posted
I currently need 6 fonts for a project, and unfortunately don't know how to go about getting them. Any ideas? I would highly prefer to get them for free, but if I need to pay, that's OK, as long as I don't get ripped off.
Muchos gracias . ^^;;
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
It will depend on the fonts. If they are common fonts, you might find them on a cheap font cd. If they are not, you might have to purchase them separately or, if lucky, obtain a higher-end font cd that has all of them on it.
posted
You need 6 fonts, or you need 6 very specific fonts? There is a big difference.
If you just need a wide range of general fonts, you can buy CD Font Collections for $5 to $10 where ever bargain CD's are sold. Usually, sever hundred to a few thousand fonts per disk, and usually including a font viewing/management program.
Also, if you simply search for 'free fonts' (Google, Yahoo, whatever), you will find places all over the internet that have free fonts available.
I have collections that probably add up to 10,000 or more fonts, though only about 150 are actually installed on my computer.
Also note that if you are making a website with some fancy obscure font, no one is going to be able to see it because it is unlikely they will have that font on their computer. For webpages, stick to the basic set of Microsoft fonts.
Also, note that depending on what operating system you have and what publishing/word processing applications you have, there are probably many hundreds of fonts that are available to you that are on your computer, but are not installed as active, and therefore available, fonts.
Search your computer for *.fon and *.ttf .
'*.ttf' will search out all the True Type Fonts, typcially used in publishing. You will likely find directories/folders that have many fonts in them, but the fonts may not be installed as active and therefore available fonts.
'*.fon' are general screen fonts for Microsoft Operating System.
Perhaps a better description of what the 6 fonts you need are, that is what the application of the font is, would help us help you choose the correct fonts.
Both Windows and Mac come with a couple hundred fonts, if you have installed word processing and/or desktop publishing, then you probably have a few hundred more available. Check your Master disk for your word processing program or DTP by searching them for *.ttf . I think you will find you have more fonts available to you than you thought.
For example, my DTP (Page Plus) comes with an additional 109 fonts that I don't have installed.
Also, note if you go to websites like Download.com , you can find several font viewing programs that can install and uninstall fonts for you, and can allow you to easily view samples of the fonts.
In Windows, if you find .ttf files, you can simply double-click on them and the Windows Font Viewer will show you a sample.
posted
Better yet, try searching Google for the specific font names. You should already have Times New Roman, which as you note is a True Type (TT) font. But I notice that Univers 65 Bold is a Postscript font. I think you can only use Postscript with a Mac and only with a Postscript word processor or DTP program. I could be wrong but I don't think Word for Windows can use Postscript fonts, thought I could be wrong.
I search for "Univers 65 Bold" and found several places on Google where it could be downloaded. Be sure to put the name in double-quote marks when you search.
posted
What is the difference, anyway, between Times New Roman and Times New Roman (TT)? I'm not using Word, actually, but rather InDesign. I tried searching for the above, but can only find rather expensive results. Perhaps you can email me your findings, if you'd be so kind?
posted
I believe the (TT) signifies that it's a TrueType font, rather than the standard Postscript font. But I'm not a font expert—even if I'm right on that, I don't know what it actually means. But I do know that you won't be able to download those fonts legally for free.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
You try making a font and then decide how much you'd be willing to charge for it. I mean, you are using a program that costs $700, after all.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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If you want to be really sure the fonts are free and legal, just grab whatever comes with the mainstream Linux distributions. The Bitstream Vera fonts and several others are free so long as you don't want to re-sell them, and the Microsoft web fonts are free to use, but not modify. You can find the MS fonts at http://fontconfig.org/webfonts/ and common Linux fonts at http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/FontsPosts: 145 | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
Many but not all True Type fonts are in public domain, others can usually be purchased legally in large collection. I have one collection with over 3,000 TT fonts.
Adobe Postscript fonts are usually used in profession publishing, and as a result are not cheap. At some point they may come into public domain when patents or whatever regulates 'fonts' expires. But generally publishing fonts are indeed expensive and if you check some of the link, you'll discover the Postscript fonts you are seeking are about $24 per font.
