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Joyce Rodgers's picture
8 pencils

converting mac fonts to work with PC

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

Commenting on this Forum topic is closed.

carlosmh's picture
202 pencils

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

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

Joyce Rodgers's picture
8 pencils

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.

natobasso's picture
3954 pencils

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

Joyce Rodgers's picture
8 pencils

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

Paul Walker's picture
29 pencils

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.

Joyce Rodgers's picture
8 pencils

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.

natobasso's picture
3954 pencils
onegirlcreative's picture
1092 pencils

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

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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo

www.onegirlcreative.com

ireid's picture
1283 pencils

. . . 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

onegirlcreative's picture
1092 pencils

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

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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo

www.onegirlcreative.com

daft_daft_daft's picture
1 pencil

hey onegirlcreative,

for someone that has such a horrible website, and a big lack of understanding the principles of typography, you sure do talk the talk.

"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." too bad that some of the greatest design & ad agencies are using PCs. some are, some aren't. a firm isn't "bad" if they have a PC - ever hear of web design? Web designers use PCs all the time or run a windows parallel on a mac.

you're a joke, and your site isn't even funny. you should take the time you waste online acting like a big shot and read a book, or a few hundred books on concept, typography, and even color. you're book rivals most JU-co students.

ireid's picture
1283 pencils

And who would YOU be?

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

gwells's picture
1705 pencils

don't you just love when some random new user comes in and posts a wild, negative, and abusive rant on a 2 yr old post?

robbie's picture
356 pencils

sounds like a jealous EX lover to me!

16 billion colours and you choose the one i cant create !??!

Leaky Penny's picture
2592 pencils

I kinda see where he's coming from, I'm not as personally offended when I see a company using PCs in the office as onecreativegirl is. I admit her quoted paragraph does make her sound a little douchey, daft_daft_daft takes the cake for being the biggest douche of them all. Keep the internet rage for yourself man, no need in digging up 2 - 3 year old threads to vent.

I personally rather use PCs than Macs, but I also rather drive a japanese car than american. it's a matter of tastes.

(please, not trying to start another flame war here)

Leaky Penny
Check out what I've been up to lately!
http://petersonjoseph.com

I'm going to print it out and eat it.

-Unknown Artist

Art D. Rector's picture
2642 pencils

The reason you lost the trademarks (tm) and registration marks (R) is because the keyboard command for those special characters are different on Macs and PCs. You probaby have some other goofy character in there where the marks were before. You can simply do a find/replace using the correct PC command. I work on a Mac, so I don't know the keyboard commands for PC fonts, but according to this website...

http://home.earthlink.net/~awinkelried/keyboard_shortcuts.html

... the trademark keyboard command on the PC is:

Alt + 0153

....and the registration mark is:

Alt + 0174

Their mac commands are correct, so I'm assuming the PC commands are correct too.

BTW, my #2 machine (G3 - the last beige one Apple made) is still running OS9 and one of my clients is still producing part of his monthly newspaper on a G3 also running OS9. I don't miss ATM though. :-)

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