I'm not against with font prims and I agree that they are very useful and time-saving to create text-intensive patterns (like timetable etc.).
I think the way to create text patterns should be chosen on the author's discretion, as far as complying with the parts regulations.
1) Use font prims straightforward
2) Inline and modify font prims (colour variants, negative kernings etc.)
3) Use raw or optimized txt2dat output
4) Trace manually from the pattern image
Fortunately I have a number of TrueType font library on my workstation and am able to generate text patterns by txt2dat,
but many authors don't have suitable fonts and these prims would be so helpful.
I think the way to create text patterns should be chosen on the author's discretion, as far as complying with the parts regulations.
1) Use font prims straightforward
2) Inline and modify font prims (colour variants, negative kernings etc.)
3) Use raw or optimized txt2dat output
4) Trace manually from the pattern image
Fortunately I have a number of TrueType font library on my workstation and am able to generate text patterns by txt2dat,
but many authors don't have suitable fonts and these prims would be so helpful.