I think this is a Mac issue but what do I tell them?

Hi. My archived graphic work from several years ago includes a lot of ITC
Franklin Gothic and Franklin Gothic Condensed. I bought the ITC font from Adobe
by way of Type on Call about ten years ago. The Condensed family was a freebie
that came with ATM or Illustrator back then.
Through all kinds of upgrades now where I am is this: Desktop G4, OS 10.3.9,
Adobe CS from 2004 (Indesign 3.0.1, etc.). I also have a laptop G4, OS 10.4.8.
And Adobe has discontinued Franklin Gothic.
From time to time one or another of those old graphics can be really useful to
me, but it's been at least a couple of years since I've tried to retrieve one.
Now, on the Desktop G4, when I open the old file in InDesign I get the messages
that FG not found. I try to keep all my fonts (including those in
Library/ApplicationSupport/Adobe) in my (not user) Library/Fonts folder, with
the exception of those that Mac puts inthe system folder. (Also I leave the one
labeled Req'd in appSupport/Adobe.) Otherwise I have a folder in Laura's Stuff
where I have an old back up of a font organization I used back in the days of
ATM. That's where I find Franklin Gothic and ITC FG.

The problem: On my desktop computer in a Finder window, when I look at the font
files, the Type 1 postscript outline fonts, the icon is all messed up. If I look
in Icon view it looks like a disk drive thingie. The suitcase file icon isn't
messed up. What does this mean and what can I do about it?

When I look at the same files on my G4 laptop OS10.4 the icons are not messed
up. When I take the files to my service bureau they have the nice red A on their
Franklin Gothics. My laptop doesn't even have that, no doubt the service bureau
has font managing software.

I respect licenses, Adobe is my source, I need the font, it looks
"better" on the laptop. What do I do? I'm thinking I could ask the
service bureau to give me a copy of their postscript FG. But how will it work on
the 10.3.9 desktop?

The immediate specific is that I want to place the old file in an Indesign
layout for a new publicity brochure for myself. Do I ignore the font alerts on
my computer and just take the layout to the service bureau where the brochure
will be printed? That's my plan for the day.

Does font managing software fix old timer fonts up if they've gotten wrinkled
through system updates? If Adobe has abandoned FG would font mgmt software do
any good?

Or should I buy 10.4 for my desktop G4, what assurance is there then?

      And Adobe has discontinued Franklin Gothic.




Urm, not actually true. Adobe still sells Franklin Gothic, in both Type 1 and
OpenType CFF formats. You can get either the ITC designs or the
"regular" ones from Adobe.

Anyway, if you're licensed for it on both computers, why not just copy the files
from your laptop to your desktop machine?

Regards,

Laura,

Thomas has pretty much simplified the font issues for you. As for subscription
questions, if they aren't apparent when you click on "Bookmark" below
your post, please ask in the Forum Comments area.

Also, (aside from migrating from PostScript Type 1 over to OpenType), the only
fonts that come to mind that Adobe has dropped are Berthold foundry fonts
(although there may be a few others).

Thanks.

To Thomas and Niel, Thanks for answers! I kept fiddling with the fonts and the
two computers after my post. Here's where I am: I did find enough old folders I
call "stuff to go" where I'd copied the fonts to send to service
bureaus so that I found what were evidently good enough originals to get my
desktop set up. That is, I copied the font families into my Library/fonts folder
then I checked them in Font Book and sure enough they worked, demi's obliques
italics and all. Thank Heavens!

But a lingering problem, minor but disturbing, is that the icons are still
messed up. When they're little they look like colored confetti, when they're big
they look like the disk drive thingie. The files that are deteriorated like this
are the LWFN postscript Type 1 outline fonts. The Suitcase font icons are not
messed up. And it's not only Franklin gothic, it's ALL the postscript fonts,
whether they are in my Library/Font folder or elsewhere. All this on the Desktop
G4.

And, Thomas, I initiated this topic because I had just talked with Adobe and was
told quite firmly that Franklin Gothic had been discontinued. Check it out. I'll
try again too.

But still, is it a Mac issue or an Adobe issue? Used to be a "rebuild the
desktop." Let's see osx... I left it all on so I could check on this
correspondence. Off we go