2.513672 -1.52344,0.685547 -4.46875,0.685547 h -3.96094 v -4.417969 h 3.88476 q 2.31055,0 4.11329,-1.167969 1.39648,-0.914062 2.53906,-2.564453 1.54883,-2.234375 3.80859,-3.884765 2.03125,-1.472657 3.73242,-1.878907 1.75196,2.666016 2.79297,4.798828 1.39649,2.894532 1.39649,4.697266 z m -2.91993,-5.001953 q -0.33007,-1.472657 -1.01562,-2.894532 -0.58398,-1.193359 -1.54883,-2.46289 -1.21875,0.304687 -2.05664,1.142578 -0.55859,0.533203 -1.32031,1.802734 0.91406,0.990235 2.56445,1.777344 1.67578,0.787109 3.14844,0.964844 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path28" />
      <path
         d="m 214.67383,15.595703 -2.23438,3.65625 -3.55468,-2.4375 2.10742,-3.554687 z m 2.20898,26.964844 h -15.4375 v -4.417969 h 8.70899 q 1.57422,0 2.66601,-0.101562 1.11719,-0.126954 2.41211,-0.507813 -4.36719,-0.634766 -5.66211,-1.193359 -2.91992,-1.269532 -2.91992,-4.316407 0,-2.666015 1.39648,-5.027343 1.57422,-2.666016 3.83399,-2.666016 2.58984,0 3.93555,3.300781 1.0664,2.615235 1.0664,6.169922 z m -2.28515,-8.861328 q -0.58399,-2.03125 -1.11719,-3.021485 -1.04102,-1.904297 -2.51367,-1.904297 -0.71094,0 -1.21875,0.558594 -0.50782,0.558594 -0.50782,1.320313 0,1.929687 2.00586,2.589843 0.71094,0.228516 3.35157,0.457032 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path30" />
      <path
         d="m 203.22266,42.560547 h -3.55469 q -1.72656,0 -2.76758,-1.396485 -0.91406,-1.21875 -1.39648,-3.630859 -0.45704,-2.412109 -0.71094,-5.941406 -0.15235,-2.869141 -0.33008,-5.890625 -0.15234,-3.021485 -0.43164,-4.570313 -0.25391,-1.574218 -0.71094,-2.564453 -0.55859,-1.21875 -1.54883,-2.132812 l 3.12305,-4.925781 q 0.99024,3.046875 1.39649,7.287109 0.2539,2.640625 0.50781,12.492187 0.45703,4.519532 1.32031,5.789063 0.71094,1.066406 1.54883,1.066406 h 3.55469 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path32" />
      <path
         d="m 189.63867,17.474609 -1.98047,3.65625 -4.11328,-2.183593 1.9043,-3.63086 z m -5.83984,2.285157 -1.92969,3.68164 -4.11328,-2.132812 1.87891,-3.681641 z m 7.49023,22.800781 h -14.47265 v -4.417969 h 12.61914 q 0,-2.996094 -0.71094,-4.570312 -0.48242,-1.091797 -2.38672,-3.148438 l 1.98047,-4.138672 q 1.82812,2.310547 2.28516,3.605469 0.68554,1.955078 0.68554,6.474609 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path34" />
      <path
         d="m 178.59375,42.560547 h -14.47266 v -4.417969 h 12.61914 q 0,-2.996094 -0.71093,-4.570312 -0.48243,-1.091797 -2.38672,-3.148438 l 1.98047,-4.138672 q 1.82812,2.310547 2.28515,3.605469 0.68555,1.955078 0.68555,6.474609 z m -0.12695,5.078125 -1.98047,3.65625 -4.11328,-2.183594 1.90429,-3.630859 z m -5.83985,2.285156 -1.92968,3.681641 -4.11329,-2.132813 1.87891,-3.68164 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path36" />
      <path
