Can anyone recommend a good simple font manager?

[Simon Strom]

FontExplorer by LinoType. I’ve only used the one for Mac though. Can’t vouch for the Windows version.

They have a paid for version now, but the older free one still works great on my machine.

Links to the download are on the right:
http://www.linotype.com/2393/fontexplorer.html

[Nigel Hindley]

thanks Simon, ill take a look, any more reco’s appreciated too!

[Lee Attewell]

Funny you should mention it…I’ve just downloaded a trial version of Font expert http://www.proximasoftware.com/fontexpert/ It looks really powerful and is a bit tricky to use but looks like its the nuts.

I’m still figuring out how to use it properly but we’ve got nearly 20000 fonts on our system so we need something to wade through the mess.

I’ve always liked using font manager that comes with Corel, easy to use but since upgrading to Windows 7, I can’t install the postscript fonts properly so needed to find something else hence font expert.

[Alan Drury]

Lee, can you describe the problems you are having Font navigator and W7 – is it ATM error? I am using FN with FN now with no issues and I use hundreds of Type 1 fonts.
Alan D

[Lee Attewell]

Yes Alan that’s exactly the kid of problem I was having.

How did you fix it up?

[Shane Drew]

Lee, I use W7 and FN without any issue at all…..

I used to use Typograf font manager…. excellent. http://www.neuber.com/typograph/

Its been around for years and is one of the best I have used. That said, I’ve been using FN since X3 and never had an issue, even after upgrading to W7 a month or so ago.

[Alan Drury]

Lee, I am assuming you ran FN for the first time and let it find all of your fonts, it found the type 1 fonts and although listed in the left pain and in you catalogue everytime you click on one iy gives an atm error.
My type 1 fonts are in a different folder to the Windows font folder. I installed them in Windows as a shortcut. From then on they worked fine in W7. If you continue to have problems I will pursue it further.
Alan D

[Nigel Hindley]

This may seem like a very naive question but never having used a font manager before…………. what exactly are the main benefits? – I know why I though that I should get one but the ones I have seen aren’t really what I expected?

I like the look of the nueber one so far thanks Shane and all for the links. I think this is the one I will persevere with for now!

Nigel

[Lee Attewell]

Thanks for the link Shane, I’ll have a squiz at it a bit later.

Alan, yeah I did run the FN for the first time but for some unknown reason it’s not letting me install ps1 Fonts. I’ll have another crack later on today.

Nigel, it’s really important to have a font manager when you’re working with other people who are submitting designs to you for work. My wife Jenny is our designer and she goes through stages of loving one font or another and designs stuff for our clients on her computer. When she sends it to me for editing, checking or production I often don’t have a particular font and Illustrator tells me when I go to open the file.

Having a good font Manager makes it easy for you to load a new font.

We don’t like to just outline the fonts because there may be changes later on down the track that are easier when the font isn’t outlined.

[Lee Attewell]

Update…

Re ran Corel Bitstream Font Navigator after allowing my fonts file to allow links. I also removed duplicate fonts from my system and hey Bisto!!! It’s working again!!!

Thanks for your help fellas 🙂

[Shane Drew]

quote Lee Attewell:

Update…

Re ran Corel Bitstream Font Navigator after allowing my fonts file to allow links. I also removed duplicate fonts from my system and hey Bisto!!! It’s working again!!!

Thanks for your help fellas 🙂

you mean I can stop worrying now ? 😉

[Lee Attewell]

pmsl Shane… I AM a worry mate 😀

[Alan Drury]

Nigel, apart from the advantages Lee has described Corel users who are also using FN benefit from uninstalled fonts being flagged and the option of automatic install when cdr files are opened. Ie file uses say Garamond bold. Font is present on the hard disk but NOT installed in windows, open file in Corel Draw, a box will inform that the font is not installed but can be automaticallt installed from FN cataloge. OK will automatically install the font and the file will open as normal.
Generally font managers have 2 panes, 1 fonts present on disk but not installed – 2nd fonts installed on system ready to use, you can drag fonts from 1 pane to another. Various managers are more sophisticated enabling fonts to grouped into catagories and/or favourites but they are usually similar.
Alan D

[Nigel Hindley]

Thanks guys Ill keep going and see how I learn the best uses, but even having a better vision of the fonts I have is being very helpful. Can you group fonts into types ie serif/sans serif?

Nigel

[Alan Drury]

Nigel, in FN you can view different styles from Script to serif to sans serif. You can also create your own groups, drag fonts into these groups and install complete groups.
I wouldn’t regard FN as a super sophisticated manager but it does the job although my requirements are modest compared to some. Corel users get FN bundled in the box although it must be run, it should be installed but still needs running a first time to catalogue all your fonts.
Alan D

[Nigel Hindley]

Thanks Alan.

Nigel

[Simon Strom]

Font managers also allow you to create sets. This way you can keeps the fonts organized by job. Think of it kind of like a song play-list. You can have the same font in several different sets. It makes it easier for me to get an overview of what fonts I think I might want to use for a job. I’ll typically dump about 20 – 30 fonts in a set for a job and then narrow them down until I only have the few that I’m going to use.

[Fraser Moore]

I have done a help file on Youtube for fonts hope this helps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-yAyKVayus

[Phillip Patterson]

are there any font managers out there which already include over 2-4000 fonts so you dont have to go round installing them yourself???