We love our fonts as much as we love our scrapbooking goodies, but did you know that each time you install a font, it takes resources away from other parts of your machine? Each system comes with a set of basic fonts installed on it, but too many fonts above those, will cause some slow-down. Sometimes, it is very noticeable, but sometimes it’s just the time it takes to start up your machine after a shutdown, or maybe Photoshop taking a long time to load because it has to read through all of those fonts and load them (as does every program that uses fonts). A great solution for this problem is a font management program. A font management program allows you to leave your fonts uninstalled, but be able see a preview of them as well as easily install and uninstall them when you want to use them, with just one mouse click. By having less fonts installed at any given time, your machine will run more smoothly.
Here is a screenshot of my font manager to give you an idea of what it looks like:
There are many font management programs out there to choose from and weighing all of the different features can be daunting. I have been researching and considering which management tool to use for a few months now. I wanted a program that could:
1) look in mulitple folders at one time
2) not crash my system or be slow
3) view True Type Fonts (TTF) and Open Type Fonts (OTF)
4) be able to temporarily load the font (so I don’t have to install and then uninstall).
5) be able to customize the text in the preview window
During my search, I found this indepth article and this more simple article. I have tried a few different font managers during my search, some mangers were pay and some free. For one reason or another, I stopped using them. They were too slow, too much of a pain, etc. I have found two that I like and would recommend that are free and work very well for most scrappers’ needs. I am on a Windows machine, but did do a search at DST and it seems that most Mac users there seem to really like PigFontViewer, Suitecase, and FontExplorer. FontExplorer is not free anymore, but you can download a 30-day trial. The two organizers that I really like are:
AMP Font Viewer and Font Xplorer
I really like the interface on AMP Font Viewer and I like that it gives you some technical information about the font there as well. I like that you can change the preview to bold, italics, as well as changing the color. In Font Xplorer, uninstalling fonts and moving them to a new folder was very easy, I just highlighted the font, right clicked and selected uninstall and then the program gave me a window with choices to uninstall and move it to a folder of my choosing (along with a few other options).
Once you install your font management software, you will need to go through your fonts folder and weed out the non-system fonts. You can find a list of standard Windows system fonts HERE and a list of standard Mac system fonts HERE. If your chosen font manager doesn’t allow you to move the fonts from within it, then you can go to c:>windows>fonts, select the non-system fonts and copy them to a new folder. When the fonts are safe in a new folder of your choosing, then you can delete those fonts from your system font folder. It only takes a few minutes, but your computer will thank you for it! 
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What kind of an article about fonts would this be without the chance to win some free fonts??? Post a comment here before midnight EST January 28th and I will have random.org pick 3 lucky people to win a $5 gift to Fontologie.
Thanks for talking about my second favorite addiction…FONTS! Pick me! Pick me!
Thanks for a fantastic article. I’ve been meaning to find a font program for ages so I’ll look into the two you recommended.
Great Font Tips, Thank You!!!
I’ve been trying to figure out how to manage my fonts for some time now and this is the most helpful article I’ve read in a long time. thanks for the link to the windows fonts, always a little nervous deleting some fonts. i’d love to win some fontologie goodies. thanks so much for this site, I’m loving it more each day.
I was wondering why Photoshop got soooo slow after I installed hundreds of free fonts. I had no idea it would have that effect.
Thanks for the info. I’ll have to spend some time uninstalling those fonts which are not important to me.
Thanks, this is a great article. I have The Font Thing, but I will try the other Windows apps you suggested. I’ve managed to get my scrapbooking “supplies” (files) organized in Picasa, so fonts are next on my list.
Did you know you can use fonts without installing them? At least, it works in Windows, I don’t know about the Mac. I know this works with The Gimp and Paint Shop Pro, and I think it works with other image editing programs like Photoshop and Elements, etc. You could try it and see.
What you do is, you keep basic fonts you use all the time installed. Then, when you want to use others, you have to open them before you start your application — whatever program you do your scrapping in. If you open the font first (just double-click on it), a page showing what the font looks like will open. You can minimize the window, but don’t close it. You can do this with a few fonts if you want. Then open Photoshop or Elements or whatever you use for digi-scrapping and the font will be in the list.
