The Parlor

Last Call for Older Font Files

Plan ahead to make sure your content isn’t affected by Adobe sunsetting PostScript Type 1 fonts

On January 1, 2023, if any of your content still has pre-OpenType fonts known as “PostScript Type 1,” then your content will be affected and most likely grayed out anywhere you still use this font. You will run into issues editing or accessing your font on your Adobe design software.

Whether you know all about pre-OpenType fonts and are aware of the upcoming change or are learning about this for the first time, we are here to help marketing leads, brand managers, designers, and website owners understand this change and get prepared.

The same goes if you are in a non-marketing or non-technical role and have been tasked with managing the website and digital content. We hope this information helps. (And we see you, do-it-all folks in the office with sweeping job descriptions.)

What is a PostScript Type 1 font?

In the early days of desktop publishing, Adobe created Type 1 fonts. The font format was available for public use in 1991, but by the turn of the century, Adobe introduced a new format called OpenType in collaboration with Microsoft that was cross-platform compatible, which means you can use the software on more than one operating system.

This was a welcomed change because certain older font formats were PC-only or Mac-only. Opentype set the stage for a superior and more universal format (eventually becoming OTF).

Side note: why are we saying font instead of typeface? Well, we want this post to be about helping people realize the upcoming change and get prepared and many people are more familiar with the term font than typeface and use them interchangeably. But if you want to get in the weeds, we’ll lean on 99 Designs to lay out the difference between typeface and font and why it matters.

But back to why you clicked on this post….

When is Adobe retiring PostScript Type 1 fonts?

Adobe will retire the earlier, pre-OpenType fonts known as “PostScript Type 1,” effective January 1, 2023. In practical terms, if you, your company, or your marketing team uses any Adobe Creative Cloud software, those older font families will no longer work. Being the industry leader in multi-page print design (with InDesign), as well as all other facets of graphic design that use typography (illustration, motion graphics, website design, etc.) Adobe making this decision represents the last straw for those old files.

You can proactively remove them from your system by searching for Postscript versions in your font management software of choice, noting which ones may need more modern replacements.

So, how do you know if you are still using Type 1 fonts?

Apple Insider provided step-by-step instructions for testing if you are still using any of these fonts.

  1. On your keyboard, press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight search
  2. Type FontBook
  3. In the search bar in the top right corner of the window that appears, click the magnifying glass
  4. Click Kind
  5. In the search field, type Type 1
  6. If any fonts appear, you can select them to confirm that they are Type 1 fonts

Once you identify any Type 1 fonts, you can replace them or make sure you are not using them anymore.

Or you can wait until after January 1, and remove the unsupported files once they become grayed out in Adobe software.

If you are still using any affected font families, you could repurchase a fresh OpenType version from a foundry directly or a marketplace such as myfonts.com. Or, as a last resort for abandoned typefaces, you could use TransType from FontLab to bring them into this millennium.

How worried should I be about Adobe sunsetting PostScript Type 1 fonts?

Here’s the thing: you probably are fine.

According to Apple Insider, “Most major software applications, open-source libraries, and mobile platforms already do not support Type 1 fonts. Chances are if you use or design for these platforms, you are already using a more widely supported format.”

But it’s worth making sure you aren’t using any Type 1 fonts now so you don’t have to worry about the change.

Who wants to wake up on New Year’s Day wondering if they have a typeface issue? No one, that’s who. You should be watching the Twilight Zone marathon, loading up on sauerkraut (is this just a Pennsylvania thing?), sleeping in, or doing whatever you want to do.

Plan ahead so you have peace of mind.

You can learn more on Adobe’s site by clicking here.

Happy typesetting, friends.

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