Calling all font experts

[WRT]

Got a couple of questions about fonts. We have a number PDF files with a specific embedded PS font, which we are going to be using a lot of in the future. We are just about to purchase in the font, but have the option of getting it in either PS or TrueType. From what I'm hearing, PS works better with Adobe/desktop publishing apps, but TT works better with Word. We will be using the font both in PDFs and Word docs - which one should we go for?

[Hitcher]

If you need both, buy both. Otherwise figure out which application you would prefer to compromise.

[Big Dave]

Got a couple of questions about fonts. We have a number PDF files with a specific embedded PS font, which we are going to be using a lot of in the future. We are just about to purchase in the font, but have the option of getting it in either PS or TrueType. From what I'm hearing, PS works better with Adobe/desktop publishing apps, but TT works better with Word. We will be using the font both in PDFs and Word docs - which one should we go for?


If you are using Indesign on a mac OSX it doesn't matter - TT or PS will work dandy.

[WRT]

If you need both, buy both. Otherwise figure out which application you would prefer to compromise.

Bugger, I suspected this might be the answer, had hoped not. When you say compromise, does this mean that Word will in some way work with the PS font? The PDF's are more important to us, so if they will work best with PS then that will probably be the way we go.


If you are using Indesign on a mac OSX it doesn't matter - TT or PS will work dandy.

Good point - I forgot to mention this is Windows based.

[bungbung]

If you want a pdf from Word then ttf is most reliable. The Adobe apps are perfectly happy with either, it's Msword with the problem. Acrobat will embed whatever obscure font you use into the pdf.

[xwhatsit]

AFAIK you can use Postscript fonts in Word, at least on Mac.

You can also convert fonts between the two formats; here is an open-source utility to convert from Truetype to Postscript: http://ttf2pt1.sourceforge.net/

[Big Dave]

it's Msword with the problem.

How many times have I said that in the last 20 years.

[Skunk]

How many times have I said that in the last 20 years.
Ditto. Oh, and TTF.

[WRT]

The Adobe apps are perfectly happy with either, it's Msword with the problem.

That sounds like the answer we were looking for, thanks.


You can also convert fonts between the two formats; here is an open-source utility to convert from Truetype to Postscript: http://ttf2pt1.sourceforge.net/

Thanks for the tip, I'm not sure we can convert it in this case as the font is a licenced one - I would suspect we'd be guilty of pirating if we did such a move as when purchasing the font there is the option for one format or the other, if you want both then the price doubles.

[Big Dave]

Ditto. Oh, and TTF.

Words to make you cringe: 'Can you set us up a word template please'

[bungbung]

Words to make you cringe: 'Can you set us up a word template please'

Indesign layout: "Can you send that to me as a word doc?"

[Skunk]

Indesign layout: "Can you send that to me as a word doc?"
"Yes I can but it would look like anything you can recognise..."

[Ixion]

People buy fonts? Like, for money? Weird.

[Disco Dan]

People buy fonts? Like, for money? Weird.

yep, weird... http://www.dafont.com/

[The Pastor]

People buy fonts? Like, for money? Weird.
yeah i found that out the other day too, like its mega $$ too.

[Big Dave]

People buy fonts? Like, for money? Weird.

Some places of business are quite moral.
Indexed with: The taller the beacon, the more likely it is to be noticed.

[xwhatsit]

Some places of business are quite moral.
Indexed with: The taller the beacon, the more likely it is to be noticed.
I don't think he's advocating piracy. I think it's instead a case of `in my day, all we had was Bookman and Chancery, and we liked it!'

[Big Dave]

I don't think he's advocating piracy. I think it's instead a case of `in my day, all we had was Bookman and Chancery, and we liked it!'

Viva Clarendon Bold.

[riffer]

Sheesh. You amateurs.

Buy one copy.

Use FontForge (http://fontforge.sourceforge.net/). It's an open source version of Fontographer, the venerable font editing package that design professionals have been using since well, forever.

It's available in Mac, Windows, Linux/Unix and VMS (if you're as old as me and can still remember VMS) variants.

It will let you convert between TTF, PS1, PS3, OpenType and a few other obscure formats.

For free.

you're welcome.

Big Dave and Skunk, I was sure you'd have heard of this. :girlfight:

And yes, it doesn't screw up hinting, or ligatures.

