FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
- ▶ I can’t find what I’m looking for.
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FontShop.com has thousands of fonts from several foundries listed and viewable. There are also some fonts that are only available offline. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to contact us. Even if you don’t know the name of the font you need, give us a ring. We’ll put our font identification and recommendation experts to work for you.
- ▶ Where is MetaPlus?
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FF MetaPlus has been renamed. The font family is now known as FF Meta. Read more about this transition in the FontFeed.
- ▶ Which font format is right for me?
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There are three major font formats: PostScript, TrueType, and OpenType.
- PostScript fonts are generally used by the design and print world. They are optimized for the print medium, and most printers and service bureaus prefer PostScript fonts. PostScript fonts require ATM on older operating systems.
- TrueType fonts are generally easier to install (they are made up of only one file, versus the two or more files that PostScript fonts consist of). Depending on the manufacturer, they may be optimized for on-screen display and work well if you’re designing for the Web or other digital medium. Some Windows applications may only support TrueType fonts.
- OpenType fonts are less common than fonts in the other formats because the technology is relatively new. The biggest advantage shared by all OpenType fonts is cross-platform capability. The single font file will work on both Mac and Windows systems. Some OpenType fonts include expanded character sets and special features like automatic ligatures and alternate glyphs. OpenType is the best format for most purposes.
Important note: Windows Vista support for PostScript fonts is limited to those that include PFM files. Because not all PostScript fonts include these files, we highly recommend purchasing OpenType or TrueType fonts. - ▶ Why don’t my PostScript fonts show up on my computer?
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Chances are, you are using a system which requires that Adobe Type Manager (ATM) be installed to use PostScript fonts. See the installation guide appropriate to your system for more information.
- ▶ How come I was able to install a PostScript font on my Windows NT 4.0 system without ATM?
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Windows NT 4.0 can read PostScript fonts without ATM, but unfortunately it still can’t use them. Instead, NT uses its built-in PostScript to TrueType converter to make a low-quality TrueType font for screen display and printing. At this point, you can effectively use the font, but please realize that you’re using the low-quality TrueType conversion and not the original, high-quality PostScript font.
- ▶ How do I install my fonts?
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Please refer to our detailed installation guides for help installing fonts.
- ▶ How many computers can I install my fonts on?
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The number varies depending on who makes the font you are purchasing. Most vendors include a license for up to five CPUs (computers), but some only allow one. For licensing details, read the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) that came with your fonts.
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Fonts purchased and downloaded from FontShop.com are licensed for the number of users you enter in the cart (note: some foundries license CPUs rather than users. Read the foundry's EULA for a complete specification). The basic license varies from foundry to foundry, but usually licenses 1-5 users, with a multi-user license (MUL) required thereafter. Ordering online makes licensing easy. MUL(s) are applied automatically when you enter the number of users, and the price adjusts automatically. (Please call us for MULs beyond 1000 users.)
If your online order includes an MUL, you will receive further documentation in the mail for your records. With your online order you receive the applicable End User License Agreements (EULAs) for the fonts. It is a good idea to read and understand your license to use the fonts, as use beyond the EULA requires additional licensing. Should you later wish to broaden your license to allow more users than originally licensed, please contact us.
- ▶ When do I need to get a Multi-User License (MUL)?
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If you are planning on installing fonts on more computers than the original end-user license allows, you will need to purchase a MUL. Please give us a call if you have any questions regarding licensing for your font.
- ▶ Can I install fonts on Palm OS?
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You can install fonts on newer versions of the Palm OS. Please contact Palm or refer to your Palm manual for further information.
- ▶ Can I install fonts on my PDA running Windows CE?
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Unfortunately, Windows CE doesn’t allow for installation of new fonts.
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Most likely the fonts are there, but they have been style-linked by the manufacturer. To access the other styles, you will need to use the program’s type modification controls to bold and italicize the fonts (usually the “B” and “I” buttons on a text formatting toolbar). Instead of just stroking or obliquing the font to fake a bold or italic effect, the program will use the true bold, italic, or bold italic typeface.
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The most common reason is simply that the fonts are not activated. Make sure the fonts are correctly installed or turned on in your font manager. It could also be because the font appears with a different name than the one you are looking for. Scroll through the font menu to see if the font has a different menu name (ie. Kabel shows up as ITC Kabel in some applications).
If you were already running an application when you activated the font you may need to relaunch the application to make your font appear. In rare cases, you may need to restart your system.
- ▶ When I print my document, the font I use is substituted by Courier (or something else). Why is this?
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There could be several reasons for this. Make sure you have the font properly installed (refer to our installation guides for help), and check to see if the font you’re trying to print is turned on in your font management utility (if you’re using one).
If these solutions don’t work, there could be a problem with the naming of the font (if you are on a Mac), or the font file may be corrupted.
More than likely, it is a problem with the way that the fonts were installed.
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If you're using an older system, this is probably because ATM is not active or font smoothing is not enabled. Open up ATM and go to the “settings” tab or “preferences”. Make sure that the ATM system or rasterizer is turned “On”; if you are in ATM Deluxe, also make sure that “Smooth Font Edges on Screen” is enabled as well.
