do
    -------------------------
    -- Custom font routine --
    -------------------------
    
    local CHAR_HEIGHT = 12
    local CHAR_WIDTH  = 8
    
    local charMap_ascii = {
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},  -- NULL 0 
	{0,126,129,165,129,129,189,153,129,126,0,0},
	{0,126,255,219,255,255,195,231,255,126,0,0},
	{0,0,108,238,254,254,254,124,56,16,0,0},
	{0,0,16,56,124,254,124,56,16,0,0,0},
	{0,0,16,56,16,108,238,108,16,56,0,0},
	{0,16,56,124,124,254,254,108,16,56,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,24,60,60,24,0,0,0,0},
	{255,255,255,255,231,195,195,231,255,255,255,255},
	{0,0,0,24,60,102,102,60,24,0,0,0},
	{255,255,255,231,195,153,153,195,231,255,255,255},
	{0,30,14,30,54,120,204,204,204,120,0,0},
	{0,60,102,102,102,60,24,126,24,24,0,0},
	{0,30,26,30,24,24,24,120,248,112,0,0},
	{62,54,62,54,54,118,246,102,14,30,12,0},
	{24,219,126,60,102,102,60,126,219,24,0,0},
	{0,128,224,240,252,254,252,240,224,128,0,0},
	{0,2,14,62,126,254,126,62,14,2,0,0},
	{0,24,60,126,24,24,24,126,60,24,0,0},
	{0,102,102,102,102,102,102,0,102,102,0,0},
	{0,127,219,219,219,123,27,27,27,27,0,0},
	{124,198,198,96,124,246,222,124,12,198,198,124},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,254,254,254,0,0},
	{0,24,60,126,24,24,126,60,24,126,0,0},
	{0,24,60,126,24,24,24,24,24,24,0,0},
	{0,24,24,24,24,24,24,126,60,24,0,0},
	{0,0,0,12,14,255,14,12,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,48,112,254,112,48,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,192,192,192,254,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,36,102,255,102,36,0,0,0,0},
	{0,16,56,56,56,124,124,254,254,0,0,0},
	{0,254,254,124,124,124,56,56,16,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,24,60,60,60,24,24,0,24,24,0,0},
	{54,54,54,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,108,108,108,254,108,108,254,108,108,0,0},
	{24,24,124,198,192,120,60,6,198,124,24,24},
	{0,0,0,98,102,12,24,48,102,198,0,0},
	{0,56,108,56,56,118,246,206,204,118,0,0},
	{12,12,12,24,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,12,24,48,48,48,48,48,24,12,0,0},
	{0,48,24,12,12,12,12,12,24,48,0,0},
	{0,0,0,108,56,254,56,108,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,24,24,126,24,24,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,12,12,12,24,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,254,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,24,24,0,0},
	{0,0,2,6,12,24,48,96,192,128,0,0},
	{0,124,198,206,222,246,230,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,24,120,24,24,24,24,24,24,126,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,12,24,48,96,198,254,0,0},
	{0,124,198,6,6,60,6,6,198,124,0,0},
	{0,12,28,60,108,204,254,12,12,12,0,0},
	{0,254,192,192,192,252,6,6,198,124,0,0},
	{0,124,198,192,192,252,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,254,198,12,24,48,48,48,48,48,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,198,124,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,198,126,6,6,198,124,0,0},
	{0,0,0,12,12,0,0,12,12,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,12,12,0,0,12,12,12,24,0},
	{0,12,24,48,96,192,96,48,24,12,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,254,0,254,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,96,48,24,12,6,12,24,48,96,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,12,24,24,0,24,24,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,222,222,222,220,192,126,0,0},
	{0,56,108,198,198,198,254,198,198,198,0,0},
	{0,252,102,102,102,124,102,102,102,252,0,0},
	{0,60,102,192,192,192,192,192,102,60,0,0},
	{0,248,108,102,102,102,102,102,108,248,0,0},
	{0,254,102,96,96,124,96,96,102,254,0,0},
	{0,254,102,96,96,124,96,96,96,240,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,192,192,206,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,198,198,198,198,254,198,198,198,198,0,0},
	{0,60,24,24,24,24,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{0,60,24,24,24,24,24,216,216,112,0,0},
	{0,198,204,216,240,240,216,204,198,198,0,0}, -- 'K' 75 
	{0,240,96,96,96,96,96,98,102,254,0,0},  -- 'L' 76 
	{0,198,198,238,254,214,214,214,198,198,0,0},
	{0,198,198,230,230,246,222,206,206,198,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,198,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,252,102,102,102,124,96,96,96,240,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,198,198,198,198,214,124,6,0},
