The phxImage already allows the drawing of any part of the drawing of any size - however these are not seen as patterns but are identified by X,Y widht and height properies - currently this also only allows normal drawing, no stretching, alpha or rotation.

I Prefer image files that my artist can modify directly rather than having to send him extra tools. He takes the standard font file and adds effects, so it used the same chanacter sizing information.

My prefered bitmap font builder is from www.LMNOPc.com (I currently use Bitmap Font Builder c1.8.2) - this also confiorms to creating fonts in the nehe bitmap font style (2 fonts in the same bitmap)