Font Management Application

To my knowledge all fonts have to be installed on each individual system for them to be used by that system. Never heard of accessing font, from a program, over a network from a server. But hey I could be wrong.

Some font server examples

http://www.insidersoftware.com/comparison_server.php

Thanks for the link.

I looked at that before posting.

Hopefully everyone realises that the server comparison chart is woefully inaccurate and biased.

JimKidwell wrote:

Hopefully everyone realises that the server comparison chart is woefully inaccurate and biased.

It was just meant to illustrate what the OP was talking about to a poster who didn't seem to know about font servers existing. But if you have some expertise in the area, do you know of an inexpensive one for 4 seats?

The solutions that are available at that level are going to cost around $1400 for the team. It's pretty much the same software that people use to manage thousands of user connections, and for that, it's a bargain.

JimKidwell wrote:

The solutions that are available at that level are going to cost around $1400 for the team. It's pretty much the same software that people use to manage thousands of user connections, and for that, it's a bargain.

Thanks, I guess that should answer the OP's question.

Ok to learn something new.

These Font management servers do they just store fonts and if a user needs one/some the user then installs them to the particular computer from the server, like a repository? Or can individual computers draw from that server without having to install them locally to individual system?

A font server ideally stores the organization's entire font collection. The way that fonts are deployed from the server to the client varies by how each server is configured.

All of the servers will have a client application that connects to the server and includes auto-activation plug-ins for professional design applications. This client also allows the ability to preview, browse and search the font collection (whether the fonts are installed or not).

For example, with Universal Type Server, fonts can be replicated from the server to the client in three ways:

1. ALL - all fonts that the end user has access to (permissions controlled by the admin) are delivered to the end user when she connects

2. On-Demand - fonts are deployed to the end user only when activated, or previewed, and are cleared off of the end user's machine when not in use.

3. On-Demand local cache - fonts are deployed to the end user when required, and are cached for future use.

With many agencies having font collections that run into the tens of thousands, you can see how choosing the right setup can be critical.

Hopefull this helps clarify how font servers work.

Thank you very much.