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How to Install Custom Fonts
Custom fonts can make a presentation unique, dynamic, align with corporate branding and many other fantastic things. But if a custom font is not installed on the device being used to show the presentation, the presentation may fail visually.
If your presentation is using a custom font, here is an overview on how to get that font installed on all the main device types – if it is possible to install.
Windows Desktop OS
Installing a custom font is a simple process on Windows.
Option 1: Select Install
Confirm the font files are copied to the computer (not on a portable drive or network folder). Right-Click the font file and select > Install. Windows will do everything and the font is now available to all programs on that computer.
Option 2: Drop and Drag into Fonts Folder
Manually copy font files into the Windows Fonts folder. When a font file is copied into the Windows Font Folder it is automatically installed.
Windows 10: To see what fonts are installed, go to the Windows icon> Settings > type “Fonts” in the search bar on the top right. Your fonts folder should open, displaying currently installed fonts. Drag-and-drop, or copy/paste, font files to be installed.
Win XP, 7 and Win 8.1: To see what fonts are installed, go to Windows Start > Control Panel > Fonts, this will take you to a list of all fonts installed on your PC. Drag-and-drop, or copy/paste, font files to be installed.
A few notes about PowerPoint using custom fonts on Windows:
- PowerPoint (all versions) can only recognize TrueType (TTF) and OpenType (OTF) formats.
- PowerPoint needs to be opened, or restarted, AFTER the custom font is installed. If a font is installed while PowerPoint is open, it will not show up in the font list until PowerPoint is restarted.
Mac OS
Option 1
- Double-click the font file to open a dialog fonts displaying the font. Click “Install Font” button.
Option 2
- Launch Font Book, a Mac OS application. This displays all fonts on the computer. Choose Add Fonts from the file menu and select the font you want to install.
A few notes about PowerPoint and Keynote using custom fonts on the Mac OS:
- PowerPoint and Keynote can use TrueType (TTF), OpenType (OTF), and PostScript (PS) formats.
- The Mac OS fonts cannot be used on Windows computers.
- PowerPoint needs to be opened, or restarted, AFTER the custom font is installed. If a font is installed while PowerPoint is open, it will not show up in the font list until it is restarted.
- Keynote dynamically recognizes newly installed custom fonts and are immediately available without restarting the app
iOS on iPad and iPhone
- Custom fonts can be download and installed, but not all apps can use/see the custom fonts.
- iOS uses TrueType (.TTF) and OpenType (.OTF) fonts.
- PowerPoint for IOS installs with selection of preset “safe” fonts that are available on all platforms.
- Microsoft has recently implemented a new dynamic font library that will download and install additional fonts if they are used in a presentation. The presentation opens and if the font is not currently installed on the iOS device, a substitute font is automatically used. Then in the background, if the device has online access, the additional fonts are downloaded, installed and the presentation is dynamically updated to use the fonts. So a slide with a font not currently installed (but a Microsoft font) may initially display with a font substitution, and while you are looking at it, change to the correct font that has been downloaded and added to PowerPoint’s font library.
- The dynamically installed fonts on iOS are only “Office compatible” fonts, or fonts from Microsoft. So true custom fonts, non-Microsoft fonts, are not available.
- Keynote application uses the preset fonts installed with IOS. Third party apps can be used to install other fonts onto the IOS device, which are then available to Keynote.
Android and Chromebooks
- Android uses TrueType (.TTF) and OpenType (.OTF) font formats.
- The Android OS is similar to IOS, it has preset fonts installed. There are several addon apps that allow additional fonts to be installed.
- One confusing thing when talking about fonts for Android is they have a font named “Android” and another named “Droid”, but other fonts are available. what happens when other fonts are used in a presentation – I will send details when I get them so you can add to post)
- PowerPoint for Android installs with selection of preset “safe” fonts that are available on all platforms.
