Font Management: Linotype FontExplorer X
Typography is very important in the world of design, but a growing font library can be difficult to manage and organize. Enter Linotype FontExplorer X. This program allows the user to preview fonts and activate only the fonts needed. This tutorial will cover the use of this free program and highlight its application to Photoshop and design.
Getting Started
First things first, FontExplorer X is available in both Windows and Mac formats. Click here to download a free copy of FontExplorer X. Install the program and import fonts by clicking File > Import Fonts. Then navigating to the fonts you wish to organize.
Linotype gives you the option to import your fonts into the main font library, into a new set, or into a selected set. Much like iTunes, a set is basically a playlist of fonts. The user can create as many sets as desired.
Note: Imported fonts are moved into the FontExplorer X folder in the Home directory and placed into alphabetical folders. You can opt to copy them to this folder and keep them in your original folder (rather than moving them) in the advanced preferences tab.
Browsing and Previewing
After importing your favorite fonts, they can be viewed in the preview window simply by clicking to highlight the font. Selecting multiple fonts allows the designer to compare each font selected. The user can type anything in the text box, and different font sizes and colors can be selected for review.
Activating Fonts
This feature is the bread and butter of FontExplorer X. A font can be activated by clicking the checkbox next to its name. This action makes the font available for use in other programs. Once clicked, the font is placed in the Activated Fonts set.
To use the font in Photoshop, click the drop down box in the character palette and select Reset Character to refresh the available fonts. This way, you can leave Photoshop open while using FontExplorer X to choose the perfect font for your design. Fonts can be deactivated by clicking the checkbox again to uncheck it. This method prevents the font folder from being cluttered with a number of fonts that may only be used for one project.
Creating Sets
Creating sets is a feature that is incredibly useful for daily design. Designers are often working on more than one project at a given time, and a set can be created to organize the fonts for each project. Web designers can name a set after each domain or workflow. To create a new set CTRL+Click (right click for PC) and select New Set.
Additional Features
Exporting Fonts
If you have a large font library, it isn’t always practical to keep it loaded on every computer in your arsenal. For instance, I keep my main font library on my iMac. Then I export the fonts for certain projects when I want to edit them on my laptop. This is also useful if you need someone else to work on a PSD with project specific fonts. To export, highlight the set and select Font>Export from the menu.
WYSIWYG Viewing
Command+5 will display the fonts in the font list in a What You See Is What You Get fashion. This feature makes choosing the right font that much easier.
Font Store
Much like iTunes, FontExplorer X offers a browseable store where fonts can be viewed and purchased easily. The browsing features allow the user to view popular fonts in a practical format.
Detect Fonts
Often, I view a .pdf file and find myself wondering what fonts are being used. FontExplorer X can determine the fonts used in any of the following document types: rtf, rtfd, pdf, eps, svg, svgz, and more! Simply, click File > Detect Fonts In Documents and navigate to the file you want to read.
Closing Remarks
Linotype’s FontExplorer X can help a designer view an array of fonts and keep them organized without having to physically drop them in the fonts system folder. Start using the program today and explore the many features it has to offer. It is a tool that should be in every designer’s arsenal!
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By Nicholas Lazarine
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This linotype PC download has been in the same “sod PC users” state for at least four months. I subscribed to the newsletter, but there has been no sign whatsoever that anything is happening on the PC version.
Frankly, if it ever gets released I’ll be amazed. They don’t seem to care about you unless you run OSx.
The PC download is unavailable right now. That sucks. I guess I’ll keep checking back on their site.
This program destroyed my computer and made my adobe photoshop cs3 crash in the middle of a project. It made my fonts disappear and refused to reactive them. I spent hours trying to get my computer back to normal. What a waste of time.
@ Colin – Thanks for the link to the online font browser. Very cool indeed. It loads a lot faster than Photoshop.
@ Onske & Crowiko – Thanks for finding that Windows Beta. You guys are awesome. This tutorial should be modified to include that link (w/ a disclaimer of course).
The problem with Apple’s Font Book app is that it doesn’t auto-activate in many apps (InDesign, Illustrator, etc…)
Font Explorer is a great app for the individual designer and very small design shop. I wish they had a Server version for larger companies. We’re stuck using Extensis Suitcase Server at the office, though a new version just started shipping – hopefully it’s much better.
Does the beta version for windows works okay for you guys who is using it currently?
Here’s a great alternative for PC users: The Font Thing
http://www.download.com/The-Font-Thing/3000-2316_4-10038296.html
I’m using it since years, brilliant software. No need for me to switch over to FontExplorer.
