Designers: How do u handle thousands of fonts?

To all you graphic designers out there, can I get some feedback on your font handling techniques? I understand all the different font programs out there, and I try not to keep too many fonts in my Windows Font folder... but my dilemma is, I am not a master typographer... when I need to design a new web site or logo etc., I know what theme and feel the font should have, but I cant equate that to a specific font in my head. So basically what I have been doing is using AMP or Font Xplorer to basically look through all 7000 fonts if this is an important aspect to the design. So unless it is one of the 10-15 fonts I know, I have to spend 10-20 excruciating minutes looking through all my fonts with the text I need.


There is no way every designer who doesnt have 7000+ fonts memorized do this every day for a new project. And even if you can group them in folders, are you supposed to suck it up and spend one day grouping all these fonts yourself? And even when you do, there will be a ton of fonts that can be categorized as 2, 3 or 5 different types... so then you put them in every one of the applicable folders?


I guess I just need a general tutorial on how to pick a font from thousands when you know the feel but not the name of the font.


Thanks!

 

Get a list of about 50 fonts of all different types then use only those and ignore the rest. This is what I do. Each font has about 5 or 6 sub categories/basic options so it's really easy to get exactly what you want with only a few different fonts.

 

I see what u saying, but what u mean different options? For example, Minion has a few different types, like Pro and standard, etc... and then each one should have its own I, B, U etc... so if I only copy over the 50 or so to my Font folder, does that mean I can still use all their sub-attributes?

So I guess you dont use folders and group all the fonts into separate searchable categories?

 

I don't understand the concept of having over 7000 fonts (or some ridiculous number like that). Just like you said, it's impossible to manage if you don't start organizing them as soon as you obtain them - because if you try to categorize all 7000 at once, you'll go mad. Besides, does anyone actually use that many fonts in their daily work? I use a core set of about 15 or so, and I rotate new ones in and out of that set all the time. If I need a special type face, I'll buy it.

Maybe I'm just too simplistic, but OS X's Font Book does the job for me.

 

Well ya it does seem ridiculous doesnt it... of course I didnt add all 7000+ to ensure I use them all... it was more like a collection of all my fonts from Adobe, Corel, etc and I never organized them as I went along because I didnt do that much design work back then, and I am one of those "dont throw anything away in case u might need it" ... haha. Now I am paying the price for it and I am by no means an all type expert, but I do know which one I want to use when I see it, which is the problem, "When I see it" which means I have to find it visually. I would LOVE to be able to have like 10 folders, such as Handwriting-Scripts, Headline, Fun, Classy-Traditional, Modern-Design, Street, Motion, etc... Isnt this how most people do it? If the only way if or me to sift through all of mine and categorize them as such, I guess I have to do it, but I was hoping there was another way to tackle this problem, because there usually is in all computer processes.

 

I actually also have a lot of fonts installed, but the ones I use most often I can count on two hands. And if I get a project which requires a different font I often still search for a new one.. I guess I should start some cleaning up also. (and I think a lot of designers have this 'problem')

 

I don't think designers use all those thousands of fonts, i assume they use particular mix of fonts which suites their needs perfectly.

 

I just started using The Font Thing and it is good enough to organize fonts, but it will still take some time... just got done categorizing a few hundred, but still have 1400 in my Font folder to trim and the other few thousand in the excess folder to organize. The funny thing, I've talked to a lot of people and it seems like I have not received the same 2 answers for this problem, which is hilarious and bothers the &$%&$@ out of me, my being an engineer type and all... but I guess graphic designers can be as quirky as anyone else and this is one of "those things."

You know, u may have a point there... but I guess if u are a perfectionist (ya, I know, get over it!) u always want the BEST look for whatever u design, besides the fact that anything u do, like an architect, is part of your resume forever. Ya I've never had a client not like a font I used, but then again, I have always spent at least 20-30 minute choosing the right ones.

Ya I heard suitcase was awesome but dont feel like shelling out another $50+ when TFT works fine for what I need... but my question is, how did you come around to those 50+50? I assume you did the work ahead and grouped them as you first got them... I'm way past that point and am scrambling to organize what I never did.

 

I only use a few main fonts and I don't have an external solution

 

i have gone through all my fonts and picked out the top 100, and printed them on paper, with their names on the side, and posted it on my wall next to me, easy to look at and pick out

 

Do u have the top 100 on paper organized as well, like per page? I'll prob do that too eventually, good idea.