- Microsoft has recently implemented a new dynamic font library that will download and install additional fonts if they are used in a presentation. The presentation opens and if the font is not currently installed on the Android device, a substitute font is automatically used. Then in the background, if the device has online access, the additional fonts are downloaded, installed and the presentation is dynamically updated to use the fonts. So a slide with a font not currently installed (but a Microsoft font) may initially display with a font substitution, and while you are looking at it, change to using the correct font that has been downloaded and added to PowerPoints font library.
Windows Mobile Phone
- Windows 10 Mobile installs with a preset list of fonts.
- Additional fonts cannot be installed on Windows 10 Mobile beyond those provided with the OS and the ones apps add.
- Microsoft has recently implemented a new dynamic font library that will download and install additional fonts if they are used in a presentation. The presentation opens and if the font is not currently installed on the Win10 Mobile device, a substitute font is automatically used. Then in the background, if the device has online access, the additional fonts are downloaded, installed and the presentation is dynamically updated to use the fonts. So a slide with a font not currently installed (but a Microsoft font) may initially display with a font substitution, and while you are looking at it, change to using the correct font that has been downloaded and added to PowerPoint’s font library.
- The dynamically installed fonts on iOS are only “Office compatible” fonts, or fonts from Microsoft. So true custom fonts, non-Microsoft fonts, are not available.
Prezi
Prezi is not a device, but because it can be used on all devices listed, here is basic overview of font use by Prezi.
- Prezi uses preset fonts from its own font library. All of the Prezi fonts are mapped to common Microsoft fonts (for example, Prezi’s Arimo font, maps to Arial)
- If the desktop version of Prezi is used, custom fonts can be used, but only on desktop Prezi and it can be tricky to have Prezi recognize the custom, non-Prezi, True-Type fonts.
- Prezi uses .Keg (Prezi’s own font format) and TrueType (.TTF) Fonts.
- A nice option is the ability to install the full Prezi font library on your computer if desired. Here is a tutorial on the process: https://prezibase.com/how-to-use-custom-fonts-in-prezi-tutorial/
PowerPoint Web App
- The online version of PowerPoint can be used on all devices in a web browser. PowerPoint online is basically the same story as Windows 10 Mobile – it has a list of preset fonts and no additional fonts can be added to the list. But Microsoft has expanded list with additional fonts as this variation of PowerPoint has matured.
-Troy @ TLC
Can I Use Google Fonts?
PowerPoint and Google Fonts:
- Professional fonts that display great in presentation apps (PowerPoint, Keynote, Adobe apps, etc.).
- The ENTIRE library is FREE!
- Primarily for web use and designed to dynamically load when a website or web-connected app uses them (so they do not need to be installed on a device to be used. Unfortunately both PowerPoint and Keynote are not able to leverage the web-based dynamic use of Google Fonts).
- Can be downloaded as actual font files, installed on any computer, and both PowerPoint and Keynote can use them.
- A few considerations about using locally installed Google Fonts in PowerPoint and Keynote:
- get previous post details.
Details about Google Fonts
- Google describes their font collection as “hundreds of free, open-source fonts optimized for the web.”
- They have 708 font “families” (a Family is one typeface with several styles).
- Find them here.
- The online Google Fonts viewer has some great features, that can be used on any device. All fonts are displayed with a sample sentence that you can change to be any test. There are also options to see fonts used in a sample paragraph, a single word or very large in poster size text (good example for presentation callouts).
- The ENTIRE library can be downloaded!
- Use the down arrow icon in upper right of webpage to download Google Fonts to your computer.
- Optionally, fonts.com has the SkyFonts app which works with Google Fonts and works similar to the Adobe Typekit. It will sync selected fonts to any computer that has the SkyFonts app installed. Go to it here.
- Download the library at GitHub here.
So, should Google Fonts be a part of your workflow?
