How To Add Fonts To Illustrator
In this tutorial, you will learn simple steps on how to add fonts to Adobe Illustrator by either installing fonts to your computer or to Adobe Creative Cloud. Let’s dive in!
How to Add Fonts to Illustrator: A Step-by-Step Guide
The quickest way to add fonts to Illustrator is to first download your desired font from a trusted source like Google Fonts. Next, unzip the downloaded file. Double-click the file and then select the Install button in the pop-up window.
After the font is installed, open Adobe Illustrator. Your newly installed font should appear automatically in the font family menu of the Character panel.
Here’s a step-by-step in-depth guide with varying methods of adding fonts to Adobe Illustrator.
Method 1: Installing Fonts To Computer
Step 1: Finding and Downloading New Fonts
The first step is to find the right font. Websites like Google Fonts offer a large selection of fonts for free download. Whether you’re after quirky serif fonts or minimalistic sans-serif ones, you’re sure to find something that fits your style.
You can also download free fonts from DaFont and FontSquirrel.
Once you’ve found your ideal font, click on the download button. Similar to downloading other assets, most fonts will download as a zip file that contains the .ttf or .otf font files.
Step 2: Installing Fonts on Your Computer
In most cases, before you can install fonts, you’ll need to extract the .ttf or .otf files from the zip file. Navigate to your downloads folder or the folder you’ve saved the font file and double click on the zip file to extract it.
For Windows Users
On a Windows operating system, go to the Downloads folder or the folder where you saved the font file.
Drag the zip file out of the folder to the Desktop. Then, right-click on the zip file and click Extract All in the dropdown menu.
You will see the font file and other files in the unzipped folder. Look for the .ttf or .otf format font file. Then, right-click on the font file. Select Install in the dropdown menu.
Wait for a few seconds for the installation process to complete, then, go to Step 3.
For Mac Users
Go to the file with the .ttf or .otf format and double-click on it.
The Font Book app that comes with MacOS opens up automatically with a pop-up dialog box. Go to the bottom right-hand corner of the dialog box and click the Install button.
Step 3: Adding Fonts to Illustrator
After installing the font on your computer, the next step is to open Illustrator. Select your Type Tool to add text. Then, open the Character panel. Your newly installed font should automatically appear in the font drop-down menu.
Method 2: Add Fonts To Creative Cloud
Step 1: Access Adobe Creative Cloud
To access Adobe Fonts, you first need to open the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app. If you haven’t installed it yet, download it from the official Adobe website and install it on your computer.
Once installed, sign in with your Adobe ID and you will see the Creative Cloud console.
Step 2: Manage Fonts
Click on the font or “f” icon in the top right-hand corner.
Go to the panel on the left-hand side. Under the Manage Fonts section, select Uploaded Fonts.
Step 3: Add Fonts To Creative Cloud
Drag and drop your new font file inside the dotted line box. You can also click the Select Files button and upload your font file to the app.
Make sure the font file you wish to use is allowed to be uploaded, and stored in Creative Cloud. Then, select the terms and conditions given and click on the Add button to add your font to Creative Cloud.
The process takes a few seconds, and once it’s completed, your font is now installed.
You can now open up Adobe Illustrator and will see the new font in your Character panel.
Method 3: Activating Adobe Fonts
Step 1: Navigating to Adobe Fonts
First, log into your Adobe Creative Cloud app. Then click on the Font button in the top right-hand corner.
Next, click on the Browse More Fonts button.
Your default web browser will open up automatically and you will be directed to the Adobe Fonts website.
Step 2: Selecting and Activating a Font
The Adobe Fonts website contains a vast collection of typefaces. You can search for a specific font, browse by category, or use the filters to narrow down your choices based on properties such as weight, width, or x-height.
Once you’ve found a font you like, click on it for more details. Here, you’ll see the Add Family button. Click it to activate it. The font is now activated and synced to your Adobe account. You don’t have to download any font files.
Step 3: Using the Activated Font in Illustrator
Open Adobe Illustrator. If it was already open, you might need to restart it for the new font to appear.
Once Illustrator is open, go to the Character panel and look for your newly activated font in the drop-down font menu. There’s no need to upload any font file to Font Book or Creative Cloud, the font should appear in Illustrator, ready for use in your designs.
Can’t Find The Installed Fonts In Illustrator?
If you are wondering why you can’t find installed fonts in Illustrator or your newly installed font is not showing up in your list of fonts in the Illustrator program, close Illustrator and reopen it, or restart your computer.
If the issue persists, ensure that you installed the font correctly in your operating system and that the font file is not corrupted.
If you have activated fonts in the Creative Cloud Adobe Fonts but the fonts are not showing in Illustrator, make sure your computer is connected to the internet and your Adobe Creative Cloud app is running.
If your fonts still can’t be activated in Illustrator, click on the Manage Home Preferences on the right-hand side of the Creative Cloud app. Select Services on the left side of the pop-up.
Under the Adobe Fonts section, toggle Adobe Fonts off and toggle it on again. Then, click on the Done button.
If issues persist, sign out of your Creative Cloud app, quit, and reopen it.
Which method works for you? Comment below:
