understanding fonts in Mac OS X

The Vortex
The Vortex

Intro

Font formats

Mac OS X font installation

Managing fonts

Licensing fonts

Introduction

Every designer needs fonts, but many struggle to manage them, find new ones when their old favourites become tired and dated, and figure out the different formats that Mac OS X now supports. In this feature we'll explain exactly how to take charge of your fonts, from sourcing to installing and managing - with plenty more besides.

Fonts are indispensable to creative work. More than any other aspect of design, the choice of type defines the feel of a product, from print to Web to video. Yet most designers know next to nothing about their fonts, which is a crying shame. There's a huge amount of misinformation out there, so we'll start by clarifying a number of font facts.

Recognising formats

This article first appeared in MacUser magazine. It was written by Keith Martin, MacUser's technical editor. See www.macuser.co.uk for magazine details.