Font problems

Question

Level 2

480 points

Font problems

I've intalled a new font using Font Book. (It's Swiss 721 if anyone is familiar with it.) This particular font has more than 30 variations (plain, bold, extended, light condensed, thin italic, etc.)

The font and all its variations show up just fine in LiveType and Motion, but in FCP it only allows me the usual 4 variations (plain, italic, bold, bold/italic).

We've installed this font in several systems with varying OS and FCP versions with the same result. If anyone can give me some advice on how to get this font to work in FCP, I'd appreciate it.

Dual 2.5 G5, Mac OS X (10.4.3), 4 GB RAM, DeckLink HD Pro, XRAID

Posted on Jan 18, 2006 11:31 AM

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Answer 1

hanumang

Level 6

9,250 points

Jan 18, 2006 11:55 AM in response to Nathan Seay

The font and all its variations show up just fine in LiveType and Motion, but in FCP it only allows me the usual 4 variations (plain, italic, bold, bold/italic).

It is my understanding that's how fonts in FCP work - you only get the 4 styles that FCP can apply to the default typeface.

It works this way for fonts like Helvetica Neue, too. 10 variations in LiveType, none available in FCP.

If you want separate fonts in FCP, I believe - haven't tried this myself - the typefaces need to be set as unique fonts.

Or is the specific typeface that FCP reads as default not correct? (you need plain, but extended is what FCP gives you)

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Answer 2

Nathan Seay Author

Level 2

480 points

Jan 18, 2006 12:05 PM in response to hanumang

It is my understanding that's how fonts in FCP work - you only get the 4 styles that FCP can apply to the default typeface.

Ugh, I didn't think of that. I figured I was just doing something stupid.

Or is the specific typeface that FCP reads as default not correct? (you need plain, but extended is what FCP gives you)

Actually, that's a problem too. My four options in FCP are all condensed versions of the font. I'd be happy-ish if I could at least fix that.

If you want separate fonts in FCP, I believe - haven't tried this myself - the typefaces need to be set as unique fonts.

Thanks for the tip. I'll see if I can find information on how to go about doing this...

Dual 2.5 G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3) 4 GB RAM, DeckLink HD Pro, XRAID

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Answer 3

GregM

Level 2

205 points

Feb 9, 2006 3:58 PM in response to hanumang

If you want separate fonts in FCP, I believe -
haven't tried this myself - the typefaces need to be
set as unique fonts.

How exactly do you do that?

(And can I add that it is absolutely insane that an graphics/video application from Apple only lets you access a subset of your fonts?)

G5 Dual 2.5 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.4)

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Answer 4

Nathan Seay Author

Level 2

480 points

Feb 10, 2006 5:12 AM in response to GregM

I looked into it for a while and gave up. All fonts are available in Title 3D, so that's what I use now even for incredibly simple things that I used to use FCP's text for.

I agree it's ridiculous. What can you do about it? I dropped a note in the suggestion box. Maybe this will be fixed in the next version...

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Answer 5

Nathan Seay Author

Level 2

480 points

Feb 17, 2006 10:25 AM in response to Nathan Seay

I found an answer to my own question. For the record, I used TransType Pro to convert the various styles of Swiss 721 to TrueType fonts (Swiss 721 BT Medium, Swiss 721 BT Bold, etc). I put the fonts in HD>Library>Fonts and they appear in FCP just fine.

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