The ability to create a managed library, complete with the option to optimize fonts from the system Fonts folder, make FontAgent Pro 3 for Windows (FAP) a strong choice for creative professionals. Insider Software’s FontAgent Pro 3 for Windows was very promising as a public beta, and I’m happy to report that the shipping version fulfills that promise. For the Mac side of things, go to page 2. Let’s tackle the Windows side first, starting with the highest-rated applications.
The following comparison of eight font managers - our favorites out of a larger field, plus one we can’t recommend - will help you sort through the sometimes-confusing choices. All designers - whether on Mac or Windows - can benefit from a font manager.
So the real question is not why you should use a font manager, but which one works best for you?Īnd don’t think this is just a Mac thing. It makes more sense to use only the fonts you need, when you need them. You can dump them all in your Control Panel Fonts folder (Windows) or one of the three system folders (Mac), but this is not only extremely taxing on your system, it can overpopulate your application font menus and result in endless scrolling. The downside is that managing a multitude of fonts can become a daunting task for both you and your computer. The more typefaces you have, the more creative options you can explore. You may work with hundreds or even thousands of fonts. So beyond the features outlined here, let your personal preferences guide you in making your decision.This article is excerpted from InDesign Magazine, June/July 2007 (Issue 18).
One of the great things about a PDF is that it can be read and edited in any PDF program regardless of which one it was created in. While PDFs can typically be reviewed in any PDF reader or editor, regardless of which one they were created in, consider looking for an editor that has a dedicated mobile app, is optimized for mobile devices, or allows cloud access to features through a mobile browser.
Good options will usually offer several levels of security, including password protection, permissions setting, and content redaction, which “blacks out” selected text and images. Look for a PDF editor that includes security features that allow access for authorized eyes only. Security: All businesses deal with documents containing sensitive data.Common options include sticky notes, callout boxes, highlighting, freehand drawing tools, and stamps with messages like “approved,” “revised,” and “confidential.” It should have tools to mark up both text documents and graphic-heavy files like webpages. Review and annotate: A good PDF editor should also let you or anyone else using it add comments and other annotations to PDF files during review.A good one will perform these tasks as easily as in a text document or slide deck, allowing in-line editing, dragging-and dropping graphics, and adding or removing hyperlinks. Content editing: Another bit of magic that PDF editors unlock is the ability to modify text insert, resize, and move images and reorganize pages in the PDF.
Likewise, a good PDF editor must be able to export PDFs into other editable formats such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, HTML, or plain text, maintaining the original files hyperlinks, images, and other elements. It should also include OCR technology to make the PDF text searchable and editable. A good PDF editor should be able to transform a variety of file types-from Microsoft Office formats to images to HTML-and do so seamlessly, preserving the original formatting.