converting mac fonts to work with PC

Submitted by Joyce Rodgers on Mon, 2007-03-26 22:41.

Member's Forum

We recently switched from Mac to PC computers at work. We design labels and Material Safety Data Sheets for other companies.

However we are finding that almost all of our files are affected by this change as we have many fonts used in logos and text that do not come with the PC's. So far the only option we see is that we will have to start all over from scratch with the designing of all our files.

We use Pagemaker for creating these files. When I open a file it substitutes fonts and looks OK on the screen, however when I print it does not look anything like it is supposed to.

Question: Is there any way we can convert the fonts from Mac to our new PC's or someplace we can buy the missing fonts?

There is about 8 fonts affected by this change but the only one I can think of right this minute is Helvetica. Thank you for your help. Joyce

If you have a huge

Submitted by carlosmh on Mon, 2007-03-26 23:48.

If you have a huge collection of Win Fonts this app maybe can help you....

http://www.fontlab.com/FontConverters/TransType/

Thanks for the lead

Submitted by Joyce Rodgers on Sat, 2007-03-31 10:21.

Went to the site and downloaded the trans type demo. Works like a charm at converting fonts except for these little tr and t logo embedded in the letters, which from what I gather will stay there unless I buy the program for $179.00. I still need to actually put it on my work computer and see if it will allow me to make updates and print correctly. Then if it does I need to see if I can convince my boss to purchase it. Thanks for the lead.

You could also create an

Submitted by natobasso on Fri, 2007-03-30 15:57.

You could also create an archive of your old files as pdfs and you won't have to worry about converting...

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Natobasso

thank you for your thoughts

Submitted by Joyce Rodgers on Sat, 2007-03-31 10:08.

pdf's wouldn't work as I need to be constantly updating information on these files. But thanks for your input.

OS X fonts work on windows

Submitted by Paul Walker on Fri, 2007-03-30 22:47.

OS X fonts work on windows and vice versa... Unless you were using OS ≤9 You should just be able to copy your font directories (in /library/fonts and ~/library/fonts) into the fonts folder on your windows computers.

Thanks for the idea

Submitted by Joyce Rodgers on Sat, 2007-03-31 10:13.

I'm using OS 9 on my computer, however there is another MAC OS X in the office. It does not have pagemaker installed on it but maybe it will have the missing fonts. I will try checking that one for the fonts.

Well, sort

Submitted by natobasso on Fri, 2007-03-30 22:52.

Well, sort of...
http://www.linotype.com/2805/macandpcquestions.html?PHPSESSID=86034b66fabbdf7eb5eeb52c0218099d

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Natobasso

OS 9 in a design office???

Submitted by onegirlcreative on Tue, 2007-04-03 13:21.

Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with this thread, but I'm always amazed why designers or design offices are still using OS 9. ;-D

I actually PREFER OS 9

Submitted by ireid on Tue, 2007-04-03 14:38.

. . . It was MUCH snappier and quicker to get things done. Don't get me wrong OS X is beautiful, but for doing WORK, OS 9 couldn't be beat. I LOVE Pagemaker for OS 9 but eventually you've got to move on! oh and NOTHING beats ATM, not even Linotype FontExplorer which is 300x better than suitcase!

. . . But no one seems to have wondered WHY would ANYONE move from Macs to Windows in this day and age?! Nasty! :P

"Try not, Do! or do not, there is no try."
-Yoda

Well, since this is a Mac forum...

Submitted by onegirlcreative on Tue, 2007-04-03 14:51.

I just assumed that EVERYBODY was using a mac.

Believe me, I am always amazed (and PO'd) when I go into an interview at a design firm, magazine, or any place that does graphic design, and I see a PC. I mean, a PC for the graphic designers??? Icck.

I understand where you're coming from with OS 9, but I never realized how annoyed with OS 9 until I recently purchased a clamshell iBook on eBay (I like to purchase older Macs and do the upgrades myself—RAM, OS, airport, etc.), and it came installed with OS 9. Well, since I haven't used OS 9 in years, I was forced to give it a try since this particular clamshell doesn't have a DVD drive, and all my OS X install disks are DVD's. So while I was waiting for my media exchange, I had to use OS 9. I totally hated it. It was so weird how spoiled I got with OS X after all this time.

But then again, I am obviously not using this clamshell for graphic design apps, so I'm sure that has a huge impact, as well. Just food for thought.

suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer