Pros and cons of font management systems

By Creative Bloq Staff
( Computer Arts )
published

Gauging needs is the first step in deciding what system of font organisation is best suited to you.

The job you're trying to do with any font management system is to keep track of the various – and sometimes hugely complex – licensing terms for the typefaces you use, whether you're a single self-employed designer or whether you're part of a multinational agency.

That means not just knowing that you bought a font legally, but that you can do all the things with it that you need to – use it commercially, deploy it in an app, embed it in a PDF to send to a printer, or whatever.

01. Manual control

You can do this manually, by reading the terms carefully and buying a sufficient number of 'seats' (designating the number of people who can use it).

You'll need to ensure, for example, that your printers have licences too if you're bundling assets to send to them, then loading the fonts onto the relevant machines and removing them when they're not needed or you need to move your seats around.

  • Pro: Both OS X and Windows have built-in basic font managers to install fonts; the Macs can detect corruptions and duplicates when installing. This process is cheap – indeed, free!
  • Con: But this can quickly get out of hand even for companies with just two or three staff and a handful of clients, and if you are required to audit your software licensing it can be tortuous to produce a coherent, accurate report.

02: Server-based systems

Using a formal, server-based system such as Extensis Universal Type Server or Monotype FontExplorer X Server means that auditing is easy.

  • Pro: This ensures fonts are only used where they are supposed to be within their licence terms.
  • Con: Some might find they stifle the creative process a little, though, and they can be expensive and daunting to get started with.

Once you've decided on the best font management option for you, try these five tips for taking control of your fonts (opens in new tab).

Words: Christopher Phin (opens in new tab)

This feature first appeared inside Computer Arts 237: Pick the Perfect Typeface (opens in new tab). Have you entered your best branding to the Brand Impact Awards (opens in new tab) yet? If you've created some standout branding in the last 18 months, you're eligible... Good luck!

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Creative Bloq Staff

The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of six full-time members of staff: Editor Kerrie Hughes, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Deals Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Digital Arts and Design Editor Ian Dean, and Staff Writer Amelia Bamsey, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq. 

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