Quantum CMG | creative media group

Font Etiquette: Part II – the How-To of Healthy Fonts

In the last article, we discussed the importance of understanding fonts- what they are, where they come from, and what they’re most optimally used for – to create our understanding of font etiquette.

This article is the fun one.

I’m going to share the best practices and ways manage and use your fonts from download to activation.

1.) DOWNLOAD
First, the process starts with your fonts file(s). This can either be something you’ve just purchased, but most likely downloaded. With the availability of fonts for download, either free or illegitimately, the integrity of your font is at stake.

2.) DIAGNOSE
The first step in good font etiquette is to check the integrity of your fonts. This is important as important character, kerning, or meta data may be missing, causing the font to be unstable, possibly leading to a program crash.

You can use diagnosis programs, such as FONT DOCTOR to diagnose and organize your fonts. Do this BEFORE you load them. We’ll get to that process.

I once had favored font I wanted to use from dafont.com. It was fantastic, but unstable. Every time I used it, I could guarantee Adobe Illustrator would close if I tried to edit the type. Solution? I had to find a commercial alternative – there’s always one.

3.) ORGANIZE
Next, is keeping a separate folder containing the original foundry and family together. Create a Font Collection folder, and organize them. Each folder, such as Red Rooster or Umbrella will have their own sets of fonts. This is for your reference purposes only, but is helpful whenever you need to check out the specimen PDF’s.

4.) UPLOAD
Next, using a program such as Font Agent Pro, you’ll be uploading your fonts into your font library. You’ve already ensured the font is healthy, so no problems here. Font Agent Pro will keep your fonts organized and activated whenever you need.
There’s so much more to be said about typography and fonts, but maintaining and utilizing healthy fonts is the core of a designer’s toolkit. By using Font Doctor and Font Agent Pro, you’ll be building your library with healthy fonts, whether purchased or free.

Font Agent Pro can be purchased online at: www.insidersoftware.com
Font Doctor can be purchased online at: www.extensis.com