         d="m 165.89844,42.560547 h -5.25586 q -3.07227,0 -4.36719,-1.142578 -1.29492,-1.142578 -1.29492,-3.783203 0,-0.990235 0.2539,-2.462891 0.10157,-0.558594 0.2793,-1.472656 -4.3418,1.320312 -6.55078,2.259765 -4.0625,1.726563 -6.29687,3.910157 -2.81836,2.742187 -2.81836,6.246093 0,5.458985 5.6875,8.201172 4.95117,2.386719 13.22851,2.386719 h 4.67188 l 0.15234,0.279297 -5.73828,4.037109 h -1.47266 q -5.48437,0 -9.11523,-1.015625 -4.3418,-1.21875 -6.57617,-3.910156 -2.53907,-3.072266 -2.53907,-8.125 0,-4.341797 2.15821,-7.591797 1.67578,-2.539062 4.90039,-4.646484 0.93945,-0.634766 5.23047,-2.919922 -1.01563,-0.126953 -2.15821,-0.203125 -1.11718,-0.101563 -2.03125,-0.101563 -2.56445,0 -4.16406,0.228516 -0.5332,0.07617 -3.32617,0.685547 0.86328,-2.488281 1.80273,-3.453125 2.10743,-2.132813 6.60157,-2.132813 2.46289,0 5.33203,0.482422 2.86914,0.457031 4.82422,0.457031 1.29492,0 2.51367,-0.101562 1.24414,-0.101563 2.58984,-0.279297 l -1.01562,4.316406 q -1.04102,0.126953 -2.36133,0.355469 -0.83789,0.152344 -2.31055,0.431641 l -0.0508,1.421875 q 0,2.082031 1.26953,2.792968 0.78711,0.431641 2.69141,0.431641 h 5.25586 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path38" />
      <path
         d="m 120.14453,36.085937 q 0,2.03125 -0.73633,3.935547 -0.38086,1.015625 -1.65039,3.22461 l -0.45703,-0.253907 q 0.0762,-0.736328 0.12695,-1.701171 0.0762,-0.964844 0.0762,-1.294922 0,-2.640625 -0.43164,-7.363282 -0.40625,-4.748046 -0.99024,-9.902343 -0.35547,-3.123047 -0.78711,-6.373047 0.50781,-1.117188 1.14258,-2.412109 0.66016,-1.294922 1.24414,-2.4375 0.40625,2.894531 1.01563,7.921874 0.63476,5.027344 0.99023,9.064454 0.45703,5.027343 0.45703,7.591796 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path40" />
      <path
         d="m 113.33984,42.560547 h -12.54296 v -4.417969 h 9.97851 l -3.02148,-21.53125 -1.32032,-0.634765 q 0,-1.751954 0.30469,-3.275391 0.30469,-1.548828 0.91406,-2.9960939 l 0.38086,0.2792969 q 0,1.472656 1.65039,2.208984 1.26954,0.507813 2.56446,1.015625 0,1.269532 -0.20313,2.716797 -0.20312,1.447266 -0.48242,2.158203 l -1.21875,-0.40625 2.99609,19.90625 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path42" />
      <path
         d="m 102.57422,42.560547 h -3.732423 q -1.650391,0 -3.351563,-0.78711 -2.03125,-0.939453 -2.945312,-2.615234 -1.701172,1.523438 -3.884766,2.361328 -2.666015,1.041016 -6.068359,1.041016 h -2.285156 v -4.417969 h 2.285156 q 2.132812,0 3.960937,-0.457031 2.082032,-0.533203 4.087891,-1.701172 l -1.066406,-1.371094 q -0.8125,-0.964844 -1.828125,-0.964844 -0.457032,0 -0.8125,0.177735 -0.355469,0.152344 -0.78711,0.710937 h -0.533203 v -1.498047 q 0,-2.792968 1.472656,-3.833984 1.345704,-0.939453 4.671875,-0.939453 2.869141,0 4.671875,0.761719 2.361329,0.990234 2.361329,3.046875 0,1.091797 -0.939454,2.259765 -0.685546,0.863282 -2.513671,2.386719 0.40625,0.609375 1.548828,1.015625 1.167968,0.40625 1.955078,0.40625 h 3.732423 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path44" />
      <path
         d="m 82.083984,42.560547 q 0,2.792969 -2.386718,5.789062 -2.082032,2.640625 -5.179688,4.544922 -2.945312,1.828125 -4.849609,1.828125 -1.751953,0 -3.783203,-0.507812 -1.548829,-0.38086 -3.707032,-1.19336 -1.828125,-0.685547 -3.630859,-1.371093 l 0.431641,-1.015625 q 1.675781,0.330078 3.478515,0.660156 1.828125,0.355469 3.300781,0.355469 3.25,0 6.779297,-2.082032 3.199219,-1.904297 5.458985,-4.798828 2.259765,-2.919922 2.259765,-5.255859 0,-2.00586 -1.167968,-4.214844 -0.939454,-1.777344 -2.640625,-3.65625 l 1.447265,-3.986328 q 2.082031,1.929687 3.072266,3.859375 1.117187,2.183594 1.117187,4.875 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path46" />
