font management?

[Shanarchy]

I (as I'm sure most of you folks) have a ton of fonts on my computer. You can not realistically go through every font and pick what you like best. Is there a way to categorize them? Kind of like dafont.com has them?

And what exactly is a font manager? And how does it work? What's with the install/uninstall stuff? I haven't had too much time to read what it does, but the little that I have read scrambles my brain. So I figured I'd ask you fine folks.

[Frog]

The CorelDRAW suite includes Font Navigator, which allows us to set up categorized folders for font groups, and also keeps our thousands of fonts handy, but not installed unless we need them

[StuJohnston]

I use http://www.extensis.com/suitcase-fusion. I like it because it has integration with adobe products so that I don't have to remember to activate a font that is in a certain file and other stuff that escapes me now. It also will sort based on metadata (if present in the font file), not unlike the id3 stuff in mp3 files. Though like id3, not every file has a neat and tidy metadata file. Not to worry, you can add it yourself if you so choose. But you can also do it the quick and dirty way of just making a folder of a certain type style and populate it manually if you so choose.

One feature that I think is cool about it, but I don't use it often, is that you can click and drag a bit of type to where ever on your monitor and it will place it there so you can see what it would look like without having to activate the font. Something that I do use on a regular basis are the smart folders where I can make a folder that searches for certain parameters and it will show fonts that fit that and all the fonts that I add from then on that fit the same parameters as well will be automatically added.

[Shanarchy]

That one sounds pretty interesting Stu. I like the fact that it sound like you can get them to somewhat "self-organize".

Frog, I primarily use Illustrator. I probably should have stated that in my original post. That is a pretty sweet option though.

[Sbrem]

I also have that issue and was reviewing Suitcase Fusion 5 by Extensis; I'll be going that way on the weekend when I have the time to spend on it.

Steve

[Frog]

As a note, Font Navigator is there, so I have always used it, but with nothing to compare.

It is smart enough to offer to install the same font when I open an old file on a new or different computer that I may have not yet installed a lot of fonts, or on a machine on which i cleaned house.

[Sbrem]

It seems there a few that do the job. The important thing is to get something and get it done. I was going for last Saturday, but got a "I'm gonna die if you can't help me!" call that lured me away, so this Saturday for sure.

Steve

[Shanarchy]

Steve,

If you do it this weekend let me know your thoughts on it. I probably won't get to it for a couple of weeks, so I would love to hear your review.

[SteveS]

We like MainType Font Manager by High Logic. It's not free but it's nice that we can keep a directory of fonts on a server share and anyone with the software can manage their fonts from a central location.

http://www.high-logic.com/font-manager/maintype.html

[Sbrem]

Steve,

If you do it this weekend let me know your thoughts on it. I probably won't get to it for a couple of weeks, so I would love to hear your review.

Will do Shane. I have 2 pita projects for Saturday, the fonts, and my DEP annual report. You're in MA, you may be familiar with that one. If not, you might want to check it out before they come to you. I'll let you know about Suitcase...

Steve

[Shanarchy]

DEP annual report. You're in MA, you may be familiar with that one. If not, you might want to check it out before they come to you.

Semi-aware. I've never been contacted (yet). I should probably get more prepared for one day when I am.