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Thomas Phinney
Inspiring
February 26, 2002
Question

FAQ: Multiple master fonts on OS X

  • February 26, 2002
  • 81 replies
  • 19195 views
(This notice has been updated repeatedly to discuss: OS X 10.2, Adobe app bugs with 10.2 support, "cocoa" applications; Adobe phasing out MM font sales; Adobe discontinuing tech support for MM fonts. Last update: 23 Sep 2005.)

With versions 10.0 and 10.1, Mac OS X's native support for Type 1 and OpenType initially failed to include support for multiple master Type 1 fonts. This problem is fixed in OS X version 10.2 and later for applications using the "carbon" APIs, but not for applications using "cocoa" APIs. The two most common "cocoa" applications are TextEdit and Keynote.

Note that applications running in "Classic" mode are unaffected. They still need ATM for supporting Type 1 fonts, including multiple master fonts.

There is a workaround for some Adobe applications, such as InDesign 2, Illustrator 10 and Photoshop 7. You can rely on the native font imaging support in these applications, which is largely independent of the OS. Just put the fonts in the the Fonts folder in the application's folder, or the Application Support/Adobe/Fonts folder.

Additionally, the above-mentioned Adobe applications may have problems accessing all multiple master instances, when accessing the MM fonts which are installed at the system level, even in Mac OS X 10.2 and later. In some cases, this may be worked around by installing the fonts in the application's own fonts folder or the Application Support folder as described above.

PHASING OUT MULTIPLE MASTER FONTS

Adobe stopped making new MM and Type 1 fonts in 1999, and there is no equivalent to MM in the newer OpenType format. From late 2002 to mid 2003, Adobe phased out sales of multiple master fonts. As of this writing, they can only be bought from Adobe as part of Font Folio 9, which is still available for people who need compatibility with older fonts. The current version of Font Folio is Font Folio OpenType Edition, which shipped in August 2003.

At the end of 2004, Adobe stopped offering tech support for MM fonts, excepting for people with Font folio 9.
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    Thomas PhinneyAuthor
    Inspiring
    May 2, 2003
    Actually, OpenType is going to be much more long-lived than Type 1.

    Here at Adobe, we're already trying to figure out when we'd stop selling Type 1. We will continue to support it for quite a few years, but it's really the past for us. We haven't shipped a new Type 1 font since 1999.

    Regards,

    T

    Thomas Phinney
    Fonts Program Mgr.
    Adobe Systems
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    _Ken_Nielsen_
    Known Participant
    May 2, 2003
    For OSX, I've found that it is easiest to simply dump the MM fonts and don't look back. I've switched to all type1 for now and will look into what benefits and assurances there are to OpenType longevity before going down that avenue.
    _
    _Kirk_Lamb_
    Participating Frequently
    April 30, 2003
    Does anyone know why Adobe InDesign takes so long (about 35 seconds) to save document containing MM fonts, when a similar document containing no MM fonts saves in a few seconds?

    I am running OS X v.10.2.5, and using Suitcase v.10.2.1 and InDesign v.2.0.2.
    _
    _Michael_L_Lewis_
    Participant
    April 28, 2003
    Neil and Thomas, thanks for your input.

    I was aware of the Quark KB document and thanks to that and another from the Apple KB, I was able to print from Quark in the first place. However, still no luck with multiple masters, even trying the "new document" workaround. Frankly, I've resigned myself to doing without MM fonts in the interim while eagerly awaiting either a new version of OS X or Quark that fixes the issue. Naturally, this is less than ideal since Myriad is one of my organization's main fonts. I do find it ironic that it is Apple's new corporate font as well... I wonder how they get it to work? :-) Meanwhile, Frutiger is very similar to Myriad, so that's what I'm migrating to. Methinks only my discriminating designer eye will notice the difference, although I look forward to not having to make that kind of decision.

    Thomas, I understand and respect that you are unable to talk specifics regarding features in upcoming new releases from either Apple or Adobe. However, can I assume that Apple is keenly aware of the MM problem and is working on a solution for some system software upgrade in the future? I promise not to tell. :-)

    Again, thanks to all for your assistance. It is most appreciated.

    --m
    N
    Neil_Keller
    Known Participant
    April 28, 2003
    Thomas,

    From the symptoms I've encountered, one would certainly think so!