	{0,252,102,102,102,124,120,108,102,230,0,0},
	{0,124,198,192,96,56,12,6,198,124,0,0},
	{0,126,90,24,24,24,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{0,198,198,198,198,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,198,198,198,198,198,198,108,56,16,0,0},
	{0,198,198,214,214,214,254,238,198,198,0,0},
	{0,198,198,108,56,56,56,108,198,198,0,0},
	{0,102,102,102,102,60,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{0,254,198,140,24,48,96,194,198,254,0,0},
	{0,124,96,96,96,96,96,96,96,124,0,0},
	{0,0,128,192,96,48,24,12,6,2,0,0},
	{0,124,12,12,12,12,12,12,12,124,0,0},
	{16,56,108,198,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,255},
	{24,24,24,12,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,120,12,124,204,220,118,0,0},
	{0,224,96,96,124,102,102,102,102,252,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,124,198,192,192,198,124,0,0},
	{0,28,12,12,124,204,204,204,204,126,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,124,198,254,192,198,124,0,0},
	{0,28,54,48,48,252,48,48,48,120,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,118,206,198,198,126,6,198,124},
	{0,224,96,96,108,118,102,102,102,230,0,0},
	{0,24,24,0,56,24,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{0,12,12,0,28,12,12,12,12,204,204,120},
	{0,224,96,96,102,108,120,108,102,230,0,0},
	{0,56,24,24,24,24,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,108,254,214,214,198,198,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,220,102,102,102,102,102,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,124,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,220,102,102,102,124,96,96,240},
	{0,0,0,0,118,204,204,204,124,12,12,30},
	{0,0,0,0,220,102,96,96,96,240,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,124,198,112,28,198,124,0,0},
	{0,48,48,48,252,48,48,48,54,28,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,204,204,204,204,204,118,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,198,198,198,108,56,16,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,198,198,214,214,254,108,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,198,108,56,56,108,198,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,198,198,198,206,118,6,198,124},
	{0,0,0,0,254,140,24,48,98,254,0,0},
	{0,14,24,24,24,112,24,24,24,14,0,0},
	{0,24,24,24,24,0,24,24,24,24,0,0},
	{0,112,24,24,24,14,24,24,24,112,0,0},
	{0,118,220,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,16,56,56,108,108,254,0,0,0},
	{0,60,102,192,192,192,198,102,60,24,204,56},
	{0,198,198,0,198,198,198,198,206,118,0,0},
	{12,24,48,0,124,198,254,192,198,124,0,0},
	{48,120,204,0,120,12,124,204,220,118,0,0},
	{0,204,204,0,120,12,124,204,220,118,0,0},
	{96,48,24,0,120,12,124,204,220,118,0,0},
	{56,108,56,0,120,12,124,204,220,118,0,0},
	{0,0,0,124,198,192,192,198,124,24,108,56},
	{48,120,204,0,124,198,254,192,198,124,0,0},
	{0,204,204,0,124,198,254,192,198,124,0,0},
	{48,24,12,0,124,198,254,192,198,124,0,0},
	{0,102,102,0,56,24,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{24,60,102,0,56,24,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{96,48,24,0,56,24,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{198,198,0,56,108,198,254,198,198,198,0,0},
	{56,108,56,0,56,108,198,198,254,198,198,0},
	{12,24,48,0,254,96,96,124,96,96,254,0},
	{0,0,0,102,219,27,127,216,223,118,0,0},
	{126,216,216,216,216,254,216,216,216,222,0,0},
	{48,120,204,0,124,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,198,198,0,124,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{48,24,12,0,124,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{48,120,204,0,198,198,198,198,206,118,0,0},
	{96,48,24,0,198,198,198,198,206,118,0,0},
	{0,198,198,0,198,198,198,206,118,6,198,124},
	{198,198,0,124,198,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{198,198,0,198,198,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{24,24,60,102,96,96,102,60,24,24,0,0},
	{0,56,108,96,96,240,96,102,246,108,0,0},
	{0,102,102,60,24,126,24,60,24,24,0,0},
	{252,198,252,192,204,222,204,204,204,198,0,0},
	{14,27,24,24,24,126,24,24,24,24,216,112},
	{12,24,48,0,120,12,124,204,220,118,0,0},
	{12,24,48,0,56,24,24,24,24,60,0,0},
	{12,24,48,0,124,198,198,198,198,124,0,0},
	{24,48,96,0,204,204,204,204,220,118,0,0},
	{0,118,220,0,188,102,102,102,102,230,0,0},
	{118,220,0,198,198,230,246,222,206,198,0,0},
