Installing Fonts

This page explains how to install the PostScript, TrueType and OpenType versions of your font. It assumes that you are familiar with basic Macintosh or Windows operations, such as clicking and dragging, using menus, and moving icons. If you are unfamiliar with any of these operations, please refer to your computer User's Guide.

We recommend installing only one format of a font, either OpenType, TrueType, or PostScript. Installing two or more formats of the same font may cause problems when you try to use, view, or print the font. If you use a font management utility to manage your fonts, follow the instructions for the utility to install and remove fonts. After installing fonts, you may need to restart an application or reselect the printer in the application to make the fonts appear in the font list.

Follow these instructions to install fonts on the operating systems listed below. If you have trouble, consult your operating system manual or contact your local distributor.

Fonts purchased from Unifonts are delivered in compressed .zip or .hqx format. Please use a decompression utility such as WinZip or StuffIt Expander to open these files and extract the fonts before installation.

Mac PostScript
A PostScript font for the Macintosh is made up of two files: a font suitcase for screen display, and a printer font file for printing. A .afm file may also be included.

PC PostScript
A PostScript file for Windows is at least comprised of a .pfb and a .pfm file, and may also include .afm and .inf files.

Mac TrueType
A Mac TrueType font is contained within a single .ttf file.

PC TrueType
A PC TrueType font is also contained within a single .ttf file.

OpenType
OpenType is the most recent font file format. It features cross-platform compatibility (the same font file works on Mac, Windows and other systems) and support for greatly expanded character sets and layout features. OpenType fonts are contained within a single .otf file, and can be installed and used alongside PostScript Type 1 and TrueType fonts. Fonts in this format often include special features like automatic contextual ligatures and alternate glyphs, which are currently supported mainly by Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, and Quark XPress from version 7 and up.

* Windows 95, 98, NT, ME and Mac OS 7-9.x require Adobe Type Manager (ATM) to use PostScript fonts.
* Never rename any font files, as this may render them unusable.
* Do not install multiple versions of the same font on a computer.

Mac OS X (10.x)

(OS X 10.3+)

1. Open the FontBook application and add new fonts via the 'File' menu.

System

1. Drag the font files into the /Library/Fonts folder. For PostScript fonts make sure the font suitcase and the PostScript font are in the same folder.

Mac OS 7-9.x

1. Drag the font suitcase and the PostScript font (or the TrueType suitcase) onto the icon of the System Folder.

ATM 4.x Deluxe

1. Copy the font files into any folder on your hard disk except the Fonts folder in the System Folder. (PostScript fonts: Make sure the font suitcase and the PostScript font are in the same folder.)

2. Launch ATM and install the font according to the ATM manual.

Suitcase

1. Copy the font files into any folder on your hard disk except the Fonts folder in the System Folder. (PostScript fonts: Make sure the font suitcase and the PostScript font are in the same folder.)
2. Launch Suitcase and install the font according to the Suitcase manual.

Windows Vista/XP/2000

1. From the 'Start' menu, choose 'Control Panel' and double-click the Fonts folder to open it.

2. In the Fonts folder 'File' menu, click 'Install New Font'.

3. Choose the drive and folder that contains the font files you wish to install. To select multiple fonts, hold down the CTRL key while you select the fonts. To install all fonts in the folder, click 'Select All'. Make sure 'Copy fonts to Fonts folder' is checked.

4. Click on 'OK'.
   

5. Consult your Windows users manual for more information.
   
   

Windows ME, 98, 95, and 3.1x

TrueType

1. From the 'Start' menu, choose Settings > Control Panel and double-click the Fonts folder to open it.

2. From the Fonts folder 'File' menu, click 'Install New Font'.

3. Choose the drive and folder that contains the font files you wish to install. To select multiple fonts, hold down the CTRL key while you select the fonts. To install all fonts in the folder, click 'Select All'. Make sure 'Copy fonts to Fonts folder' is checked.

4. Click on 'OK'.
   

Note: A maximum number of approximately 1000 fonts can be safely installed in Windows 9x. Consult your Windows users manual for more information.

PostScript, OpenType

1. Launch ATM.

2. Choose the PostScript or OpenType font from its location on your hard disk, and install it according to the ATM manual.

You can download your own copy of ATM Light for free by choosing the version appropriate for your operating system below.

ATM Light 4.61 for Macintosh (.hqx/3.43 MB)
ATM Light 4.1 for Windows 95/98/ME/NT4 (.exe/12.11 MB )