It is far better to buy them in collection, but you don't alway (in fact almost never) get a comprehensive list of the fonts found in a collection.
Keep in mind that creating fonts is not easy, especially if you are trying to create a new publishing font. Beyond Serf and Sans Serf, nearly every variation has been thought of. Personally, I prefer Bookman Old-style over Times. It's excellent for Faxes, easy to read after transmission. So, font makers want something in return for what the consider a 'work of art' that is going to make other people lots of money. They simply want their fair share.
Now odd fancy fonts (script, hand print, generally odd ball, etc...) are usually created by individuals honing their talent, and are nicely released into public domain, as long as you are not reselling the font. You can sell works created using the font, but not the font itself. You can however, give the font away.
posted
I'm a bit lost on the TrueType idea, because from what I'm reading, it seems that I already have the TrueType technology in that my fonts can be scaled. If I already have the TT technology, and I already have Times New Roman, then how come I don't have Times New Roman (TT)?
posted
You probably do, but if you are using Mac, then you probably have Times New Roman (PS) instead of Times New Roman (TT). No True Type font ends in (TT), that is just to distinguish that in this case we are speaking of True Type.
In one of my font collections I did find Bodini but not Bauer Bodini. If you can't afford these specific fonts, I would suggest getting a large collection of True Type and find 'close as possible' matches to the fonts you need.
For example -
www.1001freefonts.com has a collection of 6,000 fonts for only $15.00 available in both Mac and PC formats. Though most of them are not book publishing type fonts, they are more 'funny' fonts. Still 6,000 in either Mac (Postscript) or PC (True Type) formats is a bargain.
SoftKey (www.learningcon.com) Fonts Pro 3003 has over 3,000 fonts in over 1,000 font families. Fonts on my disk are in both Postscript and True Type. This disk may not be available in the form I have it, but Best Buy, Walmart, or any place else that sells bargain computer CD's probably has a large font collection for $5 to $10.
www.fonts.com claims to have over 119,000 fonts available individually, as well as assorted font collection in True Type, Postscript, and OpenType formats.
I curious why you need these specific fonts; has a customer specifically asked for them. Could you find samples of those fonts, then substitute close fonts in their place?
Did you say what kind of computer you are using; Mac, PC, or other? Can your desktop publishing program use both True Type and Postscript? If so, you might be able to find True Type version for less money.
Also, you might check, it is possible that your desktop publishing program came with many more fonts than you have currently available to you. It is quite common not to install any more fonts than are necessary for day to day operation. An excessive number for installed fonts tends to slow down your computer.
Some of the extra fonts I have came with various programs, like various graphic programs; have you check on the computer disks for various programs that are likely to come with a sampling of fonts?
Two good programs for viewing and managing fonts are -
This program shows a list of fonts (installed or uninstalled) in any directory/folder with the font name and some detail in the indicated font. A quick and easy way to browse through large font collections. To view the font in detail, highlight it, right-click, and select View.
Font Lister shows a list on the left in normal screen font, but as you move the cursor through the list, a font sample is displayed on the right side (numbers, alphabet (upper and lower case), and the phrase "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
Both programs are fully functional Shareware, and I think it is nice to have both. Each has its preferred use. To change to a new directory/folder/disk of uninstalled fonts, select View from the menu, the select Fonts In A Folder from the sub-menu.
Both programs show Installed and Uninstalled fonts. For example, I have several fonts in my \Windows\FONTS folder that are not installed. Without these programs, I would have no way of knowing that they were there but not installed.
posted
You actually have given me more help than one could expect from random people on the internet -- thanks so much!
Yeah, it's in a context where things have to be done exactly to specific fonts, but it's a relief to know that I don't have to worry about Times New Roman at least. Alright, well, thanks again .
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. ^^;;
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I mean, you are using a program that costs $700, after all.
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