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J
jblo
Inspiring
April 11, 2019
Question

What is the Default Replacement Font

  • April 11, 2019
  • 1 reply
  • 4609 views

I need to determine what font is being used to replace a missing font.

I know how to replace/determine, etc.. the missing font. Work arounds won't help.

To keep the conversation short.... Is the a way to determine what font is being used to replace the missing font?

I know it is the "Default Font" but where is that set. FontBook, After effects ?

    1 reply

    Warren Heaton
    Community Expert
    Warren HeatonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 11, 2019

    On the macOS side, it should be Helvetica for the Application font category and Lucida Grande for other categories (System, Messages, Labels, etc.).  There's a utility called Tinker Tool that allows you to change the font category assignments, but I remember hearing that it hasn't been updated for current versions of macOS.  I would imagine there's a way to change this in Terminal (but my ability to work in a Unix shell is pretty limited).

    It would be a good feature request to be able to specify the preferred font for substitution at the application level or at the document level.

    Of course, with access to Adobe Type having been expanded as of last October, missing fonts stand a good chance of becoming a thing of the past when that font library is used.

    -Warren

    J
    jbloAuthor
    Inspiring
    April 11, 2019

    Warren, thanks for the quick response.

    That's what I'm finding. It SHOULD be, but it's not. When I try Helvetica, It changes considerably.

    As far as Adobe Type fixing the problem. If only we could convince every corporation, production house and ad agency on the planet to use only Adobe fonts, it would make our lives so much easier.

    P.M.B
    P.M.B
    Legend
    April 11, 2019

    When you reset the character panel by right clicking on the panel menu...Isn't that the default font? 

    When you say it "changes considerably", what do you mean?  You mean like the kearning and leading & such?

    Are you sure the font it's replacing was at it's default setting or had similar default settings. 

    I could be mistaken but I don't think, for example, that the leading for one font will display exactly the same on another.

    ~Gutterfish
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