Preview Fonts

[jesseislil]

Anyone know of a program/method to preview fonts? I normally select text and try different fonts until it looks good. This takes forever!

[Hiroshige]

Hey jesseislil, maybe Type Tester (http://typetester.maratz.com/) is what you're looking for... works for me.


Hiroshige

[Savvy0105]

Yes, you can get a font preview program if you like, but Photoshop can also preview your text in whatever fonts you have loaded.

I went from Photoshop 7 to CS2 so, I'll only speak of those versions. It's probably safe to say you're at least at 7.

In PS 7 - Place your vector text on a layer, select it (so it's highlighted), then click on the font name (it too will be highlighted) from the character palette. Now use the up/down arrows to cycle through your fonts. As you do that the text you placed on the layer (and slected) will change to display the fonts you're cycling though effectively previewing them live within your layout.

In PS CS2 the font character palette actually gives you a sample preview of what the font looks like after the font name. Use can also still use the method mentioned from PS 7 if you like.

[jesseislil]

Yes, you can get a font preview program if you like, but Photoshop can also preview your text in whatever fonts you have loaded.

I went from Photoshop 7 to CS2 so, I'll only speak of those versions. It's probably safe to say you're at least at 7.

In PS 7 - Place your vector text on a layer, select it (so it's highlighted), then click on the font name (it too will be highlighted) from the character palette. Now use the up/down arrows to cycle through your fonts. As you do that the text you placed on the layer (and slected) will change to display the fonts you're cycling though effectively previewing them live within your layout.

In PS CS2 the font character palette actually gives you a sample preview of what the font looks like after the font name. Use can also still use the method mentioned from PS 7 if you like.


Yeah I am aware of this. I am looking for a more efficient way to preview text in different fonts. It takes too much time to scroll through every font, one by one. Does CS2 allow you to preview the fonts in some sort of pop-up menu or palette (I believe Illustratior CS does this)? If so, I'm really missing that luxury. BTW, appreciate the responses!

[Savvy0105]

In CS2

http://home.rochester.rr.com/rvhickey/FontPreview.jpg

[Dami]

I use Sue Fisher's The Font Thing (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~scef/tft.html). It's free and does a pretty good job. Yes, it hasn't been updated in several years, but it's not a bad little program. You get multiple font views as well as optional character views. You can view installed fonts as well as those not installed, load them on the fly (for single time use), or permanently install. It is a little resource-intensive, but for a freebie, it's not bad.

[spaceChimp]

Strangley enough I've always thought Coral Draw 8 has been great for this, even if not using it for the job in hand...highlight your text, then just scroll through the pop down font list as quick or slow as you like, shows all the fonts on your system. Only used it as it was on my work PC, but was efficient for me. Obviously you wouldn't buy the software just on this. I have thought for years that Illustrator should have this though.

[jesseislil]

I use Sue Fisher's The Font Thing (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~scef/tft.html). It's free and does a pretty good job. Yes, it hasn't been updated in several years, but it's not a bad little program. You get multiple font views as well as optional character views. You can view installed fonts as well as those not installed, load them on the fly (for single time use), or permanently install. It is a little resource-intensive, but for a freebie, it's not bad.

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks. Now does anybody know where to get free fonts or better yet, font packages?

[spaceChimp]

www.webfontlist.com have to look at each font with no preview, which can be tedious..................but it's free, with font type description catorgories

[Dami]

Search Google for "free fonts."

[NightLord]

Hi Jesseislil,

have you noticed that The Font thing only reads TTF files? It's a crappy program as far as i'm concerned... there are much better ones! I've been posting on Techguy forums about this, you may be interested:

http://forums.techguy.org/digital-photography-imaging/386846-best-font-viewer-font-browser.html

I found that AMP is quite a good one, at least the best of the free ones... and it reads ALL types of fonts. You'll see that after a while the developer of AMP actually joins the conversation, but never heard him back about the character map issue...

Font Expert is by far the best font browser, but it ain't free :D

Cheers

/NL

[Hiroshige]

Search PsT for free fonts (http://www.photoshoptechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15376) too...


Hiroshige

[jesseislil]

Search Google for "free fonts."

Google.. of course that was the first thing I tried before even bothering to make a post about free fonts. I already know of several good sites that offer free fonts, but I'm more interested in free font packages. Seems rare. Anyone have a link?

[js.cybernautic]

Here's a site that will preview the font's on your system, and allows for you to change the type as well as it's size:

http://www.stcassociates.com/lab/fontbrowser.html

[jesseislil]

Here's a site that will preview the font's on your system, and allows for you to change the type as well as it's size:

http://www.stcassociates.com/lab/fontbrowser.html

I find font preview programs/sites more helpful if they display multiple fonts at once. This fontbrowser defeats the purpose of what I need. Using this would be the same as previewing text in photoshop (selecting the text and scrolling down the list of fonts). I am trying to avoid this :o

[MrJelly]

I know several people who use Linotype's font management software- it comes bundled with Final Cut Pro (for some reason), and it's excellent software which will serve you well at any level. You can check it out at www.linotype.com . The obvious drawback is that you have to pay... but after dishing out at least a cool grand for PS, probably twice that if you've got the whole Creative Suite, a few dinero for a good font management solution is a drop in the ocean.

[jesseislil]

So far, the best one I've seen is "Font Explorer L.M" but my trial version expired =(

[lasa]

http://www.styopkin.com/details_free_and_easy_fonts_viewer.html
You can give this a try..freeware.
Lasa

[Hiroshige]

Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/fontmanagers.ars) Mac OS X font managers review.

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Hiro