Hi Ann,
I just tested out the DiskFonts extension you found. Thanks for the tip.
Here's what I tested and found so far (Windows only):
- DiskFonts (www.anastasiy.com/diskfonts): only 3rd-party program we've found that currently supports Premiere, but not CS6. In CS6 it crashes, but from what I can gauge, it's of limited use. Too many basic things missing, such as ability to create various font sets/folders, and resize bar for previews. I like how it's a dockable window though.
- Font Agent Pro 4.1 (www.insidersoftware.com): Terrible interface, heavy program, wants to copy fonts from default Windows folder to custom location?? Bad, bad, bad.
- MainType 5.1 (www.high-logic.com/font-manager): Great interface, very customizable, ability to create font folders (Root Groups & Subgroups) with custom icons. Second best option I've found after TypeDNA.
- TypeDNA 2.2.1 (www.typedna.com): Best 3rd party app I've found so far! Straightforward with customizable information columns and most font viewing options (list view, card view, family view). Intelligent tools such as 'Similar' (right-click on any font and click 'Similar' to automatically get a list of all similar looking fonts), and font search by attributes (weight, width, italic and optical). Fantastic features! Missing features: Premiere Pro integration, resize bar for previews (resizing currently requires a visit to the Preferences), colour pickers for font/background colors, subgroup font folders (currently only allows root level groups), CTRL-A font selection (keyboard shortcut doesn't work), 'Smart Sets' (available in Suitcase Fusion 4 and Font Explorer X Pro).
- Suitcase Fusion 4 (www.extensis.com/suitcase-fusion-4): Great interface for font previews (selectable font/background colors, resize bar, etc.), but drag/dropping fonts to font folders (sets) always gives me an 'unexpected error' message. Even if it did work, the interface for managing custom sets is terrible: custom sets cannot be added to the 'System Fonts' root folder (where all fonts are listed), they can only be added to custom 'Library' root folders. However these root folders cannot be simultaneously 'twirled down', which makes drag-dropping fonts from one's library directly to a custom set impossible. This UI is insane.
- Font Explorer X Pro 2.3.3 (www.fontexplorerx.com): Sloooow startup. Can create custom Sets and Smart Sets, nested within master Folders, and even export Sets! (all contained fonts sent to zipped file) However, the complete lack of font list preview options (tiny preview characters can't even be resized!) makes this otherwise nice program unusable for font management (preview options only available in window that displays 1 font at a time).
If TypeDNA can add the missing features I mention above, and add extensions for Premiere Pro and After Effects, then it would, IMO, remove the need for Adobe to add font folders as suggested. However, ideally, Adobe can take cues from these programs (MainType interface + TypeDNA's smart tools + Font Explorer X Pro Set exports) and give us its own built-in solution.
Any programs missing in this list that I should test?