Thanks for the heads up. Always wanted a cool application. Right now using Font Fitting Deluxe. Will give this a try.
Thanks again
@ jeffjose , hey man tried it but seems to not work on 64bit xp.
so useful when you have to manage 2000 fonts
PC users: try contacting them using the contact information on the download page. The more of us letting them know we are interested in the PC version, the more worthwhile it is for them to actually follow through.
Does this work on windows machine?
http://fex.linotype.com/download/pc/FontExplorerX-0.9.1.2250.exe Windows beta! enjoy! I’ve been using this since may with out fuss.
Very nice article! i will wait for the windows version, or buy a mac is another good option! =D
thank you patrick!
Thanks for this great post! I’ve been drowning in my fonts for ages – this is the perfect cure. One more happy designer in the world
Thank you so much for posting the link to the beta. I have been looking for the beta of this program for PC forever.
Great app this is, everyone needs it but… I hate having too much fonts, I get confused even with this great application
Just got this reply back from Linotype in response to my email asking what’s up with the Windows version:
“There is no official release date yet, but we are still developing the final version. We hope to be ready soon, we will then put it up on our website and publish it in our newsletter.”
It would be nice to have a little more info, but the fact that they are even replying to questions about the Windows version as well as the fact that they don’t seem to have abandoned it entirely are hopefully good signs.
I cannot believe I’ve been limping along with Font Book for all this time and this great tool was out there – for FREE. Thanks for pointing this out!
Extremely useful. Thanks!
I know from experience that many people are confused when they install FontExplorer X. Last year I wrote some instructions on how to install it. Some might find it useful: http://font.is/?p=38
It’s not much of a tutorial. Tutorials tell you how to do something, not just tell you it can be done.
For example, it’s nice to know that sets are useful. Why doesn’t the tutorial tell you how to add fonts to a set? A set isn’t much good without fonts.
It’s too bad the beta is no longer available.
Hi, my Suitcase trial version recently ran out, and I’ve started using Font Explorer instead. I really prefer this program, but I have a question I’m hoping to get some help with…I have about 5,000 fonts loaded on my computer, and I would like to organize them more so then is standard with font xplorer. For example, is there a way to create a folder of all of my sans serif fonts automatically through the program. I really don’t want to spend the hours it would take to organize them manually. Any help with this question is much appreciated. Thank you!
Thanks for the link to FontExplorer Beta for PC, I too am disppointed that they have yet to release the official version after such a loooooong wait.
One problem with the beta version, I go through the wizard and then once it’s done sorting all the fonts it gets to the welcome screen then nothing the program shuts itself down.
Anybody have any ideas on how to actually get the beta version working?
The mac version of FontExplorer isn’t free any more. Not sure if they’ll ever get around to putting together a windows version out there either.
I have the same problem as Suzybee, just did a fresh windows install, x32 sp3, installed the app fine, runs through the analyzing, but doesn’t open up, the process is terminated in the task manager for no apparent reason. Anyone else have a similar problem with the beta? any solutions?
While the new version is no longer free, the older version (for Mac) is still available here: http://www.linotype.com/2631/freedownloadmac.html
Gutted overhaul on windows made me lose everything ! and was so annoyed to not be able to get it from the site anymore.
Cheers for those that had the link on here. Just hoping it still works.
Im on dial up (i no shocking )
so waiting my millions of minutes to get it
Grr tried it it installed but ….. it wont actually open past the analyze fonts part
I canNOT get any new fonts to activate. I have them stored on hardrive/fonts folder and those original fonts imported fine, but any new ones I put in those folders view, allow me to highlight and import, but do not show up for me to activate. Wha … ?
I guess its just me then…
At work and now at home when I try to use FontExplorer X Pro it doesn’t load fonts. So we clean the Application Cache file, THEN the system cache file and at the moment I still can’t get it to load fonts!!! It shows it checked and says its activated, but when I open my old Illustrator file with the font–it says is not found. Very frustrating. I love Suitcase, because it makes fonts instantly available. What am I missing here?
Thanks!
Oh man. Thanks to the guys who found a link for the Windows beta, I’ve been looking for this for ages. Font Explorer X is the best font manager I’ve tried, hands down. I use it every day on my Mac at work but I lost the Windows beta when I installed 7. I hope they’re serious about continuing development on the full Windows version, as I’d gladly pay for it.
Hi!
I have a problem with Lino, i have these fonts activated for example, a newsletter i’ve made in InDesign.. the next day when i open the .indd document it requests the fonts, like they were deactivated! But i didnt deactivated them! Weird… I checked Preferences and can’t see the origin of this problem.. can anyone help?