    The Courier swap for a multiple master font at printout happens with four HP laser printers (both genuine PS Level 2 and Level 2 emulation) and with QuarkXPress 4 and 5. It occurs with current/recent versions of both LaserWriter and AdobePS.

    Copying-and-pasting content into a new XPress document temporarily "fixes" the problem. So, this would seem to narrow it down to an XPress problem, for which I can't find any reference on the Quark site.

    I'm trying to recall if I ever had the same problem with Illustrator 10 -- I think I did once, but I cannot say for sure. If so, then the problem would extend beyond XPress.

    But it never happened with Photoshop 7, even with layers of Myriad MM kept as "live" fonts in the PSD document for a number of generations of output. I don't use ID2 enough for anecdotal comment.

    But, I found nothing in the Quark Knowledge Base that addresses this problem any other way than the reference I gave above. The problem I'm experiencing is exactly as described in their Knowledge Base document -- until the point where they say to print with background printing turned "on" to "fix" the problem. But I always print with background printing turned on -- and I still have the problem.

    Neil
    T
    Thomas PhinneyAuthor
    Inspiring
    April 27, 2003
    Neil,

    Although it may be "related" to driver versions, if copying content to a new QXP file fixes it, I would think that it's a Quark bug. No?

    T
    N
    Neil_Keller
    Known Participant
    April 27, 2003
    Michael,

    I've come across a bug that is related to the recent versions of LaserWriter (and I believe Adobe PS) that may be the problem.

    I've checked the Quark site and found their Knowledge Base document #3636 which describes the issue, but for me, does not solve it. http://www.quark.com/support/techinfo/article.cfm?idx=3636

    What I've done (and it is a pain...) is to copy the content of a document into a new QuarkXPress file. Then it seems to be OK for a bit. Printing documents as PDFs, by the way, are not a problem.

    Hope this helps.

    Neil
    _
    _Michael_L_Lewis_
    Participant
    April 27, 2003
    This forum topic has been most helpful, but I'm still at a loss on how to make MM fonts work right in OS X 10.2.5, Suitcase 10.2.1 and Quark 4.11. My specific problem is with Myriad; it appears perfectly on screen but prints in Courier. Is there a tool I need to convert each instance into a separate Type 1 file? Would that make any difference. I've tried a demo of TransType, but that didn't seem to do a thing. Thanks in advance for any assistance the forum members can provide.
    --m
    _
    _Kirk_Lamb_
    Participating Frequently
    April 2, 2003
    Neil,

    Thanks for your help. I am running OS X v.10.2.4, and using Suitcase v.10.2.1 and ID v.2.0.2.

    I have placed all my MM fonts in root>Library>Application Support>Adobe>Fonts. This (correct me if I'm wrong) makes my MM fonts available to all Adobe applications (and only Adobe applications.) And indeed it is working as expected; all insstançes of MM fonts appear in Adobe applications.

    I would prefer to install them in Suitcase an thereby be able to easily activate, deactvate and auto-activate them, but I found that, although this worked fine in OS 10.2.3, it does not work in 10.2.4. Instead Adobe applications see only one or two instances of MM fonts in this new OS version when managed by Suitcase.

    The problem is that whenever I use MM fonts (even if it's just one page with nothing but text) ID takes about 35 seconds to save the document; saving should only take a second or two and does, if there are no MM fonts in the piece.

    Kirk
    N
    Neil_Keller
    Known Participant
    March 30, 2003
    Kirk,

    Multiple master fonts ARE also Type 1 fonts. (the Type 1 fonts you refer to are actually single master fonts).

    Please respond with MacOS version (can we assume MacOS X? Native? Classic emulation? Or native MacOS 9.x?), if applicable ATM version, ID version; which font manager you are using (if any); how much memory you have allocated to ID (and, if running ATM, go to ATM's Preferences --> General --> Character cache size). And tell us where your fonts are installed.

    As multiple master fonts are more complex, and display many more instances than single master fonts, depending how you are running this, it could be as simple as increasing memory allocation to your application and ATM. If running MacOS X, you should upgrade to 10.2.4 or later, as there were issues with multiple master fonts in some older versions of MacOS X.

    Please get back to us with system details, so we're not shooting in the dark. Thanks!

    Neil
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