What I do is I have a font folder outside of my Windows folder (it’s a sub-folder of My Documents but it can go anywhere) and then inside it, I have categories of fonts. That helps me find them. I’ve only done this up to C or D, I need to get the rest of them organized. I leave the ones I use a lot installed so I don’t have to always be opening them.
Love your Site!!! This is exactly what I was about to undertake and didn’t know what the standard fonts were. Thank you!
BTW I signed up for the newsletter but I’m not receiving it.
Thanks for the info. I have tons of fonts and been wanting to find a program like this, but didn’t want to do the work of trial and error.
Great article on font organization! Thanks for the chance to win!
I never knew you could organize fonts like that. Thanks so much!!
Helpful, Thanks!
Great site, I LOVE it! Thanks for the chance to win!!
I had no idea it slows down my machine. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks! I have been looking for some ways to deal with my fonts…and I love being able to see what the fonts you are using are!
Wow! Can’t wait to try this tip!! Thanks for sharing such great info. Love this blog!!
Good stuff to know! Thank you for all your research!
Fontologie fonts? Sign me up!
Great article – I am learning so much here! Thanks for a chance to win.
What an interesting article! I use the Font Book that came on my Mac but I didn’t know there was other stuff out there. Thanks!
Thanks for the info! I haven’t installed a new font manager since I switched computers, but this was a good reminder!
Thanks for this info – downloading now!
WOW!! What a great and helpful post. Thanks so much! My PS loads so slowly and I’m sure that’s why.
My husband is going to love you for this one! My love of Fonts drives him nuts! Thanks!
Thanks for this great tip! My PSE has been painfully slow right now and it never occurred to me this might be contributing.
I never even thought that could be the reason my computer was slowing down. I noticied that PS was moving so slow when loading and never even considered it was all the fonts I had. Thanks so much for this article I will be getting a font manager.
Jen
Great info Steph! I’ll definitely be checking into one of these programs cause I love fonts and have WAY too many loaded on my computer right now! Thanks for the chance to win
I’ve been thinking about a font manager for some time too, but hadn’t fully researched it yet. Thanks for the info you’ve provided today – it definitely helps me out a LOT!
Thanks for all the great Info !!! How did you know I NEEDED this ?
:)
Who knew there was such a thing as “too many fonts”?!?!? But that might explain why my computer seems so slow!! I will definitely have to get a font manager. Great article, thank you.
I just have to enter the contest for more fonts. You know a girl can never have too many fonts.
Thanks for the info on font managers. I really need to try out one of these programs. I have a million fonts just setting in a folder to be used, but since I don’t know what most of them look like. I end up using the same old fonts all the time. It would be refreshing to pull out some of the other ones and use them.
keepscrappin’
Thanks for the info about fonts! I didn’t realize either that they could slow your computer down. The other day I was checking out something on my computer and a little box kept coming up saying “you have more than 500 fonts installed”. They must have been the fonts that came with the computer, because I haven’t actually added any. I look forward to trying out a font organizer!
What a GREAT tip! Thanks so much for sharing it!
I didn’t realize that too many fonts could slow things down… I’m not sure about the font manager but can I delete fonts that I don’t like. I have PSE5 and some that came with the program are not my favorites! Eliminating those might let me add more!
Thanks for the information. I Would, however, like more information on why you didn’t choose some of the others out there. Also, in the future, hopefully you can do an article on how you organize your fonts.
I’ve been sitting on the fence about installing and using a font organizer but you gave me the kick in the pants I need. Off to decide and use one. Thanks for the chance to win more fonts too
Thanks for the tip! I had no idea that fonts could bog down your computer like that. I learn something new every day!
I use a Mac and use Font Book. Do I need something more than that?
Really helpful article. I will have to check these out. My computer does take forever to shut down and I do have a “few” extra fonts LOL
This is great info. I have been collecting fonts for sometime and knew better than to place them all in the Windows Fonts directory, however I was not aware of these programs. I have been manually looking through the previews and installing/uninstalling the font each time I wanted to use a non-system font. this will save SO much time!
I have way too many fonts and need to get a manager and organize them Thanks for the tips
I could really use some new fonts! Great, informative information I never knew. Thank you!
Love this site! Such useful info. I will have to check these out when I get home tonight, I have far too many fonts loaded! Thanks
What a great article! I guess I never thought about my fonts slowing things down, and I didn’t know that I could store them without loading them. Cool! Thanks!
