I’m using Lato as a font for labels and headings. When I use it for a part label with an embedded symbol (flat in this case) the spacing before the flat sign is too large. I’m using the “Layout Name” token.
Normally, when the computer (OS) encounters a character (i.e. Unicode codepoint, basically just a number) that’s missing in the current font, it’ll substitute it with a character glyph from a fallback font, possibly some system font. I guess Hel(l)vetica just happens to contain this (horrible) flat sign, but Lato lacks it and the OS takes it from whatever font it can find that has.
It seems Helvetica (Neue) does have a flat. It looks as if the font substitution isn’t looking at the glyph width when adding the flat, but uses some default spacing. Just guessing.
I hacked the Lato font to include a flat, sharp and natural. At least it’s better than the fallback option.
