Font Management Software?
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- boobs
OK. This may seem dumb, but I don't really understand what Font Management software does. What are the advantages of having it?
- Amicus0
You're right, it does sound a little dumb. :)
It enables you to manage your fonts easily. You can turn them on and off with a click rather than moving them in and out of font folders and turning programs on and off to activate them.
- I must add that boobs are always right (and half left too).Amicus
- boobs0
OK. Why not leave them all active all the time? What's the advantage of making them inactive?
- Amicus0
They use a heap of memory if you have too many, and they can also conflict. Your machine will run far faster with less fonts on.
- Jordy0
a lot of active fonts clutters your system and you might not need them all the time, so why make your list longer?
It's also more useful for previewing fonts. and grouping them in lists / clients / famlilies..etc
- pillhead0
I actually use it allot for design as well, it great for a quick view of the fonts you want to use for a Logos or headers.
- bulletfactory0
the grouping is the most helpful, by style, by project, by client.
Memory management as well - I remember back in college I would have 1,000 fonts in the fonts folder, and it would just cripple my comp.
- boobs0
OK. So what's a good one for Mac?
- Amicus0
Font Explorer Pro
- by linotypebulletfactory
- Currently conflicts with OSX 10.6.3raf
- I use 10.6.3!!boobs
- Activated fonts are not visible to some applications, need to be reactivated on every restart.raf
- shite - using 10.5.8 at work - 10.6.3 at home - haven't use font explorer on it yet.bulletfactory
- I'm sure that reactivation thing can be set in the preferences, no?rascuache
- sigg0
^ Font Exporer Pro is no longer free, but the new paid for app comes with a few more features than before. I'm still using the free one from a year ago and it's fantastic. I highly recommend it.
- never was freemonospaced
- correct, but just linotype fontexplorer was. The pro is now a paid for approdzilla
- boobs0
One last thing: can the increased performance of the computer ever make up for all the time one loses fucking around installing the font management, and moving all the little fuckers around?
- raf0
Font Explorer Pro has issues with almost every system update. Is FontCase any better? It sure is cheaper.
- mirrorball0
fontcase is great, organisation is a lot like itunes
- monospaced0
Font Explorer X is free. Font Explorer Pro replaced it and was never free. There is essentially no difference between the two.
- I'd say that the lack of support for the free version is quite a big difference...rascuache
- LOL, you think font management software requires support?monospaced
- Still no difference in the software that I can tellmonospaced
- LOL Given that apparently it conflicts with 10.6.3, I'd be keen to call someone up about that...rascuache
- ...and somehow I doubt apple would want to know :)rascuache
- It works fine with 10.6.3, but you wouldn't know because you haven't tried it.monospaced
- I'm using the free version on 10.6.3, can't vouch for pro though, hence the "apparently" in my previous note...rascuache
- rascuache0
Read this:
http://www.jklstudios.com/misc/o…
And make sure you do it BEFORE you install any font management software, otherwise it's a major hassle to get rid of all the extra system fonts and shit...
- Don't scare him. I never read any of that SHITE and my font management software is fine with no system problems.monospaced
- I don't think it's shite at all, in fact it's pretty useful stuff to know.rascuache
- utopian0
Suitcase Fusion 2 works well with 10.6.3
- geoffism0
I'll second Fontexplorer X. easy. never had any problems. You can create collections, based on characteristics, and activate/deactivate as needed.
Fonts are a major startup suck with PS, AI and ID.