Download Fonts From the Web

Free font downloads are found on this site and many others on the Web. If you've never downloaded a font file from the Web before, here are the basic instructions on how to download fonts. Also see: Best Places to Find Free FontsTime Required: 1-10 minutes to download a few fonts from the WebFind the Download Link.
It can vary by site but there will be a button or a text link somewhere near the font sample for downloading the font. Take a few minutes to see how different sites designate the download link. If the site offers multiple font formats be sure you're getting the format you need. For TrueType (ttf) and PostScript Type 1 font there are different files for Mac and for Windows. Once you've found the fonts you want to download, click on the download link or right-click (Windows). For Mac users, the download starts when you click.

Here are font download examples from a few sites. At this site, look for the font name or filename after the word Download: on each free font page. At dafont.com click on the button that says DOWNLOAD next to the font sample or on the font sample page. At 1001freefonts.com click on either the Windows or the Mac Download button next to the font sample. At fonts.com you have to log in to get to their free fonts. For purchased fonts, click on the "Add to Cart" links to buy fonts then follow the instructions to download the purchased fonts. Most free fonts sites will have something similar to the above. Save the File.
For some downloads (such as the buttons at dafont.com), depending on your browser and operating system, the file will immediately download to your computer. Otherwise, if using Internet Explorer, choose "Save this program (or file) to disk." If using Netscape Navigator, choose "Save File" after clicking on a download link.

If you use the right-click method a pop-up window will offer several options including something like "Save Target as..." Click on that option.

Name the File. Use the default file name or type in a new file name for the font you are downloading if it gives you the option. Usually you'll just keep the same file name. Choose a Download Location.
If the file doesn't download automatically, you can change directories or folders using the navigation buttons in the Window or use the default directory that is showing. Download the Font.
If the download doesn't start automatically, click OK to begin the font download. Some font files are quite large and, depending on the speed of your connection, may take several minutes to download. Open the Font Archive.
If your downloaded files are in a compressed archive file (.zip, .bin, .hqx, .sit) you'll need to expand the file (Win | Mac) to use it.

In Windows 7, you can install the font directly from within the archive file without expanding it.

The download link for free fonts may appear as a graphic or text link that says "Download" or the name of the font. The download link for fonts may appear as a graphic or text link that says "Windows" or "Mac" or "PostScript" or "TrueType" or "OpenType" or something similar to indicate different font formats. The vast majority of free fonts on the Web are in archived files, with a file extension of ZIP (Windows), SIT, BIN, HQX (Mac). These archives will need to be uncompressed in order to use the fonts. Mac users can set a default download folder to make it easier to find files. Look under Edit > Preferences in your browser. A Free Fonts Download SiteWinZipStuffit Expanderif(zSbL

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OpenType Fonts

One of the problems of sharing files cross-platform is font incompatibility. OpenType fonts are Adobe and Microsoft's solution to font sharing. But cross-platform use is only one feature of OpenType fonts. They also have other benefits including simplified font management and more efficient typesetting.

While both the Mac and Windows OS support PostScript Type 1 and TrueType fonts, they are two different versions of each type of font. For example, a Mac TrueType font is different from a Windows TrueType font and they are not cross-platform compatible.

OpenType Fonts Facts & Features
Here's what you need to know about OpenType fonts: The same OpenType font file works on both Mac and PC. An extension of the TrueType format with Unicode based character coding, OpenType can also include PostScript font data. In Windows, OpenType fonts can have an .otf or .ttf suffix. The .otf fonts are ones that contain PostScript data. Each OpenType font has a single font file containing all information about that font. OpenType, PostScript Type 1, and TrueType fonts can all reside on the same system. Unlike the PostScript Type 1 font limit of around 256 glyphs, OpenType fonts may contain thousands of glyphs — eliminating the need for separate fonts for ligatures, small caps, different language character sets, and other Expert Character sets — it's all in one font file. The .otf version of OpenType fonts use a compact font format that results in relatively smaller font file sizes, despite packing in more glyphs and other data.

OpenType Font Support
Should you rush out and get all new OpenType fonts? If cross-platform compatibility or multilingual typography are critical to your work and you use applications that take advantage of the advanced features, you may want to move to OpenType sooner rather than later. For the rest of us, there's no great rush. It's also important to find out if your commercial printer will support OpenType fonts.

At present (2004) only a few programs support the advanced features of OpenType. UPDATE: In 2011 OpenType support is wide-spread however the OpenType format has not replaced TrueType (yet). Those without OpenType support can still use OpenType fonts but won't have access to some features and can't access all of the glyphs in the font.

There are three types of support for OpenType: Basic (Ex. Adobe PageMaker users with Adobe Type Manager can use OpenType fonts in the same manner as any other fonts but they only have access to the standard character sets) Unicode (Ex. Windows XP provides access to extended language character sets found in OpenType fonts) Layout (Ex. Adobe InDesign users can access all the advanced typographic controls - ligatures, swash variants, kerning and more - in OpenType fonts)

Sources of OpenType Fonts
Adobe isn't the only producer of OpenType fonts although they have been the most prolific, converting their entire Adobe Type Library to OpenType as well as producing new OpenType faces that fully exploit the enhancements of the OpenType font format. Fonts that have been converted to OpenType from other font formats gain cross-platform compatibility but may not have all the enhancements of fonts built "from the ground up" in the OpenType format. Look here for at complete listing of OpenType fonts from Adobe: Adobe Type Library - OpenType. Increasingly, other Type Foundries will offer OpenType fonts as well.

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