Archive for category Technical
FontDoctor 8.1 Released
Posted by fontgear in Software, Technical, Technology, Tip on August 1, 2011
FontGear, Inc. of Charlotte, NC announces the release of FontDoctor for Macintosh v8.1
FontDoctor has long been the industry standard software tool for font problem diagnosis, repair, organization, and now font archiving and back-up. FontDoctor is a professional software application that will locate and eliminate hard-to-find font problems that wreak havoc on the Macintosh system performance and applications. FontDoctor will scan font folders (on local hard drives or over a network) to locate and repair common font illnesses, including corrupt or damaged fonts, missing Postscript fonts, missing bitmaps, corrupt/damaged fonts, font ID conflicts, extra fonts sizes, mixed fonts types, and lots more.
FontDoctor will also organize your font files and generate font diagnosis and organization reports as needed.
What’s new in v8.1:
- Mac OS X 10.7 support and compatibility
- Completely updated interface
- Miscellaneous bug fixes
* A free demonstration version can be downloaded from www.FontGear.net
* The update is FREE to version 8 users. Older version can be upgraded for $19.99.
* FontDoctor is available for $69.99/Single User License and can be ordered and downloaded from our website at http://www.FontGear.net using all major credit cards, or by calling 1-800-583-2917.
* FontDoctor is also available for Microsoft Windows
* FontDoctor supports TrueType (Macintosh and Windows (.ttf, .ttc) versions), PostScript Type 1, PostScript Type 3, Multiple Master fonts, OpenType fonts, DataFork fonts, and bitmap fonts.
FontGear Inc. is a leading professional software development company for Macintosh and Windows, specializing in font application tools for graphics professionals and the printing industry. FontGear Inc. is located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
FontGenius 2.1 Released
Posted by fontgear in Software, Technical, Technology, Tip on July 27, 2011
CHARLOTTE, NC – FontGear Inc. announced today the release of FontGenius for Macintosh v2.1
FontGenius is a font identification utility for Macintosh.
FontGenius examines pictures and identifies typefaces of any text within a picture. Using advanced recognition technology, FontGenius will produce a list of likely fonts that match selected characters within an image, and will generate character previews of the matched fonts. An internet search can also be performed on the list of results to locate, purchase, and download matched fonts.
Version 2.1 includes support for Mac OS X 10.7 (lion) and bug fixes.
* The update is free for existing FontGenius customers.
* FontGenius can be ordered and downloaded from our website at www.FontGear.net using a major credit card, or by calling 1-800-583-2917.
* A free demonstration version can be downloaded from www.FontGear.net
* FontGenius is available for $39.99 (Single User License)
An Easy Guide to Color Theory
Posted by fontgear in Font Related, Interesting, Technical, Uncategorized on July 26, 2011
Here’s an easy way to brush up on that color theory you can never seem to quite remember. Love how clear & simple it’s laid out.
Image is part of an article from designmodo.com – “Right Typography & Color Palett for Your Business.”
(click to view larger)
FontXChange 3.1 Released
Posted by fontgear in Software, Technical, Technology, Tip on July 21, 2011
FontGear, Inc. of Charlotte, NC announced today the release of FontXChange for Macintosh version 3.1
FontXChange is a powerful, easy to use font-conversion application that will convert fonts between common font formats. FontXChange can easily convert fonts to OpenType (PS), Web Fonts (WOFF, SVG, EOT), PostScript Type 1, and TrueType for both Macintosh or Windows.
Version 3.1 introduces compatibility and support for Apple’s newly release Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)
What’s new in version 3.1
- Mac OS X 10.7 support and compatibility
- Completely updated interface
- Miscellaneous bug fixes
Useful features include:
- Batch processing for converting entire font libraries
- Font inspection window with preview
- Support for many font encodings, including Adobe Standard, Unicode, Mac Roman, and Windows ANSI, and European.
* FontXChange requires Mac OS 10.4 or higher, and a PowerPC or Intel Processor.
* A free demonstration version can be downloaded from http://www.FontGear.net
* FontXChange is available for $99.00/Single User License
• FontXChange can be ordered and downloaded from our website at www.FontGear.net using all major credit cards, or by calling 1-800-583-2917.
Mac OS X Lion (10.7) Compatibility
Posted by fontgear in Software, Technical, Technology, Tip on July 21, 2011
We are working hard to update all of our software products for Apple’s newly released version of Mac OS X (v. 10.7, called Lion)
Over the next few days we will announce the updates as they become available and will be offered as free updates to our existing customers.
All of our test show that there are no major issues with any of our existing products running on Lion. Most of the problems we’ve seen so far are related to then user interface (window refreshes, controls not drawing correctly, etc.)
If you have any questions or concerns about any of our products then please feel free to contact us here.
One of the World’s Best Type References Released in English
Posted by fontgear in Interesting, Technical on July 5, 2011
There are more type reference books published each year than we can keep track of – so why is Joep Pohlen’s book, Letter Fountain so special?
