HOW TO GATHER FONTS FROM THE MAC OS

The Mac OSX presents a new challenge when gathering fonts because it provides multiple locations for fonts. In addition, the font suitcases and the printer component may not be readily distinguishable. We recommend that you do not use multiple versions of a font in your computer so that it won’t matter which location you collect fonts from. For more information about the various locations for fonts on OSX download Article ID: 106417 from Apple's web site.

If you use Font Book 2.0 to manage your fonts in OSX, you can use it to gather the fonts to send along with your application files. With Font Book 2.0, select the fonts needed and choose Export from the file menu. Type a name for the folder and indicate where to save it.

If you don't use Font Book 2.0 to manage your fonts, you can start by looking in the fonts folder at the User level and move up from there.

For System 9 and older versions, go to the system folder and open the folder called “Fonts”. There are several different kinds of fonts. Use the following descriptions to identify the type(s) you are using and gather them accordingly. Mac fonts are based on suitcases. Suitcases usually contain the screen fonts for a typeface. To tell which type of font you are working with, double click the suitcase to reveal its contents.

TrueType Fonts

A TrueType font consists of one file which contains the information for both on-screen viewing and printing to your printer. If you are using TrueType fonts, you will only need to supply each one suitcase for each font, as it will already contain both the screen and printer fonts for the typeface.

Type 1 or PostScript Fonts

A Type 1 font is a two-file system which has separate screen and printer font components. This means you will have one suitcase which contains all of the screen fonts (for display only), plus separate printer fonts for the typeface (which drive the output device). Each type style consists of a separate file.

Multiple Master Fonts

This font architecture is made with Type 1 characteristics, however you have a greater ability to manipulate the body of the character. In any case, both screen and printer fonts are required for transmission. Multiple Master fonts usually have an MM in the label.

Open Type Fonts

Open Type fonts consist of one file and have .OTF as an extension. As with other font technologies, there are Windows- and Macintosh-specific versions.