Free font resources

Here are some font resources you should be aware of:

Source Sans Pro

Source Sans Pro is Adobe's first "open-source" type family. The free sans serif type family is available in 12 styles, and includes a number of OpenType features such as fractions, old style numerals, and stylistic sets. As an open-source typeface, it is completely free to use for any private or commercial purposes. You can read more about the development of Source Sans Pro here.

Source Code Pro

Source Code Pro is a monospaced version of Source Sans Pro, available in 6 styles. You can read more about the development of Source Code Pro here. This is a free open-source font.

Google Web fonts

Google Web fonts is a directory of "hundreds of free open-source fonts optimized for the web". However, as my friend Bob Levine pointed out recently, the fonts can also be downloaded in TrueType format for use in print or digital projects. To do so,

1. Visit www.google.com/webfonts, browse the fonts, and add one or more fonts to your collection.

2. Click the Download your Collection link in the upper-right corner of the Web page.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to download the fonts in your collection as a zip file. You can then unzip the file and install the TrueType fonts on your system.

Source Sans Pro, Source Code Pro, and all the Google Web fonts are all licensed using the SIL Open Font License.  

Twin Cities InDesign User Group meeting

I've scheduled the next meeting of the Twin Cities InDesign User Group for Wednesday evening, November 28, 2012. Erica Gamet is going to be in town and has agreed to talk about how to "Multiply your layouts with CS6". Following that, I'll be doing a short presentation on advanced use of Find/Change, including a couple of useful plugins.

These meetings are a lot of fun, and free. We usually get 120-200 people attending. Don't miss it!

Please register in advance at the IDUG Web site so we know to expect you!

Free InDesign scripts

On of the things that I spend my time on is custom Adobe InDesign script development. Over the years, customers have come to me with some very interesting workflow and automation challenges that I've been able to solve by writing a script.

But I've also written a few scripts that I give away free in the hope that someone will find them useful. These scripts are all listed and described here. These include scripts for checking documents for flipped images, automating the Package process, playing each page of your InDesign file as a slideshow, transposing characters, and more. Check them out!