adobe font manager

[JonathanArias]

how come adobe does not make their own font manager like suitcase fusion? i always wonder about that...

[Steve Werner]

Why should they do it? There are several good product already. And it doesn‘t fit with their subscription business  model.

[JonathanArias]

well. i think it kind of exist already in adobe typekit, it is  web based and it looks to see if it has the font and auto activates. So it already exist in some form. I just think it would be good to have one that is an app to isntall so people have one to use. there are so many people here that don't even know to use one.  I did submit it as a requests.

[BobLevine]

I agree with Steve.

They used to have Adobe Type Manager. It couldn't even come close to competing with other products.

[JonathanArias]

so it just sound as if they just did not want to go down that road further. i don't remember type manager. when did that come out?

[BobLevine]

They built it to support Type 1 fonts before operating systems had that capability built in. Then came ATM Deluxe which added a few other features but it was not at all robust.

As for Typekit, did you see this?

https://theblog.adobe.com/type-innovations-coming-to-indesign-cc-and-illustrator-cc/

[JonathanArias]

i guess adobe is just not interested in dealing with outside fonts. they want people to just work with typekit, the issue i see is that you have to be online for typekit to work right?

[Derek Cross]

I've never found any problems with working with fonts from other foundries.

[JonathanArias]

me either, but i have always used a font manager (suitcase fusion).

I am just seen so many people in photoshop, illustrator and indesign forums here that dont' know about font management programs.

[BobLevine]

There is simply no need and contrary to your feelings, no demand for a new font manager.

Suitcase Fusion is fine. What could Adobe offer that would be better?

This is why they’ve killed Muse and Business Catalyst. The non-Adobe alternatives were way better. I’d rather see Adobe concentrate on their core applications.

[JonathanArias]

I guess it could offer the font manager included with all apps, that from the consumer side, saves money. Suitcase fusion is what? $100 and than like $60 for upgrade.  Plus it would be great if you could see fonts from other foundries and you can buy them from the font manager. Adobe would make money from the foundries for providing a direct to consumer channel to sell fonts.

Seems like a miss opportunity for double revenue streams from one app. and yes, apps come and go, that is expected. But you don't know something is a success unless you try it.

i am a half full glass person,

[BobLevine]

We’ll agree to disagree on this. I would also keep in mind that Adobe shouldn’t be stepping on the toes of its partners.

[JonathanArias]

one day i will get you to agree with me on something.

it will be a glorious day.

[BobLevine]

If you ever find yourself in Philly, I’ll buy you a beer and find something to agree on.

[JonathanArias]

thats cool. My office in Philly is on market street, i am a block from liberty bell. The other office is in Soho. i only go into one or the other two times a year. i will let you know for sure.

I work from home in Mobile Alabama. Birth place of mardigras. you ever been down this way?

[BobLevine]

No, but seriously, if you have an office in Center City, let’s get together next you’re in town.

[JonathanArias]

I am serious too. i will PM you next time i have the next team meeting in Philly.

[Matt Walker 427]

If my memory serves me correctly, Adobe Type Manager wasn't a type manager like suitcase or font explorer, you had to run suitcase or another application alongside it. Adobe type manager only allowed postscript fonts to render smoothly on screen and print to non-postscript printers.

I think that shows my age ...

So Adobe have never really produced a 'type manager' application, I think there were others around that did it as well as they probably could.

[Danny Whitehead.]

Well, I'm with you Jonathan! I hadn't seen this thread when I wrote similar in the missing font thread.

The main thing Adobe could offer is better integration with CC apps and TypeKit (no need for the browser-based management). Maybe it wouldn't be a standalone app, but an expansion of the CC app, Bridge, or something under the TypeKit brand.

My fallible memory favours ATM Deluxe over the Classic MacOS versions of Suitcase. It might not have had the features, but my recollection is that it was more stable (and good with Multiple Master fonts... sweet, sweet Multiple Master fonts).

[danitosan]

I'm starting to use Adobe Fonts, former TypeKit. It's a powerful tool, but very limited by its interface.

The only way to manage the fonts is from the website, that is a bit painful to browse. You need to load the next page after every dozen of results, there's no way to present more fonts in one page. You can't create sets or collections, only favorites.

I feel like a desktop type manager could be a great addition to my workflow.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

danitosan  wrote

I feel like a desktop type manager could be a great addition to my workflow.

And for many other designers, too, especially those who work in enterprise environments where security is critical. They must work offline at all times. Cloud-based apps aren't available to them.

And then there are those on limited bandwidth or metered connections — like my sister's farm in Missouri.

I'd love to see Adobe give its users the choice of both cloud-based and standalone desktop apps.

[markv21293098]

This is a great question. What drives me nuts is that every year Adobe updates it's Creative Cloud apps, and then I have to check to see if the latest versions of Suitcase Fusion or FontExplorer X support the latest CC, and/or when they'll update, etc. I've been going back and forth between Linotype's font manager and Extensis'. Extensis seems to remove features with each update, so I'm considering FontExplorer X again.