Adding Google Fonts to your presentations is a good option, assuming you are prepared for managing Custom Fonts in a presentation and assuring everyone has knowledge of how to install custom fonts on a computer, has web access to get the font to install, and is prepared for things not displaying as designed if not installed. The other consideration is, do you need another font option? With our internal library of thousands of custom fonts, and the addition of Adobe Typekit providing its thousands of fonts to our design options, too many options can be more to manage and may provide more design options that are not really needed. But, Google Fonts is a great resource every presentation designer has available if needed.
-Troy @ TLC
Using Adobe Typekit Fonts
Adobe Typekit is a combination between an online tool that previews fonts and an installer that adds them to a computer. Adobe TypeKit is included with Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions.
Can Presentation Apps Use Adobe Typekit Fonts?
Yes, if we are talking about desktop PowerPoint and Keynote. Once the Adobe Typekit font is selected and synced to the computer, the font is available in other applications. At TLC, we use PowerPoint for Windows and Mac and Apple Keynote – we can confirm Typekit fonts are available for all of them. Note: PowerPoint may need to be restarted for the font to become available in the font menu.
| Adobe Typekit | Windows | Mac |
| PowerPoint | YES | YES |
| Keynote | N/A | YES |
HOW TO FIND AND INSTALL ADOBE TYPEKIT FONTS
Adobe Typekit is a hybrid app that is web-based, and can also be viewed through the Adobe Creative Cloud app and most Adobe applications (PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.). For our example, we are looking at Typekit through a web browser, which has the most options. Select the font to use in your presentation by going through the font library, select by clicking +USE FONTS (there are a lot of ways to view and search for fonts, and there are thousands of fonts).
This is where things get a bit confusing. There are two options for using the font: (1) Web Sync, which will make the font available for web use (ie. a website), or (2) Creative Cloud Sync, which will make the font available for use in Desktop apps on a computer. We are installing fonts to a computer for use in PowerPoint.
After selecting fonts and use, click SYNC SELECTED FONTS and they will be installed on the computer.
The Creative Cloud Desktop application will open and prompt you to add fonts from Typekit. Below that is a list of all Adobe Typekit fonts currently available.
PowerPoint and Adobe Typekit
All Adobe Typekit fonts can be used by PowerPoint on both Windows and Mac, but there are some considerations:
- PowerPoint needs to be started AFTER fonts are installed, or the new fonts will note show up in the font list.
- Typekit fonts are considered “custom fonts” and will need to be installed on any computer that is going to show the presentation.
- Only a computer that has Adobe Creative Cloud installed and has an active user account logged in to an Adobe CC account is going to be able to sync and install Typekit fonts.
- PowerPoint will not warn you that fonts are missing, nor will it tell you where the fonts are from (So an end user needs to look at the font list for missing fonts and know they are Typekit fonts that they can install. TIP: Add a hidden slide or off-slide note about custom fonts and where to find them to help other users).
- Typekit fonts installed on a computer are not actual files that can be accessed and copied to other computers.
Keynote and Adobe Typekit
All Adobe Typekit fonts can be used by Keynote, but there are some considerations: Keynote dynamically recognizes newly installed fonts, so there’s no need to restart it after fonts are installed (great!).
- Adobe Typekit fonts are considered “custom fonts” and will need to be installed on any computer that is going to show the presentation.
- Only a computer that has Adobe Creative Cloud installed and has an active user account logged in to an Adobe CC account is going to be able to sync and install Adobe Typekit fonts.
- Adobe Typekit fonts installed on a computer are not actual files that can be accessed and copied to other computers.
-Troy @ TLC
New Podcast Released today! Episode 5
Troy, Nolan and Sandy talk about fonts and presentation design in the latest Presentation Podcast “Oh, Font.” Episode 5 at The Presentation Podcast!
Fonts You Can and Can’t Use in PowerPoint
With the millions of designs available, fonts have the ability to make text display anywhere from serious to fun.
Fonts are separate files that must be installed on each device the custom font is needed. There are Microsoft Fonts, Adobe Creative Cloud Typekit, Google Web Fonts, custom fonts from Font Foundries and websites everywhere – but what is a presentation to use? When selecting fonts, you are selecting physical files.