      <path
         d="M 56.667969,42.560547 H 42.195312 v -4.417969 h 12.619141 q 0,-2.996094 -0.710937,-4.570312 -0.482422,-1.091797 -2.386719,-3.148438 l 1.980469,-4.138672 q 1.828125,2.310547 2.285156,3.605469 0.685547,1.955078 0.685547,6.474609 z m -2.589844,6.169922 -1.980469,3.68164 -4.113281,-2.132812 1.878906,-3.707031 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path48" />
      <path
         d="M 43.972656,42.560547 H 29.5 v -4.417969 h 12.619141 q 0,-2.996094 -0.710938,-4.570312 -0.482422,-1.091797 -2.386719,-3.148438 l 1.980469,-4.138672 q 1.828125,2.310547 2.285156,3.605469 0.685547,1.955078 0.685547,6.474609 z m -0.126953,5.078125 -1.980469,3.65625 -4.113281,-2.183594 1.904297,-3.630859 z m -5.839844,2.285156 -1.929687,3.681641 -4.113281,-2.132813 1.878906,-3.68164 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path50" />
      <path
         d="m 24.853516,12.21875 -1.980469,3.65625 -4.113281,-2.183594 1.904296,-3.630859 z m -5.839844,2.285156 -1.929688,3.681641 -4.113281,-2.132813 1.878906,-3.68164 z m 12.263672,28.056641 h -3.63086 q -1.828125,0 -3.224609,-3.123047 -1.041016,-2.335938 -1.675781,-6.017578 -0.761719,1.421875 -1.929688,2.208984 -1.167969,0.78711 -2.46289,0.78711 -2.919922,0 -4.875,-0.38086 -1.929688,-0.40625 -1.929688,-1.015625 0,-2.183594 2.84375,-4.824219 2.84375,-2.666015 7.109375,-4.646484 -0.05078,-0.203125 -0.228516,-1.066406 -0.152343,-0.863281 -0.152343,-1.066406 0,-0.863282 0.583984,-1.929688 0.482422,-0.863281 1.269531,-1.777344 0.253907,1.574219 0.507813,3.046875 0.279297,1.472657 0.634765,3.046875 l 0.761719,4.367188 q 0.634766,3.605469 1.142578,5.332031 0.78711,2.640625 1.625,2.640625 h 3.63086 z m -8.861328,-11.34961 -0.482422,-2.767578 q -2.208985,0.78711 -3.478516,1.650391 -1.269531,0.837891 -2.132812,2.234375 0.533203,0.228516 1.24414,0.355469 0.710938,0.126953 1.955078,0.126953 1.523438,0 2.894532,-1.59961 z"
         style="font-family:Arial"
         id="path52" />
    </g>
  </g>
</svg>

```

Both the original svg and the traced svg look the same. In the first one the text is selectable, in the second one the text has been converted to curves.

It would not be hard to create a script to convert all lines from a text file into separate curve-based svg files, which could then be loaded into any tool that can render SVG files, for example OPENRNDR.

Or even better, create a class in OPENRNDR which calls inkscape and caches the produced svg file. Something like:

```kotlin
val text1 = TracedText("لوحة المفاتيح العربية")
...
drawer.composition(text1)

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dilshad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/91b2a8/32.png) [@dilshad](https://openrndr.discourse.group/u/dilshad)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 10:38am UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/using-arabic-font-in-rndr/214/6 "2021-03-15T10:38:07Z")

</div>

this is awesome brother. thank you.