Full Version: Hoping some one knows....
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1]
11 Sep 2006
To: ALL
the answer to this.
I'm still trying to get everything back up and working since I recently (probably a month ago at least, this has been time comsuming for sure) lost my main hard drive for the business. I still can't get this one main problem fixed from my other hard drive loss with my windows 3.1 machine which I replaced with a win95 machine.
I have one business that I can only use "Helvetica Bold" font with. I have been trying to use a Swiss font in it's place but having to adjust it each time to turn out right is really just to time comsuming. What should take 5 minutes can take up to hours to get the adjustment just right.
I have the Helvetica font that I bought to use for my 3.1 windows machine years ago but I can not get it to work on my windows 95, the sign software I use only works up to win95. I have not been able to use this Helvetica font on this win95 machine from the start. I can load it on to a 3.1 machine just fine but it will not load right on to the win95.
Is there a difference in the fonts from 3.1 to win95?
I'd just re-buy this Helvetica Bold font but with the way they have rearranged the Helvetica names since I bought the one I have I'm not sure which one to buy and at $20+ for each Helvetica style I may run up a lot of un-needed expense. I think I have it located with one company if I have to re-buy it so will start there if need be.
I know alot of you will say use a different font but it is just not possible since it has to be kept uniform to the thousands of signs I already have up and using a different font shows up like a sore thumb. I have made these directory signs for over 12 years and kept them uniform by using just this Helvetica Bold. There has to be away to get this font to load on win95, isn't there???
This just has me stumped.
Thanks,
Puck
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#2]
11 Sep 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1] 11 Sep 2006
That is a new one on me. If you have Font Creator, (possibly a 98+ program), try loading it then resaving it. It may fix a glitch.
If you do not, I will send you a PM and attempt to fix it for you. You paid for it so that will not be a copyright problem.
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#3]
11 Sep 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#2] 11 Sep 2006
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#4]
11 Sep 2006
To: Mike (MIKEN) [#3] 11 Sep 2006
Hi,
Thanks but I have checked and there is a difference, even if it's just slight. I have tried so many that it's unbelievable to try and match it but theres always a slight difference somewhere along the line.
There is just enough variance in width, numbers or lettering that it is noticable when I try to use them. I have to do adjustments such as strechting or thickening the fonts and it takes forever to do that with each different layout I have to use.
I have several different sizes of directories that have anywhere from 5 to 34 names and numbers/floors on them. There are changes and additions monthly on these and it is very noticable when a different font is used. The font size ranges from 1/2" to 1" on these and I keep these all looking uniform. If I'm on vaction, like when I went to Italy for 1 1/2 months, they had someone else do these and when I came back it cost them over two thousand for me to fix just the ones that they had
gotten done that they could not wait for. Even they could tell the difference and wanted them all fixed.
Puck
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#5]
11 Sep 2006
To: Mike (MIKEN) [#3] 11 Sep 2006
The differences between Helvetica and Arial are subtle, but are there. Here is a short article with pictures.
http://www.ms-studio.com/articlesarialsid.html
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#6]
11 Sep 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#5] 11 Sep 2006
Thanks for the info. Good site.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#7]
11 Sep 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#4] 12 Sep 2006
Meaning, is the stretching always the same percentage, or the thickening always the same line width?
If so, a macro could be used to automatically apply those adjustments to your text.
Not the same as using your original font, but it could be a viable alternative.
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#8]
12 Sep 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#7] 12 Sep 2006
Unfortunatley there are probably close to a hundred or more (haven't counted them but thumbed through my 3-ring binder) of different layouts so a consistent match to each has to be done.
For example there is a 1 3/8" x 23 1/8" insert. This insert has at least 12 different layouts (probably more) and designs depending where in the building it is located. It may have an arrow, name and then floor number so I have a certain amount of space for each of these things but the next one may only have a name and office number so it is adjusted to fit the space for it. There is no taking and moving the inserts from one directory to another unless it has the same layout since it makes everything out of line and really shows different sizing.
It's sort of like when someone comes to you and asks for a plaque plate to be engraved and you ask what font and they say oh any will do so you use century block and then when it's put on all the others are script, sticks out like a sore thumb. Of course you want nobody to know you did that one plate.
The bad thing is that I have all these layouts for the last 12 years or so but can't open them because I can't get the helvetica bold font to load on win95 (or winXP) so it's taking forever to do a work around. Going to just go ahead and buy helvetica bold today and see if it will load, if not I'm going to be hooking up a win 3.1 machine because it will load on it. Not going to fight it any longer.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#9]
12 Sep 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#8] 12 Sep 2006
I can't imagine why a font wouldn't load.
I didn't think they were PC system-specific.
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#10]
12 Sep 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#9] 12 Sep 2006
Got it resolved finally. Should have just bit the bullet and bought the font again from the begining.
I made a list of possible matches (they have several names for the same font now) and was lucky enough to hit the right font on the first purchase. Loaded right up no problems so guess all windows fonts aren't windows friendly after all.
Now to finish up these signs.
Puck
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11]
12 Sep 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#10] 12 Sep 2006
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#12]
12 Sep 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#11] 12 Sep 2006
Harvey,
Thanks, it did load right up. You'll have to let me know the secret so when I need one of the other fonts on that disk for logos I have made for some companies I can get it back loaded.
I did purchase a new Helvetica Bold and it was so close that I could use it but now will go back to the original that I have used with these signs for so long and not have to do any tweaking(yep, the new just had to have a size tweak which I was doing). Yeah!!!!!!
Funny how the font I have been using and the one I bought today are the same name but theres about a 1/16" difference in length when I compare them. I use suite numbers alot and 0200 is a common number I use and when I tried it as my sample the original is just about 1/16" shorter than the new font I purchased today. Adjusting it came very very close but now Thanks to You I don't have to do any adjusting.
Thanks for doing that for me,
Puck
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#13]
12 Sep 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#12] 14 Sep 2006
I have Font Creator 4. I do not use it often because making a font is so extremely time consuming, especially the auto-kerning parameters.
All I did was to load the font, change the name in all 9? places to add a letter so it would be seen as a different font, then saved it. I also made the filename only 7 letters long, just in case.
I let the program do the work of correcting whatever was the format glitch. Simple to do, took ten minutes if even that.
EDITED: 12 Sep 2006 by HARVEY-ONLY
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#14]
14 Sep 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#13] 14 Sep 2006
It was a life saver and I do Thank You again for spending the time to fix that font for me.
I have searched the net and found a download demo of that font program so if I need another font off that CD I can hopefully fix it. Might have to buy the font program if they still have that version, saw they have the new version 5 in it's place.
Thanks,
Puck
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#15]
14 Sep 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#14] Unread
Darn, I recently got version 4, which was an improvement of 3.
Not so bad, I am happy with 4.