For example, in PowerPoint, all fonts shown in the font drop down menu are actually individual files installed on that computer (TIP: If there is not an “O” or “TT” icon next to a font, it is not installed on that computer and is not going to display as designed). So first, let’s overview the common types of fonts that can installed.
OpenType
In the history of digital fonts, OpenType is the newest format, with applications adopting its use around the 2,000’s. The extension for OpenType fonts is .OTF and in PowerPoint’s drop down font list, OTF fonts are identified by a large “O” icon. One advantage of OpenType fonts over others is the font file format provides more typographic design options which means more symbols/glyphs/language support/display options. The greater display options (OpenType does not have one display method, but the ability to use legacy display standards and new display standards) mean it is the font file format of choice for newer devices and OS’s – think mobile everything.
Fun Fact: OpenType is a registered trademark of Microsoft, and was developed because Microsoft was unable to license Mac’s “GX Typography” system. Microsoft and Adobe partnered to develop OpenType. Get the full history of OpenType development at this wiki page.
TrueType
TrueType is still the most common font file type. The extension for TrueType is .TTF and in the PowerPoint font drop down, TrueType fonts are identified with a “TT” icon. True Type is older (than OpenType), a bit less robust when it comes to designing and displaying fonts, but it is the dominant font format used – partially because it is less expensive to license.
Fun Fact: Apple was the first to use TrueType in its 1991 OS with 4 fonts (Times Roman, Helvetica, Courier, Pi), which is originally licensed to Microsoft for free. Full history of TrueType development at this Wiki page.
PostScript
The last font file format for this discussion is our oldest digital font format, which is the most complex. PostScript fonts are actually 2 files. One is for the onscreen display and the other is used for printing where it literally outlines every letter and symbol sent to the printer. The extension is .PS, and PowerPoint does not support PostScript fonts – so we do not see them in the font drop down menu, even if they are installed on the computer. What makes PostScript fonts important for today’s presentations is PostScript fonts were the first font technology to use mathematical computation to dynamically redraw fonts with vector Bezier curve to allow fonts to be any size. PostScript fonts were also the first to contain multiple character sets (ie. multiple languages).
Fun Fact 1: I remember working with PostScript fonts as the only solution for high quality graphic design and typographic work – and spending huge amounts to buy a custom font for projects.
Fun Fact 2: Printers used to be “PostScript-Ready,” meaning the printer actually had PostScript processing built into it.
Fun Fact 3: Adobe developed Type 1 and Type 3 fonts, which are PostScript file types, back in 1984! There was an earlier Type 0 before those, and development with Type 3-4-5-up to 42 (which was introduced in 2010). Full history of PostScript development at this Wiki page.
-Troy @ TLC
Hightail Spaces Proofing Tools
Hightail’s newest feature, Spaces, offers lots of online proofing and collaboration tools (see previous post for review of using Spaces video proofing). In addition, Spaces is able to upload and review a variety of different file formats.
Video files (.mp4, .wmv, .mov, etc.):
Allows you to view the video directly in the Spaces browser window (not necessary to download), comments can be placed on specific frames throughout the video as well.
PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx):
Allows you to view previews of the slides but the preview is a static rendering of each slide – no animation/transitions/videos (like a PDF proof).
Photoshop (.psd), Illustrator (.ai), Image (.png, .jpg, etc.), and PDF:
All show a preview image of the file, which is fantastic to preview the editable files, but only on the viewable layers when the files were saved.
Word (.doc, .docx):
Only shows a preview of the file – again like a static PDF proof; however, you can use the comment feature to highlight changes needed.
Overall, the features offered by Spaces are very useful to anyone reviewing and collaborating on a project of any kind. The only real drawback is the limitation with previewing PowerPoint files directly in the browser (which is a big deal to us!). Other than that, proofing is very simple and worthwhile to ensure a smooth collaboration process.
