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Ed.Macke
Ed.Macke
Inspiring
November 2, 2023
Answered

How To Embed Fonts for Use On Another Machine

  • November 2, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 5145 views

I will frequently create a project in Illustrator, and then go to our local library to use with their laser printer.

 

The problem is that when I go to the library and open my .ai project in their Illustrator, it can't find fonts that their computer doesn't have. In the past, I've simply made sure to copy any .ttf or .otf font files to my thumb drive and install them on their computer (I don't think there's any licensing concerns since it's all in a VM so after I log off the fonts are no longer installed).

 

I recently discovered Adobe Fonts (fonts.adobe.com), and I've installed several fonts and used the Creative Cloud Desktop app to enable them for "other local apps". But I can't find the .ttf or .otf files anywhere, so my question is: if I use an Adobe Font in my Illustrator project, and open that project at the library where that font isn't installed, how do I fix that problem?

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Bobby Henderson

If the fonts used in the Illustrator document are synced via Adobe Fonts you should be able to add them on the library's computer if it's running the current version of Illustrator. Normally when a missing font is available to sync via Adobe Fonts a dialog box will provide that option when opening the Illustrator file. I'm doing that very thing increasingly more often with customer provided art files in my work place.

 

Regarding Google Fonts, some of the typefaces available at Google Fonts are available to sync via Adobe Fonts as well. But there can be differences. A version of a typeface at Adobe Fonts may have static styles while a variable version is available to download at Google Fonts. Fonts get updated from time to time. I've occasionally had technical issues with fonts downloaded directly from Google Fonts, but the same ones from Adobe Fonts would work correctly. I'd go back to Google Fonts a few months later, try downloading the typeface again and it would work properly.

1 reply

B
Bobby Henderson
Community Expert
November 3, 2023

When Adobe Fonts are installed on a computer for use by all apps the fonts are not resident or accessible in a computer. They're still essentially a cloud-based thing. The fonts can't be copied and installed on another computer.

 

If you're going to print a document on the laser printer at your library you'll have to use a work-around solution. The first option is creating a PDF of your Illustrator document just for printing. That can embed the font data within the PDF and be printed successfully. Another option: adding the necessary fonts on the library's Adobe Illustrator installation. That solution would only work if the library has a current copy of Illustrator via a Creative Cloud account and if the library managers would allow visitors to add/install fonts with their account. Third option: saving a copy of the Illustrator document with all the type converted to outlines and opening that copy on the library's installation of Illustrator.

Ed.Macke
Ed.MackeAuthor
Inspiring
November 3, 2023

Thanks, Bobby.

 

The biggest issue is that I frequently find myself needing to make minor tweaks to the project once I'm there. The PDF approach makes that impossible. The convert-to-outline approach would work unless I needed to tweak the text itself (e.g. type something new)

 

The install-from-the-cloud approach might work - the library is pretty cooperative with that kind of thing but I'd have to ask and make sure it works.

 

For installing from the cloud, do you know how it works when I open the document and an Adobe font isn't available? Does it notice that and say something like "hey, you've got a missing font - click here to re-download from Adobe Fonts"?

 

Of course, Option 4 is to just use Google Fonts, which allows you to download the .ttf / .otf file and install it. 🙂

B
Bobby HendersonCorrect answer
Community Expert
November 3, 2023

If the fonts used in the Illustrator document are synced via Adobe Fonts you should be able to add them on the library's computer if it's running the current version of Illustrator. Normally when a missing font is available to sync via Adobe Fonts a dialog box will provide that option when opening the Illustrator file. I'm doing that very thing increasingly more often with customer provided art files in my work place.

 

Regarding Google Fonts, some of the typefaces available at Google Fonts are available to sync via Adobe Fonts as well. But there can be differences. A version of a typeface at Adobe Fonts may have static styles while a variable version is available to download at Google Fonts. Fonts get updated from time to time. I've occasionally had technical issues with fonts downloaded directly from Google Fonts, but the same ones from Adobe Fonts would work correctly. I'd go back to Google Fonts a few months later, try downloading the typeface again and it would work properly.

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