TypeTalk: Collect OpenType Fonts in Smart Sets

TypeTalk is a regular blog on typography. Post your questions and comments by clicking on the Comments icon above. If Ilene answers your question in the blog, you’ll receive one Official Creativepro.com T-Shirt!
Q. Is there an easy way to identify all OpenType fonts on my computer?
A. If you use one of the three major font management utilities (FontAgent Pro, Suitcase Fusion 2, and FontExplorer X Pro), yes there is! All three can create Smart Sets. These collections are based on your search criteria, which is automatically updated as you add OpenType fonts to your font library. To do this, open your font management utility, create a new Smart Set, search for OpenType, then name that Smart Set “OpenType fonts” or something similar.
Create a Smart Set in FontExplorer X Pro by going to File > New Smart Set. Choose either OpenType PostScript (Mac), OpenType TrueType (Windows), or both to be on the safe side.

FontAgent Pro’s Smart Sets are also created via File > New Smart Set, or using the New Set > New Smart Set icons on the top of the window. They have one favor of OpenType, making it very simple.

To create a Smart Set in Suitcase Fusion 2, go to Edit > Find Fonts, build your criteria for your smart set, then click on the little “diskette” on the top right corner to save it as a Smart Set. Select PS, TT, or both to be on the safe side.

Note that some utilities separate OpenType into two flavors: OpenType PostScript or PS, and OpenType TrueType or TT. The PS version is for Macs and the TT version is for Windows, but to be safe, you can search for both by creating two sets of search criteria. Don’t let this confuse you, as both kinds of OpenType work on both a Mac or on Windows.
Smart Sets are handy for all sorts of things. You can search for many other attributes to organize your fonts, such as family, foundry, library, keywords, and so on.
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 [email protected]. Sign up for her e-newsletter at www.thetypestudio.com. You can also follow Ilene on Facebook and Twitter.

Ilene Strizver is a noted typographic educator, author, designer and founder of The Type Studio in Westport, Connecticut. Her book, Type Rules! The designer’s guide to professional typography, is now in its 4th edition.
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