It is very important that you always include all the fonts that were used in the creation of your document. There can be several versions of the font you used on the market. If we do not have that exact version, your layout may change. Even Times has more than one version. Also, be sure to check your placed artwork for necessary fonts. If you placed a logo that needs Caslon, and your InDesign file doesn't use Caslon, InDesign may not tell you that you need Caslon, but our printers will.
When locating your fonts, there is a difference between where you will find them on a MAC or PC, so please select the proper computer system for information concerning locating and copying fonts.
For programs like InDesign, use the package feature. It will gather up your fonts and links for you.
PC Fonts - On most Windows systems, you can view your loaded and usable fonts in the Windows Control Panel. Click on the
Start button, then click on the
Control Panel. Somewhere in there will be a folder with your fonts. Before copying your fonts, create a folder on your desktop into which you can copy the fonts. Then, locate the fonts you need within that Control Panel fonts folder. Select each font you want to copy. (Be sure to select all versions of the fonts you used. For example, also send Times Bold, Times Italic, and Times BoldItalic when sending Times Roman.) Next, right-click (and hold) on one of the selected fonts and drag onto the folder you created on the desktop. When you release the right button, a menu will appear. Click
Copy to Folder (NOT Move to Folder). When sending fonts, it's best to compress them by right-clicking the folder and selecting
Send to and then
compressed (zipped) folder. You can then attach it to en email or submit it via our
File Upload page.
Mac Fonts - With OS X, fonts can now be located in any number of places on your computer including the system library, user libraries and other locales. Use the
Finder's find command to search for the fonts you need. (Sometimes, it is helpful to search for part of the name. For example, look for Casl when searching for Caslon224-Bold.) Go ahead and send us any font you think necessary. If you're looking for Times and you find Times and Times Roman and Times MT, send all three. (Be sure to select all versions of the fonts you used. For example, also send B Times Bold, I Times Italic, and BI Times BoldItalic when sending Times.) Create a folder on your desktop into which you can copy the fonts. From the results window of your search, copy each font (hold down the
Option key as you drag so you don't move the files) into the folder you created on the desktop.
For programs like InDesign, use the package feature. It will gather up your fonts and links for you.
After you have copied all of the fonts, compress that folder using Stuffit. Fonts need to be compressed with Stuffit to retain critical information in hidden system files. If you zip the fonts, they will not be able to load after you email or FTP them.
Converting Text To Paths/Outlines - In the case of publications created in Illustrator and InDesign (including logos and graphic art) it can be to your advantage to turn your text into paths/outlines. That way, the computer sees your text as a vector path, rather than a font. In the case of logos or graphics, it is recommended that you always convert your text. If you have finalized your design and edited your text to your satisfaction, you can then convert all your type to paths/outlines.
Please note: Once converted, the text cannot be edited. See your help guides for converting fonts to outlines in your programs.