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A
Anonymous
July 15, 2010
Answered

How do you change the default font in Illustrator CS5? [Locked]

  • July 15, 2010
  • 3 replies
  • 74784 views

I have upgraded my Illustrator to CS5 and my default font has changed to a strange font. In Photoshop and InDesign, I was told that all you have to do is change the font in the Character menu to the font that you wish to be set as "default" and it will be the font that you always start with.

NOTE: Does this mean that if I use a different font in a different document, the font will stay that font unless I change it back? Isn't there a way to make a particular font the font that I would always what I start with? All this setup means, is that the "default font" will always be whatever the last font that  was being used was. There has to be a way to make a default font that I will always start with no matter what the last font that was being used was.


Illustrator gives you no option on font type, unless a file is open. Then, if you change the font and close the file, next time you start a file, it will go back to what is was to begin with. There has to be a way to change the default font for all of these programs to where the font always stays the same unless you change it. Mine is just set to use a weird font that I would probably never use.

I just never thought it would be that big of a deal to change default settings for the font.

[This was posted on Jul 15, 2010 12:56 PM for CS5. This thread is now locked.]

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This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Larry G. Schneider

Finally, I had to go in there, reopen the files, make the changes and resave. Perfect.

Also, that one file that I made, renamed and it was still in the list, I erased it from another folder. I didn't know the program had two different settings folders.


Thank You Very Much and Gr8 Weekend!!!

Sean McDonough


I'd forgotten there were two folders too. Glad we got it sorted.

3 replies

D
dichundmich
Participant
November 1, 2014

Thank you – that solved my problem!


One addition/clarification: I used this method in Illustrator CS6 (Mac) and had the effect that Sean originally reported: changes in the Character Style in the New Document Profile were not persistent (it worked for Sean eventually after re-opening and re-saving the New Document Profile file). Eventually I figured out that a change in Character Style is not recognized by CS6 as a "save-worthy" edit. That is, CS6 does not actually save/change the New Document Profile file if only the Character Style is changed. What worked for me eventually is editing something else so that there is a "save-worthy" edit in the file. I create and then delete a text layer... I guess any action on the artboard will do. Now the New Document Profile file can be saved, and new files created based on that New Document Profile have your font (e.g., Helvetica Neue) instead of the default font (Myriad Pro).

In short:

go to MacintoshHD ▸ Users ▸ [username] ▸ Library ▸ Application Support ▸ Adobe ▸ Adobe Illustrator CS6 ▸ en_GB ▸ New Document Profiles

open Print.ai (or whatever you use)

change Window > Type > Character Styles > [Normal Character Style]

create and delete a layer on the artboard

and do a File > Save

I am more or less just writing this for myself but maybe it's useful for someone else as well...

    R
    readytojump
    Participating Frequently
    May 4, 2018

    That's a clever expedient. Based on my experience it should be added that after doing all of that the file might not be saveable due to lack of user privileges. It that's the case go to the file info panel (cmd + I) and change your privileges from 'read only' to 'read & write'

    S
    Scott Barrows
    Participant
    September 3, 2010

    I am having trouble with this same issue on Mac OS X, Snow Leopard. I want to permanently change the default type from Myriad to Helvetica, and have gone to the Window, then Type Appearance, but then get lost as to how make a permanent change (this is all new to me). Any help (screenshots are great) would be appreciated. I never use Myriad, and use Helvetica 95% of the time. Thanks in advance.

    Larry G. Schneider
    Community Expert
    Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 3, 2010

    As stated above you have to change the Normal Character Style in the documents in the New Document Profiles folder in your user account. Open one of the documents and go to menu Window>Type>Character Styles. Double-click on the Normal Character Style which should be highlighted in blue. A dialog will appear for you to set the font for the style. Make you changes and Save the file. Restart AI.

    S
    Scott Barrows
    Participant
    September 3, 2010

    I think I am missing something. I am making changes while Illustrator CS5 is open, by going to Window, then Type, then Character Styles. I am not sure where to find "User" files (where is "User Account") and then finding "New Document Profiles"- do not think i have seen this in Illustrator before. Where do I find or access these?

    Larry G. Schneider
    Community Expert
    Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 15, 2010

    For Illustrator, open the New Document Profile that you use the most ( or all if you have a lot of time). From the Window menu choose Type>Character Styles. A dialog window should open with [Normal Character Style] highlighted. Double click and another dialog will open. From the list on the left. choose the Basic Character Formats. Enter the Font Family, Font Style, size and whatever else you want customized. Close and Save.

      A
      Anonymous
      July 15, 2010

      Are you talking about Apple or Windows? I am using Windows XP and IllustratorCS5. The reason I ask is because when I open a file and select Type, Character Styles is not in the drop down list. Here is what appears in the drop down list

      Fonts >
      Resent Fonts >
      Glyphs >
      Area Type Options
      Type on a Path >
      Threaded Text >
      Fit Headline
      Create Outlines
      Find Font
      Change Case >
      Smart Punctuation
      Optical Margin Alignment
      Show Hidden Characters
      Type Orientation >
      Legacy Text >

      There is no Character Styles to go into and make those changes. Are those the instructions for Apple?

      Larry G. Schneider
      Community Expert
      Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 15, 2010

      Use the Window menu item, 4 places to the right. Did you open the New Document Profile?

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