-Troy @ TLC
Hightail Spaces Video Proofing
Hightail, formally YouSendit, has introduced a new tool, Hightail Spaces. So in addition to the file sharing services, they have added an online tool for video and image feedback.
Using Hightail Spaces for client file review is pretty straight forward and similar to Wipster (see previous post). Here is a quick walk through of the collaborative process:
1. Log in (or sign up) to your account, and click on the Spaces tab.
2. If it is your first time accessing, click Get Started, and Accept.
4. All of your Spaces show up, which makes it easy to have separate folders/Spaces for each client or project.
5. Hover over a Space and click to View any files, get a share link, or delete that Space.
6. Spaces can be personalized to a project or client with a: (1) custom name and (2) description. The (3) chart icon shows the analytics of that Space.
7. When viewing a space, use the Share button to invite clients to securely view any files in there.
8. To add a video for review, either Drag and drop or click the plus icon (which also allows files to be uploaded from other services: Dropbox, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive).
9. Once uploaded, every file is displayed with a preview thumbnail.
10. To review, your client just clicks on the thumbnail which opens the video preview and the comments side panel. To add a comment, drag a marque directly on the video and type any comment, then click Post. The comment pane lists all of the comments and replies. A really great feature is that the video playback has a red dot for each comment.
10. Spaces allows multiple versions. The current version is displayed at the top of the page. Previous versions are viewable by clicking on the version number in the list.
12. Access and share links are controlled by the overall Space and the individual files. (1) Access can be public or private (2) Copy a link to send in an email, text or IM. (3) Access options include edit, comment, download, and (4) Share directly on Slack (if you use that).
Note: Download options are only available with a paid subscription.
Hightail Spaces is another client review option to check out. There are both free and paid options.
-Troy @ TLC
Wipster.com – Online Tool for Video Review
Videos projects, or PowerPoint decks exported to video, are sometimes difficult to send to a client due to large file size. They are also difficult for the client to provide exact feedback. Wipster is one online tool that provides a solution to both difficulties.
Wipster is an online tool that makes getting video to a client, and giving them a way to give you feedback, very easy – and secure. Upload a video to your Wipster account, send a secure link to your client and they can view online, and have a set of tools to make comments and feedback for you to review. Feedback is pinned to a specific frame of the video so you know exactly what is being referenced.
Here is a quick demo of using Wipster to get feedback, or approval, of a video:
1. Upload the video with a drag and drop system (or click upload to get an upload screen).
2. Review uploaded video or a new version (there is a versioning control built in). Links can be sent to videos, information can be added and they can be moved to a specific folder or deleted. All the vital information is also available: version number, the upload date, the number of reviewers, and the number of comments.
3. To share the video, select the Share video
4. Pick the review options, including feedback notes and an approval button. The video can be password protected, downloads disabled, and commenting turned on/off.
5. When reviewing, adding comments is super easy and intuitive. Click and drag a window around the exact area, on an exact frame, to provide feedback on. Then, type feedback into the comment dialog box. All reviewers are notified of new comments and they can reply to them.
6. To view all comments as an action To Do List, click on the button in the upper right hand corner.
7. A list of all existing comments will expand on the right side of the screen. As you complete each item, check the box next to the Reply…
If an updated version is created, rather than setting up a new Wipster review, just upload the new version to the original video. Everyone is notified of the new version, the feedback process can simply continue until everything is approved and you get the electronic approval to finalize and turn on the download link so the client can have the video for use.
There is a free account option, and approximately $15 month for unlimited video proofs. Wipster just announced a new feature last week that integrates directly into Adobe Premiere called “Wipster Review Panel for Adobe Premiere” which may change the way we implement client feedback on video projects.
-Troy @ TLC
New Podcast Released Today!
Take a listen to the latest Presentation Podcast, “Presentation Software; Setup, Best Practices, Tips & Tricks.” Episode 4 at The Presentation Podcast!