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How can I best manage my fonts?

E

eggy3

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 4, 2008
14
0
Hello!
I am looking for the optimal app to manage my font. So far I was using the font folder on my Mac, but it has proven to not offer enough options to 'manage'.
I heard ATM Deluxe is no longer supported and gave way to ATM light. I haven't heard much of Suitcase...
So I'm wondering what is your advice on that; what's best at the moment, and what are the differences?

Thanks
Eggy

17" PowerPC G4
 
I just installed FontAgent Pro on the production machines @ the paper I work for, and it's wonderful so far. At the same time, I also installed the Adobe Font Folio (2500+ fonts) and it's handed that beautifully.
We're using the workgroup edition, which would be overkill for a single user with no need to sync fonts, but from what I've seen - admittedly just playing around, as first issue of the year won't be out until August - it's well worth the money.
 
I am a fan of FontAgent Pro, admittedly. But I have been using Suitcase Fusion lately, and it works quite nicely, as well. Linotype's FontExplorer is freeware and has some good reviews from folks.
 
I use linotype font explorer and I absolutely love it! Its free, stable and works great. I have used suitcase in the past and font explorer is leaps and bound better.
 
eggy3 said:
...
I heard ATM Deluxe is no longer supported and gave way to ATM light. I haven't heard much of Suitcase...
...
Click to expand...
Adobe Type Manager was a Type 1 font renderer for System 6 through MacOS 9. Adobe developed ATM in response to Apple's impending release of TrueType. With MacOS 8.5, Apple introduced Apple Type Services for Unicode Imaging aka ATSUI. With MacOS X 10.5, ATSUI was replaced by Core Text.
 
So here's the thing. The OP is asking for ways to best manage his fonts. I'm curious, too. What are best practices. At work, we have an ancient, poorly managed, many corrupt/duplicate files font library. I have FontExplorer X, on the advice of others here in past discussion.

However, I never see discussed how to consolidate font libraries, how to organize them, what types of sets to use/keep activated, etc... Does anyone have insight to this?

Our machines have so many font headaches. A lot of it is due to suitcase being used on several machines (we hate suitcase), but most of it is starting with a mess of a font collection to begin with.

Thanks for any helpful insight.
 
i use FontDoctor to take all of my many many thousands of fonts and organize them. this removes duplicates, tells you what is corrupt and repairs them, etc...

now all of my fonts are in a neat, organized folder alphabetically arranged by typeface. this folder i import into Linotype FontExplorer X.

I keep as few fonts on as possible. i also make playlists of fonts in fontexplorer for projects that use groups of fonts i do not normally use and turn them on only when working on those projects.

i personally prefer fontexplorer to suitcase and fontagent as i like the speed, the interface and the stability. the one place fontexplorer falls a bit short is auto-activation. it is adequate but not perfect. i am also in a small studio as opposed to a huge corporate environment so its fine for what we do.
 

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InLikeALion said:
So here's the thing. The OP is asking for ways to best manage his fonts. I'm curious, too. What are best practices. At work, we have an ancient, poorly managed, many corrupt/duplicate files font library. I have FontExplorer X, on the advice of others here in past discussion.

However, I never see discussed how to consolidate font libraries, how to organize them, what types of sets to use/keep activated, etc... Does anyone have insight to this?

Our machines have so many font headaches. A lot of it is due to suitcase being used on several machines (we hate suitcase), but most of it is starting with a mess of a font collection to begin with.

Thanks for any helpful insight.
Click to expand...



I have my fonts separated into categories. (sans serif, serif, decorative, script, etc) I also have other categories with names like fun, futuristic, grunge, etc., it has taken a lot of time to organize this way, but its worth it.
 
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