	{60,108,108,62,0,126,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{56,108,108,56,0,124,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,48,48,0,48,48,96,198,198,124,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,126,96,96,96,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,126,6,6,6,0,0,0},
	{96,98,102,108,24,48,96,220,54,12,24,62},
	{96,98,102,108,24,54,110,222,54,126,6,6},
	{0,24,24,0,24,24,60,60,60,24,0,0},
	{0,0,0,54,108,216,108,54,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,216,108,54,108,216,0,0,0,0},
	{17,68,17,68,17,68,17,68,17,68,17,68},
	{85,170,85,170,85,170,85,170,85,170,85,170},
	{221,119,221,119,221,119,221,119,221,119,221,119},
	{24,24,24,24,24,24,24,24,24,24,24,24},
	{24,24,24,24,24,24,248,24,24,24,24,24},
	{24,24,24,24,248,24,248,24,24,24,24,24},
	{54,54,54,54,54,54,246,54,54,54,54,54},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,254,54,54,54,54,54},
	{0,0,0,0,248,24,248,24,24,24,24,24},
	{54,54,54,54,246,6,246,54,54,54,54,54},
	{54,54,54,54,54,54,54,54,54,54,54,54},
	{0,0,0,0,254,6,246,54,54,54,54,54},
	{54,54,54,54,246,6,254,0,0,0,0,0},
	{54,54,54,54,54,54,254,0,0,0,0,0},
	{24,24,24,24,248,24,248,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,248,24,24,24,24,24},
	{24,24,24,24,24,24,31,0,0,0,0,0},
	{24,24,24,24,24,24,255,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,255,24,24,24,24,24},
	{24,24,24,24,24,24,31,24,24,24,24,24},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,255,0,0,0,0,0},
	{24,24,24,24,24,24,255,24,24,24,24,24},
	{24,24,24,24,31,24,31,24,24,24,24,24},
	{54,54,54,54,54,54,55,54,54,54,54,54},
	{54,54,54,54,55,48,63,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,63,48,55,54,54,54,54,54},
	{54,54,54,54,247,0,255,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,255,0,247,54,54,54,54,54},
	{54,54,54,54,55,48,55,54,54,54,54,54},
	{0,0,0,0,255,0,255,0,0,0,0,0},
	{54,54,54,54,247,0,247,54,54,54,54,54},
	{24,24,24,24,255,0,255,0,0,0,0,0},
	{54,54,54,54,54,54,255,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,255,0,255,24,24,24,24,24},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,255,54,54,54,54,54},
	{54,54,54,54,54,54,63,0,0,0,0,0},
	{24,24,24,24,31,24,31,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,31,24,31,24,24,24,24,24},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,63,54,54,54,54,54},
	{54,54,54,54,54,54,255,54,54,54,54,54},
	{24,24,24,24,255,24,255,24,24,24,24,24},
	{24,24,24,24,24,24,248,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,31,24,24,24,24,24},
	{255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,255,255,255,255,255,255},
	{240,240,240,240,240,240,240,240,240,240,240,240},
	{15,15,15,15,15,15,15,15,15,15,15,15},
	{255,255,255,255,255,255,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,118,220,216,216,216,220,118,0,0},
	{0,0,0,120,204,216,252,198,230,220,192,192},
	{0,254,102,98,96,96,96,96,96,96,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,254,108,108,108,108,108,0,0},
	{0,254,198,98,48,24,48,98,198,254,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,126,216,204,204,204,120,0,0},
	{0,0,0,102,102,102,102,124,96,192,128,0},
	{0,0,0,0,118,220,24,24,24,24,0,0},
	{0,254,56,108,198,198,198,108,56,254,0,0},
	{0,56,108,198,198,254,198,198,108,56,0,0},
	{0,56,108,198,198,198,108,108,108,238,0,0},
	{0,62,96,48,60,102,198,198,204,120,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,126,219,219,126,0,0,0,0},
	{0,6,12,124,222,246,230,124,96,192,0,0},
	{0,28,48,96,96,124,96,96,48,28,0,0},
	{0,124,198,198,198,198,198,198,198,198,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,254,0,254,0,254,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,24,24,126,24,24,0,126,0,0},
	{0,48,24,12,6,12,24,48,0,126,0,0},
	{0,12,24,48,96,48,24,12,0,126,0,0},
	{0,0,12,30,26,24,24,24,24,24,24,24},
	{24,24,24,24,24,24,24,24,88,120,48,0},
	{0,0,24,24,0,126,0,24,24,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,118,220,0,118,220,0,0,0},
	{0,120,204,204,120,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,24,24,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,24,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,31,24,24,24,24,216,120,56,24,0},
	{216,108,108,108,108,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{112,216,48,96,248,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,126,126,126,126,126,126,0,0,0},
	{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
    }
    
