Adding OpenType or TrueType fonts to OS X

Mindwatering Incorporated

Author: Tripp W Black

Created: 09/11/2008 at 04:09 PM

 

Category:
OS X Tips & Hints
General Mac Tips

Steps to Add Fonts to Mac OS X
1. Before installing your fonts, quit all active applications.

2. Locate the folder that contains the fonts you want to install.

3. Copy or move all the font files from their individual font folders into either of the following locations. (Do not copy a folder of fonts within the folder - no sub-folders in these directories.)
a. /Library/Fonts/
Note: You must be logged on as an "Administrator" to place fonts in this location. Fonts in this location can be used by any user.
b. /Users/.../Library/Fonts/
Note: Fonts in this location can be used only by the specified user. There is also a /System/Library/Font folder of protected fonts. Unless you do pre-press and really know what you are doing, don't remove these -- especially the Lucida Grande.

4. The fonts are now installed and will appear in the font menus of your Carbon and native applications.


Priority of Loading a Font (when conflict):

~/Library/Fonts/
/Library/Fonts/
/Network/Library/Fonts/
/System/Library/Fonts/
/System Folder/Fonts/ (the OS 9 Fonts folder)

(Source: Apple Knowledge Base article 106417).


Adobe Font Locations:
/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Fonts/
/Applications/Adobe InDesign CS/Fonts/

Notes:
CS3 and CS4 also install to the /LIbrary/Fonts/ folder.

Adobe applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), starting with the CS2 suite, can read Windows Type 1 fonts (not the OS). Place the font files in the /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Fonts/ folder and you will be able to use Windows Type 1 PostScript fonts with the Adobe programs.


MS Office Locations:
MS Office puts fonts in different locations depending on the version of Office. . .
Office X: /System/Library/Fonts/

Office 2004: ~/Library/Fonts/ or /Library/Fonts
(It installs them for the users from /Applications/Microsoft Office 2004/Office/Fonts/.)

Office 2008:
Installs fonts only once to: /Library/Fonts/Microsoft.
(There are duplicates. The newer OS ones have more characters/pallets. Keep the OS ones as higher priority.)


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