What do you do for fonts? Is there a NICE font pack out there?

[thelukeandrews]

Countless times, I've gone through my fonts in suitcase and singled out the good ones, only to get a new machine a year later and all is gone. I've now managed to use windows to manually move a few nice ones into a folder, but this just doesnt cut it.. it takes so long!!

What do you do? Browse through your 20, 000 fonts every time? Use the default windows/mac fonts??

Anyone got a few favourites they can post?? PLS??:eek:

[PrintDriver]

You should keep all of your fonts on a backup disk.

[dakabn_zion]

Countless times, I've gone through my fonts in suitcase and singled out the good ones, only to get a new machine a year later and all is gone. I've now managed to use windows to manually move a few nice ones into a folder, but this just doesnt cut it.. it takes so long!!

What do you do? Browse through your 20, 000 fonts every time? Use the default windows/mac fonts??

Anyone got a few favourites they can post?? PLS??:eek:

I get free fonts from 1001fonts or acidfonts. I know some designers HATE free fonts, but some of these are good.

As for looking at fonts I have? I think there is software you can download (for free or free demo) that allows you to look at them on the computer or print out to put in a binder.

[DesignVHL]

I'm SO not even going to go there with the free fonts - but I personally do not suggest going there. If you do, read those licenses.

Sounds like you need some font management - do a search on this forum and some great info should come up for you regarding that.

I agree w/ what PD said, always backup your fonts. I find that I like Linotype a lot, as well as adobe and veer for finding fonts. Really depends on what your budget is, and what kind of work you do in respect to finding a nice font package to buy.

[garricks]

I know some designers HATE free fonts..

Not as much as printers and pre-press operators do! ;)

[budafist]

There are some good fonts that come with CS (http://blogs.adobe.com/typblography/CS3fonts.html). Just saying...

[kevincdg]

this might be a tangent, but it's kind of neat...

while i was in photoshop world in vegas there was a booth at the expo for a program called 'type dna'...it's a font manager just like linotype/suitcase etc, but is directly built in as a plugin with photoshop. it's integrated so you dont have to run seperate programs. it also contains a program that helps pair contrasting fonts together and the included ability to search for similar fonts. i think it'll pair with more programs than photoshop, also...

they're accepting beta testing applications atm, not sure when the actual testing will begin though.

http://www.typedna.com/

[thelukeandrews]

a plugin? nice!!

and yeah i definitely keep a backup, but if you separate all yr fonts inside suitacase that information's lost if you get a new machine.

I still wanna find a pack of about 100 fonts that are all really cool, some neat sans serif ones, some funky ones, scripty ones, rough ones.

Maybe i'll start by creating one. would you guys do the same if i did? that way we could spread the cool-font lovin!!

[Whiteshark]

Like VHL, I think www.linotype.com (http://www.linotype.com) is a good place to see some of the mainstays of the industry. I've always wanted there to be a "short list" pack since there is so much impractical garbage out there to sift through.

[garricks]

Kevin, that's cool. Their Web site says it will work with Illy & Indy too, so that's a plus for me.

[kevincdg]

Kevin, that's cool. Their Web site says it will work with Illy & Indy too, so that's a plus for me.

yea, i'm eagerly awaiting the beta testing to open...it should be nice. as far as a "font pack"...i can list a few fonts (albeit a little pricey for all) that i think every designer should have.

futura
avant garde
avenir
requiem
trajan (use wisely and correctly...)
helvetica neue
frutiger
eurostile extended
mrs eaves
univers
bankgothic
archer

it's a little serif-light...so if anyone has good ones to add, but a decent amount to give you some contrast.

[budafist]

Garamond is a good one to have for your serif font.

[thelukeandrews]

wow I'd forgotten how cool linotype was.

But I work in-house for a smallish company, creating web banners, magazine inserts, image-heavy emails... mostly one-offs, so it's never worth buying any fonts. Especially the more cretive ones that only work in one situation.

I'm stuck with the free ones.

Yeah so I guess what I need to find is site like linotype but with free fonts.

Enter, once again, the world of trawling through billions sites with billions of fonts..

dang i really should write a blog

[BECKY609]

I am right there with ya lukeandrews! I have been trying to buy a starter pack for months now but recommendations seem hard to come by... and I can't find something good that won't break my bank...

[garricks]

I'm partial to Adobe Caslon Pro for serif. Also, the Pro set of Palatino.

[hotmetal]

Chank Diesel!

http://www.chank.com/

(I've been buying the fonts I use since 1989. "Free" fonts are worth every penney. I'm just saying is all... )

[budafist]

Chank Diesel!

http://www.chank.com/

(I've been buying the fonts I use since 1989. "Free" fonts are worth every penney. I'm just saying is all... )


You have been a member for a year but only 1 post? Stick around. We doing bite. Love the avatar by the way.

[Lampshade]

Linotype has a great font management program for mac and windows called
FontExplorer X. It has saved my life on numerous occasions and easily creates zips if you need to back up or switch to a new computer.

[urstwile]

^^^they discontinued the Windows beta of FontExplorer X a while back, so for the moment it's Mac OS X only. Hopefully they'll come out with a fully featured version for Windows soon, as I have to agree, it's been one of the nicest font managers I've used, and you definitely can't beat the price: FREE. :)