[xwhatsit]

Sheesh. You amateurs.

You can also convert fonts between the two formats; here is an open-source utility to convert from Truetype to Postscript: http://ttf2pt1.sourceforge.net/

Thanks for the tip, I'm not sure we can convert it in this case as the font is a licenced one - I would suspect we'd be guilty of pirating if we did such a move as when purchasing the font there is the option for one format or the other, if you want both then the price doubles.
<tenchars>
<tenchar></tenchar>

[riffer]

Obviously not talking about you Tom. :oi-grr:

[xwhatsit]

Obviously not talking about you Tom. :oi-grr:
Lol -- well aware of my high factor of awesomeness. However the point in quoting that was to point out WRT's response, could well have your license to use the fonts retracted if you break the EULA :(

Quite a few FOS copies of fonts around, though; well at least the more traditional and mainstream ones. Not sure about the more fancy ones, all I ever use is Computer Modern;
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Computer_modern_sample_text.png"></img>

[riffer]

Yeah, copyright vs fair use. Always a legal minefield.

Of course, you could always manipulate the font slightly then claim it's different. :rolleyes:

[xwhatsit]

Yeah, copyright vs fair use. Always a legal minefield.
Actually, that's an interesting point. If it is just copyright, then could you perhaps claim the ability to transcode under fair use rules? Probably could. Don't see why a font is any different from any other kind of visual/aural art, at least under teh lor.

However, I suspect it might come with some kind of license instead, which would be separate from the copyright it's covered under. So, you obtain a license to use the font to publish whatever, and have to obey the terms of the license. A lot of EULAs are legally invalid, however.

[riffer]

According to AIGA (who should know these things) you do not own a font, you only buy the right to use it for a specific purpose.

Here's their white paper on it. (http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adobe.com%2Faboutadobe%2Fanti piracy%2Fpdfs%2FAIGA2.pdf&ei=1YNYSNPIOJqMtwOrwv2kCA&usg=AFQjCNHeTeRor1755rCF2BieSxLWILK6sw&sig2=i1Gy00DtjCzbeE1jlV-xCg)


Strictly speaking, unless you supply a PDF or postscript file to a pre-press bureau, you are breaking the law.

How many clients still do this? I've been out of the prepress game for a number of years now, but I assume that clients are still supplying Illustrator, InDesign, Quark etc files to bureaux, which is actually illegal.

[Big Dave]

Sheesh. You amateurs.
Big Dave and Skunk, I was sure you'd have heard of this. :girlfight:


I bought a gazillion fonts in a collection for $100 in....'88 and you have done all my leg work since. Who's looking kerned now hmmmm?

[Big Dave]

Strictly speaking, unless you supply a PDF or postscript file to a pre-press bureau, you are breaking the law.

How many clients still do this? I've been out of the prepress game for a number of years now, but I assume that clients are still supplying Illustrator, InDesign, Quark etc files to bureaux, which is actually illegal.

Nah. PDF or piss off.

[riffer]

Interesting. How things have changed.

Of course the workforce is full of those lazy millenials now. They wouldn't know how to postscript a file and run it through a prepress system if their life depended on it.

[Ixion]

Why do you want more than one? Every monitor and PC comes with a system font.

[avgas]

....And the lord spoketh!!!
"All future documents shall be in size 12 Times New Roman Only"

[Big Dave]

....And the lord spoketh!!!
"All future documents shall be in size 12 Times New Roman Only"

And 10 point Arial we beseech thee.


My last corporate branding job I used Times and Arial - They've all got it - and I don't get out of shape when it's outside brand rules. because it rarely is.

Ban Comics Cartoon and it works just as good as a custom

[avgas]

And 10 point Arial we beseech thee.


My last corporate branding job I used Times and Arial - They've all got it - and I don't get out of shape when it's outside brand rules. because it rarely is.

Ban Comics Cartoon and it works just as good as a custom
i once handed in an assignment at school in Zapf Dingbats as i hated the class. still got 1/10 for it.
Not to bad for a copy/paste from the internet.

[Big Dave]

i once handed in an assignment at school in Zapf Dingbats as i hated the class. still got 1/10 for it.
Not to bad for a copy/paste from the internet.

'1/10' and 'not bad' are terms you rarely see in the same paragraph!