Thank you so much. I’ve been wanting to better organize my huge collection of fonts, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. This post was perfect!
What I’ve *been* doing is, type what I want on my page, switch to the ‘move’ tool, then return to my font window and tap through with the arrow key which changes the font with each click.
As much as I love fonts, that’s a really time consuming way to sample all of mine.
BTW: Daily Digi is the best!
I’ve been using the Font Thing for quite a few years now. It’s definitely an essential tool. Some versions don’t work with XP, but there is evidently one out there that does.
I had no idea there was even such a thing as font organizers! Thanks for the info!
Awesome post. I am in need of a font organizer, so thanks for the tips.
I would love to win some fonts, font-a-holic here….lol
thanks!!!!
great article! i love collecting different fonts!
Great post! I really ought to give one of these programs a try.
I want to echo the QUESTION from Christi though….. do you have to restart PS to use the fonts (temporarily install)? That’s a difficult concept for me because I generally build my page or project and get around to choosing a font in the final steps, so it would be a drag to have to restart PS! PLEASE ADVISE!
Thanks again for a really great post!
Holy cow, that’s a phenomenal amount of answers… Thanks for a chance to win a font! I’m really glad I have my font manager, at over 1,200 fonts and counting…
Awesome post, very helpful! I’ve been using The Font Thing and it’s one of the best things I installed on my computer, so easy to use and so great!
Thanks for all the tips and for the chance to win. I not always comment, but I read the blog on Google Reader everyday, you’re doing a fabulous job!
I used to use the Font Thing, but didn’t like that it couldn’t do Open Type fonts. I’ve tried FontHit, but it never really worked for me. Then when I upgraded to Vista, The Font Thing was not compatible anymmore! I tried AMP Font Viewer and Font Xplorer, and I LOVE Font Xplorer! I love the ability to type in my title and see it in every possible font, including Open Type!
I wish I had read your article before I had to try out all those programs, it would’ve saved me tons of time!
wow! i so needed this post! Thank you!
i downloaded AMP font viewer this weekend, but wasn’t sure how to proceed….
Now, i have a place to start!
This is SO helpful – I never even knew font management existed. My photoshop is definitely loaded down with fonts. Thank you for being thoughtful and including programs for Mac as I was worried about that
I will definitely be looking into this and I’m sure it will make things much easier. I like that you can type in a phrase and be shown how it will look in every font…. that will save me so much time!
my favorite font is ali edwards handwriting. I use it in almost all of my journaling. I guess it looks alot like my own handwriting. Thanks for the article.
julie g
OMG! You must have been reading my mind! I am such a font hoard and have been thinking of looking into organizers. Since you did all the leg work, I think I’ll just look into these. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much. Organizing fonts is something that will help be work on adding more journaling to my pages. This was great info.
wow … great articule ( as all from you !!!)… i am good with backup my scrapgoodies and kits but NOTHING about font organization even i know the problems they make having so many installed!!!
Great article!
a hug from Colombia
Soffy
I will have to look into these programs. I am a font junkie.
Great post – I never thought about fonts draining my system resources. Since I use a Mac, I will check out those options you’ve shared. Thanks!
Yay! I love fonts! Thanks for the chance to win.
Great article too…I definitely need a better way to organize my fonts.
Thank you! I’ve been using The Font Thing but never really liked it. I’ll give one of these a try
I’m a font nut so this was a fantastic read. I’ve always used The Font Thing but I’ll definitely be taking a look at the other you’ve named.
I just started digiscrapping, and now I’m a font-aholic. I would love to win this
Who knew?? And Fonts are one of my most favorite things to collect! THanks for the valuable info!
This is a great article and so useful! I have been looking for a good font manager for a while now as well as trying to figure out what my system fonts were so that I can clean out my font folder! Thanks so much for sharing this info!!!
Great article! I have a questions though. I know you said it can load fonts temporarily. Does that mean I can have Photoshop open, then use the font manager to load temporarily load a new font, and then be able to see it in Photoshop? Or would I have to restart Photoshop to see the temporarily loaded font?
Thanks
I didn’t realize fonts slowed your computer down! I’m going to have to look into a font organizer now.
Alrighty, I guess it’s time for me to get a font manager! I’ll probably just do the easy thing and get what you recommend, LOL. And, BTW–don’t enter me in the fontologie contest. I already have all the fonts
Oh, thank you SO much!! I have been desperate for a good font organizer and have not known which to choose. I used to work on a mac and font organization was so seamless, but now that I am on a PC, well lets just say, I can’t wait to save enough money to buy a new mac!! LOL!
