If the font market is headed down the same path, I wonder: A few years ago, people bought albums - now they stream songs from a music service. Equating the music and font industries is rife with pitfalls, but the parallels here are too conspicuous to ignore. But Creative Cloud and Skyfonts gives users access to an entire library of fonts, not the individual fonts of traditional sales.įor font makers, these developments raise all sorts of questions. Some providers offer workarounds: OurType fonts are licensed once and can be used in print or on the web FontFont bundles their downloadable webfonts with free (but limited) desktop versions. Creating websites without desktop access to webfonts is a major hurdle for designers who rely on apps like Photoshop for comping. Those who pay for the Professional ( $40/mo.) or Master subscriptions get 30-day access to all the fonts from Monotype’s internal libraries, which include Monotype, Linotype, ITC, Bitstream, and Ascender.įor many font users, these services are a godsend. This includes all desktop apps, not just those from Adobe.Īdobe’s announcement comes on the heels of Monotype’s SkyFonts product which offers time-limited desktop access to any of ’s webfonts for free. Come mid-June, paid subscribers of Creative Cloud ( $50/mo.) or Typekit Portfolio ( $50/yr.), Performance, and Business plans will get access to some Typekit fonts directly in their desktop OS. This move was widely expected - once Adobe acquired Typekit in 2011 we all knew that they would use the fonts to add value to their core software, but just how they were going to do that was less clear. Instead, they subscribe to a Creative Cloud membership and get access to the apps through an online account.Īlong with this announcement came the news that Typekit will be included in the Creative Cloud product. Designers will no longer license desktop copies of Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign and use them “forever” (though that word is obviously limited by each version’s practical lifespan). Yesterday, Adobe declared that Creative Cloud is its future. Users can set up an account on the site for free and for a limited period Monotype is offer 10 free credits for each new sign up.Library Subscriptions: The Future of Fonts? Shall We Sing or Cry? SkyFonts allows designers to try fonts direct with design applications like Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator and they can then choose the right font and license it accordingly." He explained: "Previously the only way a designer could try a new font within a design was to generate an image from a website and then import it into a design application. Glenister said the new service would also allow designers to broaden their use of type, particularly during the development of new design concepts or ideas. The cost can be prohibitive for some and can restrict freedom in choosing fonts." He added: "Traditionally a desktop font is purchased on a perpetual licence and can cost upwards of $50 for one weight. Glenister explained that Skyfonts' flexible licensing approach would be particularly attractive for those with restricted budgets. "They include design professionals, students, and most exciting to me, those who want to further develop their appreciation of type," he added. Skyfonts product manager at Monotype UK Darren Glenister said that the new service would benefit a variety of users. Credit bundles are also available from $45 for 15 credits. One credit can be purchased for $3 to rent a font for a day while three credits will rent a font for 30 days. SkyFonts entered beta testing in October 2012 with around 2,000 fonts but at its commercial launch this week the service now offers users access to more than 8,000.įonts can be rented by purchasing any number of credits that are valid for specified time periods. Skyfonts software gives users a 60-minute warning before their font expires and the rental licenses can be extended at any time on the portal. By accessing the portal designers can either try a selection of fully functional fonts for up to five minutes without charge or they can use credits to rent them for however long they are needed.
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