What happened to my fonts?????

[Supernaut63]

I recently updated my OS Mojave (2018) to OS Sequoia (2025)...a 7 year leap.

I should preface this by saying I have my own collection of Adobe fonts that I have been using for around 20 years, and I had TONS of them. They always loaded and worked with NO problems. I've also been using the Typeface app for font management and never had any problems. Yesterday, I finally got to working on a job and have just found out that the new 2025 Adobe programs will not let me use my old fonts anymore. This is a NIGHTMARE! What's worse is that alot of fonts I was using are not to be found when I use the "browse font" button on CC. For example, my collection of fonts had over 50 styles of Helvetica Neue, and when I search for them on Adobe CC I'm only finding 14. This SUCKS, to put it mildly. I found this on Google:

So my question is, what are people doing about this. Is there a remedy? A fix?

HELP!!!!!!

[Bobby Henderson]

What was the format of the fonts you were using that no longer seem to work? If they are Postscript Type 1 fonts they will no longer work in Adobe CC applications. The only ways to get those kinds of fonts to work is by either converting them to TTF or OTF format using third party conversion tools or getting new licenses of those fonts in TTF or OTF formats.

If the missing fonts are in TTF or OTF format the solution may be simple as reinstalling them. Font data cache files can get corrupted; deleting those and forcing Creative Cloud to re-build them can often solve those problems.

With regard to certain type families, such as Helvetica Neue, Monotype just added a bunch of type families to the Adobe Fonts service, including a pretty good chunk of the Helvetica Neue type family.

[Supernaut63]

I have no idea, nor how to even tell what they are. I assume since they will no longer work that they are Postscript Type 1?? As I said, I'm using Typeface for font management, and here's a screengrab. I don't know what all the blue lock icons mean either. This is an update after using almost 7 year-old software and a 7 year-old OS, so I'm a bit lost. I tried loading my own Helvetica Neue fonts and Typeface popped up a message and said Adobe doesn't support these fonts anymore. So what am I to do? I need these fonts for old jobs. I don't think my clients will be happy with me replacing fonts with other fonts that aren't exact. Why did Adobe do this?

Regarding the Monotype Helvetica Neue being added to CC, where do I find that? I only saw 14 versions. I, myself, had 52 style versions of that font on my computer in my collection

[Bobby Henderson · Accepted solution]

I'm not familiar with that font management app. If it says Adobe's apps won't support those fonts they must indeed be Postscript Type 1 format fonts.

As I said earlier, with Type 1 fonts you have two options. You can either use third party applications to make conversions of those fonts into OTF or TTF formats. Or you can buy/acquire copies of those fonts in TTF/OTF formats.

The Postscript Type 1 format is on its way out due to certain limitations of that font format. They support no more than 256 glyphs and do not support Unicode. Each "font" requires at least two or even three files to render it. Type 1 fonts are not cross-platform compatible. It's still possible to install those fonts in computer systems; quite a few apps still support them. But at some point in the near future those Type 1 fonts will stop being supported by current versions of Windows and the MacOS.

The root of this problem is Harfbuzz. It is a "text shaping engine" that is being adopted by all sorts of computer applications. It has the ability to work with fonts in many different languages and text orientations, such as left-to-right scripts or right-to-left. Harfbuzz does not support Postscript Type 1 fonts. There are no plans for it to do so either.

I share your frustration. I spent a decent amount of money on Type 1 fonts in the 1990's. My earliest copies of Adobe applications had Type 1 fonts bundled with them. Some of those type families would cost a lot of money to replace in OpenType format.

It's a bit disappointing Monotype offered only a limited selection of Helvetica Neue fonts to the Adobe Fonts service rather than the entire family. For certain typefaces, if they're used often enough it's worth considering buying a license. In the case of Helvetica Neue or other type families now distributed by Monotype the other alternative is getting a subscription to their fonts service.

[Supernaut63]

"Or you can buy/acquire copies of those fonts in TTF/OTF formats."

I'm not going to buy anymore fonts. I'll use what Adobe's CC Fonts have to offer for free. If my clients request certain fonts I will let them know they will have to supply them...or they pay for them for me to use. I'll also make real clear what has happened with the new versions of the Adobe programs, and why those old fonts I used in the past are no longer available. I'll put the onus on the client. They're the ones that will need particular fonts, not me. For my own personal use, I will use the free Adobe CC Fonts from now on out.

[Supernaut63]

I am slightly curious though...

what 3rd party software are you referring to that converts Postscript Type 1 fonts to OTF and TTF?

Let me know. Thanks!

[Bobby Henderson]

I think the most popular app is TransType 4 by FontLab Ltd.
https://www.fontlab.com/font-converter/transtype/

Font Converter for Mac OSX is another:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fontconverter/id6462861529?mt=12

A few web-based converters are available at a few different web sites. Your mileage may vary on how well the conversions work though or what kinds of pitfalls the web sites may contain.

[Supernaut63]

Thanks Bobby, I just downloaded Font Converter. I see it costs $25, but if it works that's not a problem.

Have you ever used it? I don't know if I'm seeing instructions anywhere.

[Bobby Henderson · Accepted solution]

I haven't used Font Converter. I bought a copy of TransType 4 not too long ago (FontLab Ltd had a big sale taking place). There appears to be some instructions for Font Converter at this page:

https://www.falkon-ware.com/FontConverter/

[Supernaut63]

Thank you, Bobby.