Emoji fonts became so popular after it was included in Apple’s iOS few year back. Apple implemented it using a_proprietary, unpublished extension of the TrueType/OpenType specification to add PNG images to a font. These_PNG images are then displayed_within running text. Google also implemented_similar thing, but it is not compatible with Apple’s solution. I recently came to know via Ralf Herrmann from OpenType.info about_the interesting approach Microsoft has taken to implement Emojis in Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8 platforms. Earlier, Microsoft supported unicode emoji characters with its Segoe UI_with no colors. But with the latest OS, Microsoft is also supporting colored emojis. Instead of using PNGs like Apple and Google, Microsoft is using layered vector glyphs. Ralf explains how it works, By default, the new Segoe UI Emoji font behaves like a regular TrueType/OpenType font. It has Unicode-encoded, uncolored “base glyphs”. But there are two additional tables in the font: the COLR table links additional glyphs as layers to the base glyphs and defines the order of these layers. And...

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