Choosing a font

A font is a complete set of characters--letters, numbers, and symbols--that share a common weight, width, and style. When you select a font, you can select the font family and its type style independently. The font family is a collection of fonts sharing an overall typeface design: for example, Times. A type style is a variant version of an individual font in the font family: for example, Regular, Bold, or Italic. The range of available type styles varies with each font. If a font doesn't include the style you want, you can apply faux styles--simulated versions of bold, italic, superscript, subscript, all caps, and small caps styles.

In addition to the fonts installed on your system, Photoshop uses font files in these local folders:

Windows

Program Files/Common Files/Adobe/Fonts

Mac OS

Library/Application Support/Adobe/Fonts

If you install a Type 1, TrueType, Open Type, or CID font into the local Fonts folder, the font appears in Adobe applications only.

To choose a font family and style:

1. Choose a font family from the Font Family pop-up menu in the Character palette or options bar. If more than one copy of a font is installed on your computer, an abbreviation follows the font name: (T1) for Type 1 fonts, (TT) for TrueType fonts, or (OT) for Open Type fonts.

You can choose a font family and style by typing the desired name in the text box. As you type, the name of the first font or style beginning with that letter appears. Continue typing until the correct font or style name appears. Be sure to deselect the font name before entering new type in the image.

2. To choose a font style, do one of the following:
• Choose a font style from the Font Style pop-up menu in the Character palette or options bar.
• If the font family you chose does not include a bold or italic style, click the Faux Bold button  or the Faux Italic button  in the Character palette to apply a simulated style. Alternately, choose Faux Bold or Faux Italic from the Character palette menu.
• Use a dynamic shortcut. Dynamic shortcuts are keyboard shortcuts that are available (in edit mode only) for Faux Bold, Faux Italic, All Caps, Small Caps, Superscript, Subscript, Underline, and Strikethrough. For more information on dynamic shortcuts, see Using Dynamic Shortcuts.

Note: You cannot apply Faux Bold formatting to warped type. (See Warping type layers.)