Extensis Releases Universal Type Server 4

Extensis has announced the immediate availability of Universal Type Server 4, the latest version of their font management solution for creative teams. (If you’re interested in a font management solution for individual users, check out our review of Suitcase Fusion 5.)

New features of Universal Type Server 4 include enhanced license management, which allows administrators to track font license information and make that information readily available to members of the creative team. So at a glance designers will know exactly what they can do with each font.

With a tool like this in place, NBC Universal could have probably avoided a $3.5 million lawsuit for font misuse.

Also new is Creative Cloud support via brand new font auto-activation plug-ins for applications like InDesign, InCopy, Photoshop, and Illustrator on both Mac and Windows.

Extensis plans to work closely with Adobe to deliver regular plug-in updates and ensure things keep working smoothly with each new update of the CC applications. Universal Type Server 4 also includes a full set of plug-ins for previous Adobe Creative Suite Applications.

And finaly, Universal Type Server 4 includes the new QuickComp feature for fast and easy font selection. With QuickComp designers can test, experiment, and select font pairs using common design templates. Designers can quickly create side-by-side samples right within the Universal Type Client.

Other new features include:

A new PostgreSQL Database for increased speed and stability
Font Cache Cleaning improvements for optimized stability and repair of cache corruption issues (Mac only)
Updated font corruption and integrity checking ensures a smooth creative workflow, free of corrupt fonts
Enhanced Font Info panel, offering font information in a convenient and easy way
Interface improvements to QuickMatch searches to locate similar fonts faster than ever
Modern OS support for Windows 8 and OS X
More engaging font previews with new Custom Color Previews in the client

Universal Type Server 4 is available in three editions: Enterprise, Professional, and Lite.

For a quick visual introduction to what’s new with Universal Type Server, check out the video below.