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Q. Is there a way from within my page-layout application to see which of my fonts are OpenType?

A. It depends on which programs you use.

In InDesign and most Adobe applications, the OpenType icon (Figure 1) is visible to the left of the font name in the font menu, which you access from the character panel or the control bar (Figure 2).

If you're in QuarkXPress version 5.x and later on a PC, you can see the OpenType icons by selecting the Shift key while listing the fonts from the Measurement palette's default Classic tab. This feature isn't available in QuarkXPress for the Mac, but you can add it with Unsanity's Fontcard for only $17.

Figure 1. You can view the OpenType icon (left) in InDesign's font menu.

Figure 2. The font icons as seen in QuarkXPress for Windows.

If you prefer to use OpenType fonts in your work, but find it time-consuming to search them out in your library, here's an easy way to save yourself some trouble: a font manager. Most current font-management utilities let you view your library’s font format icons, and even group by format. Once you create a set or folder of all of your OpenType fonts, it's easy to view them all at once.

Love type? Want to know more? Ilene Strizver conducts her acclaimed Gourmet Typography workshops internationally. For more information on attending one or bringing it to your company, organization, or school, go to her site, call The Type Studio at 203-227-5929, or email Ilene at info@thetypestudio.com. Sign up for her e-newsletter at www.thetypestudio.com.