I have been using The Font Thing for years and have been happy with it. Although, even with a font manager I seem to have ended up with too many fonts installed. LOL I may look into these other programs and see if I like them better. Thanks once again for the wonderful article! So much great information here!
I.love.fonts. And I love all the info I found here too! thanks!
I use a font manager too. It’s The Font Thing. What I love most about my font manager is: it’s freeware. YAY! *lol*
I can create my own categories and organize by designer, favorites, free, bought, etc.
Hugs from Brazil
Giseli
I really need to look into a font manager(i think this is why PSE is bogged down right now)…so this was a good thing to read this morning!!
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the wonderful info. Very much needed.
Thanks so much for the info. These are 2 font managers I hadn’t tried yet. I weeded out my fonts folder some, but still need to do more.
Thanks for the tip…I never thought about this with fonts, but I learned that most of my problems in Elements were coming from all of the custom brushes, shapes etc I had loaded in…
This is really helpful! I need to unload some of my fonts!
Great article, as always! I need to work on this area. I think I have WAY too many fonts (if that’s possible)!
I would love to win some fonts from Fontologie – such lovely fonts!
Thanks for the info. I could really use one of these programs.
Fonts=Fun! Who knew a person could have “too many” fonts?! :- ) I’ve been enjoying the Daily Digi for the information, ideas, and eye candy! Keep up the great work!
Great timing! I’m in the middle of a big push to organize everything digi on my computer as it’s the #1 thing keeping me from actually scrapping! I did a search for VISTA standard fonts and found this page: http://www.styopkin.com/articles/fonts_supplied_with_windows_vista.html. The info in the article doesn’t include VISTA and I knew there extra fonts from previous windows versions. Thanks!
What a great idea! I didn’t know there were font managers out there. Can’t wait to give it a try!
Cool article, Janet! I’ve used The Font Thing for years and never had a problem with it, but these are some great suggestions to check out!
I learn something new, everyday with your site, I didn’t realise there was such an organiser and now that I do, my computer is going to love me for it!
Thank you thank you!
Hugs
Kerri
I looked into font managers a few months ago and then didn’t follow through to actually decide on one! Maybe now is the time.
I have a font problem…really a 12 step program might be in order…so I am super excited to try this!
Thanks for this article. I had already downloaded AMP Font viewer, so I’m glad I chose a good one. But I didn’t know what to do with it until now. Thanks.
Thank you for a very interesting article. I have a font manager already, but still have all fonts installed. As soon as I find time I will use your tips and sort out all non-standard fonts, that is a great idea!!
Thanks for this great article. I have been thinking about using a font manager, but needed someone to do the research for me
And especially the link to the Standard Windows fonts is a must. Thanks again!!
This is FABULOUS! And great timing! I was just complaining about how slow my PS CS3 was, especially when I opened the type tool. So, I downloaded FontXplorer and moved about 600 fonts from my Windows/Fonts to a new folder and uninstalled them. Then I tried my PS CS3 and it is like LIGHTENING!
And, as an added bonus, I discovered some fonts on my computer that I forgot I had!
I am definitely going to have to look at those programs – I’ve got way too many fonts loaded into my computer!
Thank you so much for the wonderful information. I definitely need something like this and I didn’t even know such programs existed. Thank you for all your useful information you post on this blog!
What a great article! I am LOVING this blog:) I always knew it wasn’t good to install all those downloaded fonts, but I never knew why, so thanks for pointing that out! I will go check out Font Xplorer now. Thanks for the chance to win the GC:)
I’m using AMF Font Viewer and what I really love about it is you can temporary install a font. how cool is that.
Great article! I’ve been thinking that I should do something with my fonts, but hadn’t gotten around to researching it. Thanks so much! If someone organizes their fonts in a certain way, maybe that would be a good follow up article??
Oh this is neat. I love how you can type and see and get a better idea of the font you’re looking for too.
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!
Oh cool! I really need something like this. I have way too many fonts. That said, I love some of the fonts in your sample! LOL
love fonts! woop!
Really useful post – will investigate those programs as I’ve got far too many fonts and it takes forever for gimp to load these days. Brushes are my other habit!