If your fonts still look jagged, it may be because you have too many fonts loaded or on-screen at one time. To remedy this, simply increase the cache size for ATM (located in the settings or preferences section of ATM).
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If you’re using a PostScript font and you’re on a Mac, it’s probably because you’ve installed the fonts incorrectly into your fonts folder. If you’re manually installing fonts (without a font management utility) make sure you have both the bitmap suitcase and their corresponding printer files loaded for each font you’re trying to use. If only the bitmaps are there, the font will appear jagged on screen and print the same way. Refer to our installation guides for additional help.
Also make sure you have the latest version of ATM installed. If you’re on a Macintosh with OS 7.0, you must have version 3.8.3 or higher; if you are on OS 7.6 and OS 8.0 must have version 4.0 or higher; if you are running OS 9.0 you need 4.52.
- ▶ What is this suitcase icon? What are all those other icons?
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On a Mac, the font suitcase (as represented by the suitcase icon) contains all the font’s bitmap files. Remember to not confuse suitcases with folders, they are entirely separate and not interchangeable in any way. The other files (represented by an icon of a printer or the font’s respective type foundry) are the printer files. The printer files are used by your printer to print and by ATM for displaying your fonts smoothly on screen.
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Different manufacturers have different policies regarding font embedding. Most fonts can be embedded for print and preview purposes only. You can refer to the EULA that came with the font software for specific information about embedding. If you are planning on embedding a font, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the policies surrounding that particular font.
- ▶ If I license a font, can I modify it for my own use or for resale?
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You cannot resell a font that you have licensed, and you cannot resell a font that you have licensed and modified. In most cases, modification is restricted. See the end-user license that came with the font software for specific information about modifications.
- ▶ When I buy a typeface do I get all the point sizes?
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Yes. A digital typeface scales to all point sizes, even fractional point sizes, like 7.3 points.
- ▶ Do I need special software to use a foreign language font?
- No. If special software is required, it will be included with the font when you license it.
- ▶ If a font isn’t available in the format I need, can I get a conversion made?
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We are happy to do the conversion for you provided you have proof of purchase (ie. a receipt or invoice for the original purchase) and conversion is allowed by the font license. See our Font Conversions page for more info or just give us a call.
- ▶ What’s a promocode and how do I use it?
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Promocodes are special discounts or offers that are often available for a limited period of time to a limited group of people. Some might be open to everyone. You might find a promocode in a FontShop ad or from a university or design group. You‘ll be given a chance to enter a promocode in your cart during the checkout process. Your order total will automatically adjust accordingly.
- ▶ Why does the basic user license default to 5 (or some other quantity) users?
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Each font foundry’s EULA specifies a number of users or CPUs that are licensed at the base fee. Often this default is 5. This means you are licensed for 5 users for the price of 1. Rejoice!
- ▶ How does the new search work at FontShop.com?
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If you can use Google™, you can search for fonts at FontShop. Enter any kind of query, be it font name, foundry name, designer name, or even keyword, and results will be displayed in order of relevance. You can also enter combinations of terms, such as two keywords (soft sans) or a designer and keyword (Matthew Carter sans). Expand the search to the entire site — including feature articles, support documents, and FontFeed content — via the pull down menu next to the search field at the top of every page (for example: new Intel font or installation help).
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A Single Font is the actual font file as you would see it on your hard drive or in your font menu. It represents a single weight and style — FF Meta Book, for example.
Single Fonts are available for purchase in various downloadable units (Font Downloads) — either by themselves, or in a bundle with other members of a font family (such as other weights, italics, and various figure styles). Font Downloads that contain multiple styles and weights are always a better value as the price per font is lower.
- ▶ What Taxes does FontShop Collect?
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FontShop collects the following taxes:
- 7.25% California State sales tax for physical goods delivered to California
- 8.5% California State and San Francisco city sales tax for physical goods delivered to San Francisco
- 7% VAT for books delivered to the EU
- 19% VAT for goods and services in the EU
- 21% VAT on product downloads in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg
- 10% GST on product downloads in Australia
If you have a valid EU VAT number, you will not be charged VAT
Entering a VAT Number
Enter your business's VAT number on the Account Edit page. We validate VAT numbers based on the country you gave when creating your account. Please contact us if you have any trouble entering your VAT number.
- ▶ I'm in Austria, Germany, or Norway. Can I purchase fonts on FontShop.com?
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Support information, editorial content, and font showings on FontShop.com are open to all visitors. Customers with primary addresses in Austria, Germany, and Norway must purchase fonts from the website of their local FontShop. If you are visiting FontShop.com from within one of these countries, but your primary address is elsewhere, you may still log in and purchase fonts on this website by selecting your home location from the dropdown menu at the top right corner of any page.
- Germany: http://www.fontshop.de
- Austria: http://www.fontshop.at
- Norway: http://luth.no
Contact us if the information you need isn’t here.
For a detailed explanation of font terminology, have a look at our type glossary.