Thursday, February 04, 2010

Changing InDesign's default font

Karen wrote and asked:

"I've searched but can't seem to find how to change the default font for InDesign. The default that comes up is Times Roman. Since i don't activate that font, I'd like it to be something else. Is there a way to change it?"

This is a question that comes up frequently. The answer is simple but not obvious:

1. Run InDesign, but don't open a document

2. With no document open, select the Type tool and use the fields in the Control panel to choose the font, size and any other attributes that you want for the defaults

3. Quit InDesign.

Now, the font that you chose in step two will be the default for all new documents that you create.

26 comments:

  1. MatteoThursday, February 04, 2010 5:06:00 PM

    Thank you this is truly useful! Thanks for yu work :)

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  2. MatteoThursday, February 04, 2010 5:07:00 PM

    Thank you this is truly useful. Thanks for all the work your make here.

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  3. KJEFriday, February 05, 2010 4:18:00 PM

    Keith,
    I did this yesterday. Today the default's back to Times Roman. Doesn't seem that it holds after quit, shutdown & restart.

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  4. Keith GilbertMonday, February 08, 2010 10:12:00 AM

    @KJE: As you quit InDesign, InDesign writes the "current state" (preferences, panel positions, etc) into it's preferences files. It sounds like this isn't happening successfully on your system. I'd start troubleshooting by deleting your preferences files (http://blog.gilbertconsulting.com/2007/07/deleting-preference-files.html). If that doesn't work, I'd enlist the help of your IT folks, as it sounds like something isn't right with InDesign's ability to save its defaults.

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  5. ScottWednesday, February 10, 2010 5:19:00 PM

    Hi Keith:
    A better way to change InDesign's default font is to redefine its Basic Paragraph style. This way you won't get a plus sign (+) at the end of the Basic Paragraph when you select text your type tool. Once again, do this with no document open and then Quit.
    Scott

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  6. Keith GilbertWednesday, February 10, 2010 5:32:00 PM

    @Scott: good point, thanks. I hate that pesky Basic Paragraph style!

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  7. UnknownThursday, April 01, 2010 6:30:00 PM

    Keith,

    thanks for the tip. Is there a way to change the default font on an EXISTING file?

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  8. Keith GilbertFriday, April 02, 2010 9:56:00 AM

    @Roman: To change the default font in an existing file, do the following: 1) with nothing selected, and the Type tool chosen, look at your Paragraph Styles panel and see what Paragraph Style is selected. That's your default Paragraph Style. 2) Either select a different Paragraph Style to change the default style, or double-click on the selected style to change the font for that style. If you haven't used Paragraph Styles in a document, the [Basic Paragraph] style will probably be selected. If so, just double-click to edit that. If nothing is selected in the Paragraph Styles panel, then just change the default font in the Control panel at the top of the screen.

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  9. AnonymousTuesday, June 01, 2010 11:14:00 PM

    thanks!

    Roman

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  10. Joe and MicheleMonday, October 03, 2011 2:27:00 PM

    God bless you!

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  11. wendybSunday, October 09, 2011 4:26:00 PM

    Thank you! Clear and to the point. No muss no fuss :)

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  12. Ken AndersonWednesday, October 26, 2011 2:55:00 AM

    Thank you
    Ken Anderson

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  13. AnonymousFriday, October 28, 2011 11:05:00 AM

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

    I'm migrating out of Quark and this was making me crazy! The rest is intuitive, but some things are hidden like little odd tests that Adobe seems to torture us with.

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  14. Rod BoagFriday, January 20, 2012 2:55:00 AM

    The default font is established when you firth open a document. It will remain Times New Roman (or whatever) for that document. Changes mentioned above will only apply for new documents you open - after the default has been changed.

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  15. michTuesday, July 03, 2012 4:57:00 AM

    Thanks! :-)

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  16. UnknownWednesday, August 01, 2012 4:23:00 PM

    THANK YOU! A MILLION TIMES, THANK YOU!!!

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  17. Chaz DeSimoneSaturday, April 13, 2013 4:47:00 AM

    Thanks Keith!. Imagine how frustrating this has been for me since the default somehow got set to dingbats!

    Keith, since you work with type you might enjoy my playful series "featuring the ampersand as fun & fabulous art" - go to amperart dot com

    Thanks again for the help.

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  18. PeterThursday, April 18, 2013 6:30:00 AM

    Thank you sir! I've been trying to figure out how to set a default font for a while. Can't believe it was that simple!

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  19. AnonymousMonday, July 08, 2013 9:20:00 AM

    mine for some reason keeps changing to arabic...even after doing what you suggested, I switch to arial and the numbers still pop out as arabic. it's driving me crazy, at this point I feel like I'm just going to delete all the arabic fonts and see what inDesign does then.. ;/

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  20. Keith GilbertMonday, July 08, 2013 9:22:00 AM

    @Anonymous: Have you tried deleting your preferences? See http://bit.ly/14D4KgQ

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  21. AnonymousMonday, August 05, 2013 3:03:00 PM

    Hi,
    Just installed ID CC and i'm struggling with the text size in the panels. Can't hardly see the text and I've got good eyes. Is there some way to change the text size in the panels?
    Thanks.
    Frank

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  22. Keith GilbertMonday, August 05, 2013 3:06:00 PM

    I'm sorry, I don't know of anyway to change the type size in the CC interface.

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  23. KatFriday, August 29, 2014 12:39:00 PM

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! UGH you do not even know how many boards I have been combing through to find this very simple answer!! Yikes!!! Thanks again, you're the best!

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  24. AnonymousWednesday, April 29, 2015 2:29:00 AM

    What is the recommended Indesign font for a corporate profile?

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  25. AgnesTuesday, March 15, 2016 4:40:00 AM

    Hi! Thanks for the easy solution. it works fine with all my InD versions EXCEPT CC. Here it keeps reverting to arabian settings. is there a CC specific solution? thanks in advance!

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  26. Keith GilbertTuesday, March 15, 2016 9:57:00 AM

    @Agnes: The solution is the same for CC. If it isn't working, something else is going on with your InDesign CC installation.

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