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Thomas Phinney
Inspiring
February 26, 2002
Question

FAQ: Multiple master fonts on OS X

  • February 26, 2002
  • 81 replies
  • 19154 views
(This notice has been updated repeatedly to discuss: OS X 10.2, Adobe app bugs with 10.2 support, "cocoa" applications; Adobe phasing out MM font sales; Adobe discontinuing tech support for MM fonts. Last update: 23 Sep 2005.)

With versions 10.0 and 10.1, Mac OS X's native support for Type 1 and OpenType initially failed to include support for multiple master Type 1 fonts. This problem is fixed in OS X version 10.2 and later for applications using the "carbon" APIs, but not for applications using "cocoa" APIs. The two most common "cocoa" applications are TextEdit and Keynote.

Note that applications running in "Classic" mode are unaffected. They still need ATM for supporting Type 1 fonts, including multiple master fonts.

There is a workaround for some Adobe applications, such as InDesign 2, Illustrator 10 and Photoshop 7. You can rely on the native font imaging support in these applications, which is largely independent of the OS. Just put the fonts in the the Fonts folder in the application's folder, or the Application Support/Adobe/Fonts folder.

Additionally, the above-mentioned Adobe applications may have problems accessing all multiple master instances, when accessing the MM fonts which are installed at the system level, even in Mac OS X 10.2 and later. In some cases, this may be worked around by installing the fonts in the application's own fonts folder or the Application Support folder as described above.

PHASING OUT MULTIPLE MASTER FONTS

Adobe stopped making new MM and Type 1 fonts in 1999, and there is no equivalent to MM in the newer OpenType format. From late 2002 to mid 2003, Adobe phased out sales of multiple master fonts. As of this writing, they can only be bought from Adobe as part of Font Folio 9, which is still available for people who need compatibility with older fonts. The current version of Font Folio is Font Folio OpenType Edition, which shipped in August 2003.

At the end of 2004, Adobe stopped offering tech support for MM fonts, excepting for people with Font folio 9.
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    81 replies

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    Neil_Keller
    Known Participant
    November 6, 2002
    Maria,

    As Aandi says... Font rasterization is built into MacOS X. But if you have a lot of fonts, you should consider current versions of either Font Reserve or Suitcase for font organization and management.

    And welcome to the Macintosh side of the fence. Please come back with any other questions.

    Neil
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    _maria_iraolagoitia_
    New Participant
    November 6, 2002
    i installed ATM 4.6 for my mac OS X and i just can't make it work. when i open it and i click on "Create MM instances" it tells me to install some multiple master fonts in my system. i have tried everything and nothing seems to work. If somebody could me out here, i would really appreciate it. i'm new in all the mac world!
    thanx
    maria
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    _Aandi_Inston_
    Participating Frequently
    November 6, 2002
    >installed ATM 4.6 for my mac OS X and i just can't make it work.

    ATM is NOT for Mac OS X.

    Aandi Inston
    T
    Thomas PhinneyAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 7, 2002
    But in this case, MS apps are the ones that are working fine.

    T
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    _John_Mallinson_
    New Participant
    September 5, 2002
    With the advent of OS 10.2 the situation seems to have got even more complicated. MM fonts put into any of the library/fonts folders (or activated by Suitcase) seem to be recognised by applications but only in some of the MM instances - except that is for Word which (mirabile dictu) sees all the variations.

    As has been pointed out, Illustrator 10 can generate MM instances and InDesign handles them impeccably if the fonts are put in the right place.

    Seems to me a pretty good old muddle!

    John Mallinson
    MichaelKazlow
    MichaelKazlow
    Brainiac
    September 6, 2002
    John,
    When you mention Microsoft Word (or any office product), you should expect a
    muddle. Microsoft never follows Apple's rules and frequently must be special
    cases to work with other products. Heck MS doesn't play by the rules in
    Windows either, which is why many companies are annoyed by Microsoft using
    non-public APIs to give their products a leg up.

    ...Mike
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    _Jeff_Ward_
    New Participant
    September 3, 2002
    I am still having problems with MacOS X 10.2, Freehand 10, and Multiple Master fonts. In Freehand the MM fonts now display, but they don't look right. Kerning is wrong, type that is on an angle looks jagged. When these files are printed, the pages either don't print at all or everything defaults to one font weight. For example, Myriad 700/600 prints as Myriad Regular. The same thing happened when working with Ocean Sans.

    Anybody getting similar results?

    Jeff
    T
    Thomas PhinneyAuthor
    Inspiring
    August 26, 2002
    Note that I've updated the initial message at the start of this thread: OS X 10.2 supports multiple master fonts.

    T
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    Neil_Keller
    Known Participant
    August 21, 2002
    There are printers who will unjustly INSIST that you change from multiple master fonts, even though there is nothing wrong with them -- it's often a RIP problem -- older, incompatible software; poorly written RIP software code; improperly configured RIPs; clueless RIP IT support, etc. Unless you have the very earliest incarnation (say, 1992 or earlier) of your multiple master fonts, find someone else to output your work.

    And there is never a problem with multiple master fonts outputting to any of the HP PostScript or PostScript clone laser printers I've worked with (4050N, 5000N, 4MV).

    However, if you are using ATM Deluxe, use it to verify that your multiple master fonts are not damaged. And always replace damaged copies directly from the foundry originals.

    Neil
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    NotInUse
    Participating Frequently
    August 16, 2002
    Jerie,

    Your printers aren't going to change RIP software for you. You're better off finding a pritner that already supports MM fonts.
    _
    _Jerie_Heille_
    New Participant
    August 16, 2002
    Thanks, Mike and Scott. I HAVE used MM fonts on lots of other projects that worked out just fine. Do you know, Scott, if I can tell my printers specifically which RIP software to get? I'm using Myriad on a couple of whole promotional campaigns, and I'd hate to have to change the fonts at this late stage.
    _
    _Aandi_Inston_
    Participating Frequently
    August 17, 2002
    > Do you know, Scott, if I can tell my printers specifically which RIP software to get?

    A RIP is often created for a specific imagesetter or printer - you
    can't tell them what to get. RIPs can also cost anywhere up to
    $50,000. However, if your printer keeps their RIP software up to date
    they should have few problems.

    For some reason many printers refuse to consider updating their RIP
    software to fix bugs. If this is the case you have to decide whether
    the choice of printer or font is more important to you.

    Aandi Inston
    N
    NotInUse
    Participating Frequently
    August 15, 2002
    It all depends upon the RIP software, Jerie. Some RIPs work with MM fonts just fine, some don't. there's nothign iherently wrong with MM fonts.
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