How to transfer fonts between pcs and macs
natobasso (4004 points) | Tue, 2007-08-14 04:11Here's some links on how to transfer fonts between a pc and a mac. Remember, do not violate any font copyrights/ownership by doing this. If you're in doubt, check it out! Here's some good resources, but this is by far not an exhaustive list:
Open Type, a joint venture between Adobe and MIcrosoft, works on both macs and pcs:
http://www.adobe.com/uk/type/opentype/
Mac fonts to PC, just one app that's available:
http://www.softwaremonster.com/utilities/font_tools/crossfont.asp
PC fonts to Mac:
http://www.macdisk.com/fontsen.php3
Still more font converters:
http://cg.scs.carleton.ca/~luc/conversion.html
Thanks! I know about the universality of some fonts, like OT, but I'll bookmark the others for later use.
Mara
Glad I could help! Well, it's all the internet's fault. :)
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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The Salon Design Tech
Here's another one for converting fonts that is available for Mac or PC.
http://www.fontlab.com/font-converter/transtype/
I've used other products by Fontlab and have been very pleased in the past. Worth checking out.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” - Albert Einstein
Before we go down the rat hole in posting all the font conversion sites (smile), here's a good site with lots of them all in one place:
http://cg.scs.carleton.ca/~luc/conversion.html
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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The Salon Design Tech
Thanks. Excellent resource.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” - Albert Einstein
Dealing with fonts legally can be extremely confusing and complicated as each vendor has their own set of rules of what you can and can't do. [End User License Agreements] If you'd like to convert fonts between platforms here are some things to keep in mind.
[1] Mac OS X can load PC TrueType. [No conversion necessary... The only format it doesn't accept is PC Type1 - .pfm & .pfb]
[2] Very rarely do TrueType fonts cause Postscript rips problems during output like they once use to.
[3] Converting fonts between platforms can violate certain EULAs.
[4] Giving certain commercial fonts to a printer for output can violate their EULA.
[5] Many free fonts are created incorrectly which prevents them from being embedded in an EPS or PDF.
[5] Giving converted commercial fonts to a friend or client is almost always illegal. [OpenType fonts now include an encrypted signature and certain vendors have been known to include identify information about the original owner]
[6] Some of the easy-to-use converters don't do a very good job of preserving kerning tables.
[7] FontLab and Fontographer EMBED identifying information about you into any converted font. [Transtype is owned by FontLab]
I could go further but you get the picture. I rarely find it necessary to convert fonts. If you find yourself in that position, at least now you understand the potential consequences of your decision.
Thanks for expounding on the point. Very important legal issues!
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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The Salon Design Tech
My interest in info about converting fonts from Mac to PC was to alert PC-based clients to their ability, in at least some cases, to purchase and download a Mac-only font for themselves, and then convert it so they can use it at their end. I really can't think of many occasions in the past several years when I've been called on to do this, though, come to think of it. Maybe the technology is more flexible now, or maybe I just don't have so many of those "make me a template so I can print out my own stationery" clients as I once had. (Thank God!)
Mara
Many of the font vendors only sell 'OpenType' fonts now. That way you buy the font you want and install it on ANY of the licensed number of machines with no need to convert and mess up anything. [The same font gets installed on the PC and Mac]
In the past I've done projects at home in Quark using OpenType on my Mac and taken the file to work and opened on a PC and it was identical. OpenType is the new standard and rocks! Not to mention it's abilty to hold something like 65,000+ alternate characters, glyphs and languages. I've even seen a couple of script versions that allow you to pick between a handful and different looks for a single character.
Yep, that's why i have a link to adobe's UK page regarding OpenType and it's many benefits you mention... :)
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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The Salon Design Tech
Quark doesn't like Open Type fonts. Gee, I wonder why nudge nudge wink wink?
Those of us still preferring to use Quark for most of our layout work thus avoid OT like the plague.
But I, for one, see the handwriting (or is that the font?) on the wall. InDesign tutorials are no doubt in my immediate future. *sigh*
Mara
That's funny because Quarks lists 'Versatile typography with OpenType and Unicode' as one of the Top 10 features of Quark 7.
http://www.quark.com/products/xpress/features_fonts.html
OpenType works for me in Quark. What am I missing?
I had trouble recently with Myriad. They admit this is an issue.
Mara
ps: Oh, but I still use 6.5. Had no serious reason to upgrade to 7, so I never bothered.
Mara
Quark has trouble with A LOT of things. :)
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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The Salon Design Tech
http://www.quarkvsindesign.com
:)
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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The Salon Design Tech