Fonts: TrueType vs. OpenType?

[DaveG74]

I know Google is my friend. But I decided to post this question in an effort to have it explained in a way that it makes sense.

I'm an intermediate graphics designer by hobby, and I have a collection of a few hundred TrueType fonts. Over the years, I've noticed an ever-growing presence of OpenType fonts, and I've become curious.

So, the question is, what's the difference between TrueType and OpenType fonts, and what does it mean for me? If they're significantly more beneficial or universal, would I be safe in "upgrading"/replacing my TrueType fonts with their OpenType counterparts?

Thanks in advance.

[Belle]

Open Type fonts offer many more stylized letters and glyphs that are not available through regular keyboard strokes or unicode variants in True Type. Paint Shop Pro currently does not offer Open Type font access, though other software programs do. I really hope the next version of PSP amends that.

As for upgrading to Open Type, I wouldn't unless there is a specific stylized letter you MUST have - or until Open Type is more easily accessible.

Hope this helps!

[DaveG74]

Thank you for your prompt response! That's a very simple answer for me. However...

I noticed that PSP X8 is compatible with OpenType fonts. Loading one of them into the software, I was able to select it and work with it just fine. (Is there something I don't know?)

Thanks again for your help with this.

[Belle]

I wasn't clear in my earlier response. Sorry! PSP x8 can use Open Type fonts, it just doesn't access all of the available glyphs. It only allows keyboard and unicode letters, so if there are 450 characters in Open Type, you might only have access to 325 of them.

[trueblue]

Firstly, no fonts are ever installed in PSP.
All fonts are part of Windows / Fonts. PSP accesses those fonts.
If you wish to have a lot of extra fancy fonts, you are better using a Font programme like Font Runner 3 or something similar. Don't fill Windows fonts on your system with lots and lots of fonts. http://download.cnet.com/Font-Runner-64 ... 61401.html

I have a folder set up on my hard drive Fonts and place a newly downloaded from to that. I have categorised them to make a font easy to find. Open Font Runner and you will see all the fonts you have installed in the custom folder. Select a font and it will become visible in PSP Font drop list.

[Belle]

Maureen - thanks for the info on Font Runner. I've downloaded the program and spent some time with it. While it shows all Open Type characters in the font map, it doesn't allow access to them all. It looks like a great organizational tool, though!

[trueblue]

What doesn't allow access to them all? I have no problem viewing and or seeing all the fonts I have in Font Runner 3 in PSP.

[Belle]

Hi, Maureen. My problem is most likely that I'm unfamiliar with Font Runner 3. I'll list what I understand (as of tonight) and, hopefully, you can tell me what I'm missing.

My fonts are all located in one folder, the Windows font file. It loaded just fine in Font Runner. When I go to PSP and type the letter 'd' for instance, and I want to access an open-type character, I copy the character from the Font Runner map, then paste it onto the PSP text.

Is that how it works?

Thank you so much for your patient help.

[trueblue]

Firstly, you don't put these fonts in Windows font folder. Keep them well away from your system files.

In Documents create a new folder My Fonts (or something similar) and just add the TTF or OTF font files. I created different folders for different fonts.
Open Font Runner 3; make sure the Share button is active. Thats the big button with A in a hand on the top right.
Click on a font folder in from the left column, (this is the folder from Documents /My Fonts). The fonts will show. When you click on one of them it will show a preview at the bottom.
Open PSP, Select the Text tool, open the Font drop list. On your keyboard hit the first letter of the font, ie: K for Keltic. The list will quickly go to all K fonts. Locate the font you want to use. Select colour and size and anything settings you wish then text.

[Belle]

I've moved my fonts out of Windows Fonts file, and organized them into different folders, like you recommended. I then tried a test run using Open Type text in PSP. If it was a character or glyph not accessible by keyboard, or unicode, I copy and pasted it from Font Runner into the PSP text. No worries.

However, when I tried one of the moved fonts in Word, it would only show the font as long as Font Runner was open. Even if I embedded the font and saved the document, as soon as I closed Font Runner, the text in Word changed. The font drop box showed the name of the font, but the style changed to something like Arial. Is there a remedy for that?

[trueblue]

The fonts are only visible and for using whilst ever Font Runner is open.

[Belle]

Thank you, Maureen. I've sure learned a lot.

[trueblue]

You are welcome.

[JoeB]

However, when I tried one of the moved fonts in Word, it would only show the font as long as Font Runner was open. Even if I embedded the font and saved the document, as soon as I closed Font Runner, the text in Word changed. The font drop box showed the name of the font, but the style changed to something like Arial. Is there a remedy for that?

The remedy is to actually install the font. When using Font Runner you right click on the font you want to install and select Install from the context menu.

[trueblue]

It's not good to install the font because then the system can become overloaded with fonts.