    local charMapImages = {}
    
    local TEXT_FG = platform.isColorDisplay() and "\224\139" or "\0\128" -- green or black; depending display
    local TEXT_BG = "la"     -- alpha
    local IMG_HEADER = "\8\0\0\0\12\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\16\0\0\0\16\0\1\0"
    
    local function rowToImageRow(row)
	local r = ""
	for i=1, CHAR_WIDTH do
	    r = (row%2 == 0 and TEXT_BG or TEXT_FG) .. r
	    row = math.floor(row / 2)
	end
	return r
    end
    
    local function charToImage(charData)
	local r = IMG_HEADER
	for i=1, CHAR_HEIGHT do
	    r = r .. rowToImageRow(charData[i])
	end
	return image.new(r)
    end
    
    local function genCharImages()
	for i=1, 256 do
	    charMapImages[i-1] = charToImage(charMap_ascii[i])    
	end
    end
    
    local function drawChar(gc, char, x, y)
	gc:drawImage(charMapImages[char:byte()], x, y)
    end
    
    local function drawString(gc, str, x, y)
	for i=1, #str do
	    drawChar(gc, str:sub(i, i), x + i * CHAR_WIDTH - CHAR_WIDTH, y)    
	end
    end
    
    AddToGC("drawStringM", drawString)
    
    _G.M_CHAR_HEIGHT = CHAR_HEIGHT
    _G.M_CHAR_WIDTH  = CHAR_WIDTH
    _G.m_font_init   = genCharImages
end