Originally self-published in 1994, Letter Fountain: The Anatomy of Type was available in French, German & Dutch. In 2000, 15,000 copies had been sold & the book went out of print. Many type teachers, particularly in the Netherlands had become so dependent on this book as the text for their classes, they began instructing students to find it used or second hand.
Pohlen then decided to revise & expand his original book & finally, in 2009, it was re-released & within 7 weeks the first printing was sold out.
Letter Fountain is different from the majority reference books in that it doesn’t give examples of work from famous designers. Contrary to the opinions given on the video in our previous post, Pohlen says “Students have to learn to design for themselves and not learn to copy from other peoples’ design,” he insists. “This is not a how-to-do book in that sense. I wanted to give the reader as objective as I could the language he or she needs to develop their own style.”
The book appears to be a gem. With a good portion of its bulk being dedicated to an exhaustive glossary & bibliography, to make it, as Pohlen puts it, “possible to search through the book like you would the internet”
image from joep pohlen
Currently, Joep is putting together an educational site based on the book in Dutch, French, German, and English. The first Dutch version is at www.letterfontein.nl.
Mac OS X Font Update
Posted by fontgear in Font Related, Software, Technical, Tip on April 27, 2011
Apple recently announced an update (Mac OS X 10.6.7) that fixes known problems related to OpenType fonts.
We are recommending that this update be downloaded and installed by all users.
FontVista 4.5
Posted by fontgear in Font Related, Software, Technical on April 5, 2011
FontGear, Inc. of Charlotte, NC announced today the release of FontVista for Macintosh version 4.5
FontVista is a professional font catalog and inspection tool that will create a type specimen book (or “font catalog”) to be used as a desk reference for design professionals who need a quick way to locate just the right typeface for a given project.
Useful features include:
- Font activation and printing of installed or uninstalled fonts
- Print directly to PDF (Portable Document Format) or Printer
- Load and print thousands of fonts using customizable layouts
- Slide show preview of all your fonts
FontVista supports many font formats: Macintosh PostScript Type 1, Macintosh TrueType font suitcases, Apple dfont, PC TrueType (.ttf), and OpenType (.otf).
FontVista requires Mac OS 10.4 or higher.
A free demo version can be downloaded here
FontGenius 2.0 released
Posted by fontgear in Font Related, Software, Technical, Tip on March 22, 2011
FontGenius is a font identification utility for Macintosh.
FontGenius examines pictures and identifies typefaces of any text within a picture. Using advanced recognition technology, FontGenius will produce a list of likely fonts that match selected characters within an image, and will generate character previews of the matched fonts. An internet search can also be performed on the list of results to locate, purchase, and download matched fonts.
Version 2.0 includes a wealth of new features, including Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for automatically selecting characters in an image, a revamped selection tool that now selects entire words or groups of characters, image filters for cleaning up low quality images, and speed increases for quicker and more accurate results.
* FontGenius requires Mac OS 10.4 or higher and runs on both PPC and Intel Macs.
* A free demonstration version can be downloaded from www.FontGear.net
* FontGenius is available for $39.99 (Single User License)
* The v2.0 update is free for existing FontGenius 1.0 customers.
* FontGenius can be ordered and downloaded from our website at www.FontGear.net using a major credit card, or by calling 1-800-583-2917.
FontGear Inc. is a leading professional software development company for Macintosh and Windows, specializing in font application tools for graphics professionals and the publishing industry. FontGear Inc. is well known for it’s leading software products including FontDoctor, FontXChange, and FontVista.
FontGear Inc. is a privately held company located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Typecasting at Apple
Posted by fontgear in Font Related, Software, Technical, Technology on February 24, 2011
With huge spikes in iPhone and iPad sales, developers and designers are naturally concerned about the lack of typography these devices afford. When the much anticipated iPad was launched in April 2010, we were dismayed to find only a few font options. And while they’ve come a long way in a short time, if these devices are going to accommodate the creative expectations of designers and consumers, they’re going to have to step up their iOS font support.
It’s curious that a visually oriented company like Apple offers such anemic font control on these devices. Function trumps form, and while the company’s intention to keep tight control over its interface is understandable, it is also a bit disappointing. Creatives flock to Apple for its easy interface, its intuitive design, its streamlined structure.
Unfortunately, developers and designers aren’t able to fully capitalize on these functions because of limited choices. It’s a bit like being admitted to Disneyworld, and then being told you can only use the kiddy rides. What’s the point of having an innovative and powerful device that limits your viewing experience?
This contest between device and web design is an interesting one. Can creatives – Apple’s primary customer base – learn to be happy with the limitations? Or will the company be forced to expand its iOS font technologies?
Typography is critical to the user’s experience. Over time, technological breakthroughs in deliverable typefaces will be a game-changer, forcing even the most powerful mobile providers to give their customers an added measure of freedom. It’s just a matter of time.
