Managing fonts on the Mac

Hi everyone,

Just curious to find out from a number of Mac users how confident they
are about managing the fonts on their Macs.

A client of mine installed CS4 recently, after having CS3 on their
system, and everything font-wise seemed to have gone haywire for them.

Within a few minutes - referring to an outline I had created a number
of years ago after joining an agency that was experiencing major font
issues but no-one had been able to sort out - I was able to help this
client too.

I'm curious how many other Mac users are in the boat - and perhaps I
can help and also learn a bit more myself in the meantime.

I have contacted Apple, Adobe, Linotype and Extensis numerous times
over the past 10 years [since the advent of OS X on the Mac] and I can
tell you you won't get a concise answer from any of them. Extensis has
come close in their help but I think for reasons of licensing and
agreements between Apple and these vendors it prevents each of them
telling you what you can do - primarily because the first thing you
should do is remove many of the fonts the OS installs. Most graphic
designers, especially those who deal in print, cannot stand many of the
default fonts and certainly should not use them in prepress situations.

Now, of course, you can't even remove Helvetica because the system
"requires" it.

I have a comprehensive outline for MacOS X font management that I had
developed at a studio I worked at years ago that I am now expanding
with this additional information - I will have the updates ready by the
end of this week.

If anyone is interested, please send $5USD via PayPal to
publisher-at-beatlology-dot-com [my hobby account] and I will e-mail
the PDF outline to you.


My credentials, in case you're wondering...

I have been an instructor in graphic design since 1990 at a community
college, both part-time and full-time, in Toronto, ON, Canada, as well
as having worked as an IT manager for a creative design studio managing
an office of 12-14 Mac systems for several years and continue to work
freelance as well as supporting a number of creative design clients
with their design, digital production and software/systems
installations and training.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Managing fonts on the Mac
    ... I'm curious how many other Mac users are in the boat - and perhaps I ... should do is remove many of the fonts the OS installs. ... the PDF outline to you. ... I have been an instructor in graphic design since 1990 at a community ...
    (comp.publish.prepress)
  • Re: Managing fonts on the Mac
    ... I'm curious how many other Mac users are in the boat - and perhaps I ... should do is remove many of the fonts the OS installs. ... the PDF outline to you. ... I have been an instructor in graphic design since 1990 at a community ...
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