When creating a design in Adobe Illustrator, it’s important to ensure that any custom or non-standard fonts used in the design are included with the AI file. This ensures that the design can be viewed and edited as intended by anyone who opens the file on a different computer.
Including font files with an AI file is a relatively simple process, but it’s important to understand the steps involved to ensure that the fonts are properly embedded. In this article, we’ll outline the steps for including font files with an AI file, as well as some best practices to follow.
Step 1: Choose the Right Fonts
Before creating your design in Adobe Illustrator, it’s crucial to choose fonts that are either standard system fonts or are available for embedding. Some fonts have licensing restrictions that prevent them from being embedded with an AI file, so it’s important to review the licensing agreement for each font you plan to use.
Step 2: Embed Fonts
Once you’ve completed your design and are ready to save the AI file, it’s important to embed the fonts used in the document. To do this, go to “Type” in the top menu, then select “Create Outlines.” This will convert the text elements in your design to vector shapes, ensuring that the font styling is preserved even if the font file itself is not available.
Step 3: Package Fonts
In addition to creating outlines for your text elements, you may also want to include the actual font files with the AI file. This can be done using the “Package” feature in Illustrator. To do this, go to “File” in the top menu, then select “Package.” This will create a folder containing the AI file, any linked images, and the font files used in the document.
Step 4: Share the Packaged Files
Once the font files have been packaged with the AI file, you can share the entire folder with others who may need to view or edit the design. This ensures that the fonts are available and can be installed on the recipient’s computer if needed.
Best Practices
When including font files with an AI file, it’s important to follow some best practices to ensure that the recipient has everything they need to work with the design. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
– Double-check font licensing to ensure that the fonts can be embedded and shared as necessary.
– Create outlines for text elements to preserve font styling, even if the recipient doesn’t have the font installed.
– Use the “Package” feature in Illustrator to include font files with the AI file, ensuring that all necessary resources are available.
– Communicate with the recipient to ensure they have everything they need to open and edit the design, including any custom fonts used.
In summary, including font files with an AI file is an important step to ensure that your design can be viewed and edited as intended by others. By choosing the right fonts, embedding them in the document, and packaging them with the AI file, you can ensure that your design retains its original appearance across different computers.
