How-To Install New Fonts (Cont.)
Sometimes you need a font that is not part of the default fonts in the latest version of Ubuntu MATE. For example, you might need a special calligraphy font for a wedding invitation or a spooky font for a Halloween flyer. Printing cards for holiday or special occasions requires fonts to match those special events that may not be on your system. On this page, I will show you mulitple ways that you can add or install new fonts on your system.
The two most common types of fonts that you'll find online to install on your computer are True Type Fonts (TTF) and OpenType Fonts (OTF). True Type Fonts have a file extenson of .ttf and OpenType Fonts have a file extension of .otf. OTF has smartfont features that adds additional language support to the fonts and the file sizes are significantly smaller. Most applications are able to use both TTF and OTF files. You may also use these together when creating documents.
Methods for Installing Fonts
Method 1 - Install an Individual Font via the Font Viewer
Once you have found the font you are looking for online and downloaded it, you are ready to install it. Open your Download folder and locate the font you downloaded. If the font is compressed or zipped up, then you can extract the font or double-click the zipped file to see the contents inside it. Then double-click the file with the .ttf or .otf extension. This will open the MATE Font Vieweer that will allow you to preview and install the font. To install the font, click the Install button in the upper right corner.
The two most common types of fonts that you'll find online to install on your computer are True Type Fonts (TTF) and OpenType Fonts (OTF). True Type Fonts have a file extenson of .ttf and OpenType Fonts have a file extension of .otf. OTF has smartfont features that adds additional language support to the fonts and the file sizes are significantly smaller. Most applications are able to use both TTF and OTF files. You may also use these together when creating documents.
Methods for Installing Fonts
Method 1 - Install an Individual Font via the Font Viewer
Once you have found the font you are looking for online and downloaded it, you are ready to install it. Open your Download folder and locate the font you downloaded. If the font is compressed or zipped up, then you can extract the font or double-click the zipped file to see the contents inside it. Then double-click the file with the .ttf or .otf extension. This will open the MATE Font Vieweer that will allow you to preview and install the font. To install the font, click the Install button in the upper right corner.
Double-click the Compressed Cookie.zip File
Double-click Cookie-Regular.ttf
MATE Font Viewer - Click Install
After a Few Moments the Install Button Changes to Installed
Once installed, you can see the newly installed fonts in any application that uses fonts such as LibreOffice, GIMP, and etc.
Method 2 - Install Multiple Fonts at Once (System-Wide)
Sometime you might want to install 25 to 30 fonts on your system. It would be very time consuming to install them one at a time, so learning how to install multiple files at once can save a lot of time. In this method we will install multiple fonts so that each user on the computer will have access to these fonts. This is referred to as system-wide fonts.
When installing system-wide fonts you need to place the new fonts into the usr/share/fonts folder. You must open the fonts folder as an Administrator in order to put the new fonts into that folder.
1. Open your Caja File Manager and then navigate to your File System, usr, share, and then locate the fonts folder. Right-click on the
fonts folder and select the Open as Administrator option. Enter your password and click the Authenticate button when prompted.
This will give you administrator privileges, so that every user can have access to the fonts you install.
Sometime you might want to install 25 to 30 fonts on your system. It would be very time consuming to install them one at a time, so learning how to install multiple files at once can save a lot of time. In this method we will install multiple fonts so that each user on the computer will have access to these fonts. This is referred to as system-wide fonts.
When installing system-wide fonts you need to place the new fonts into the usr/share/fonts folder. You must open the fonts folder as an Administrator in order to put the new fonts into that folder.
1. Open your Caja File Manager and then navigate to your File System, usr, share, and then locate the fonts folder. Right-click on the
fonts folder and select the Open as Administrator option. Enter your password and click the Authenticate button when prompted.
This will give you administrator privileges, so that every user can have access to the fonts you install.
usr/share/ - Right-Click on fonts and click on Open as Administrator
Enter Password and click Authenicate
The Fonts folder will open as Superuser
Select all the Fonts You Plan to Install
Drag or Copy the Selected Fonts to the Open Fonts Folder
Once all the Fonts are in the Fonts Folder, You Can Close the File Manager and Use the New Fonts
Close-up View of the Newly Installed Fonts
All of the newly installed fonts should appear in your Office package and Image editors.
Method 3 - Install Multiple Fonts at Once (User-Space)
You can also manually install a font or multiple fonts into the /.fonts folder located in the user home directory. The dot in front of the font folder means that this is a hidden folder. It won't show up unless you make your computer show hidden files and folders. The fonts will only appear to the specific user that is currently logged into the computer, if you install fonts by this method.
Open your Caja File Manager and then click on the View menu and select Show Hidden Files. Your hidden files and folders will appear on your screen. Double-click on the .fonts folder, to open it, if it is present. If you do not have a .fonts folder then you will have to create one.
Method 3 - Install Multiple Fonts at Once (User-Space)
You can also manually install a font or multiple fonts into the /.fonts folder located in the user home directory. The dot in front of the font folder means that this is a hidden folder. It won't show up unless you make your computer show hidden files and folders. The fonts will only appear to the specific user that is currently logged into the computer, if you install fonts by this method.
Open your Caja File Manager and then click on the View menu and select Show Hidden Files. Your hidden files and folders will appear on your screen. Double-click on the .fonts folder, to open it, if it is present. If you do not have a .fonts folder then you will have to create one.
Right-click into an open area of your Caja File Manager and select Create folder.
Name the new folder .fonts. Do not forget to add the dot in front of the word folder. Then double-click on the new .fonts folder to open it. Since it is a newly created folder, it will be empty and ready for you to add fonts inside.
While keeping your .fonts folder open, open your folder with the fonts you want to install.
Select all the fonts you want to install and copy them to your .fonts folder.
You can close both folders once all the fonts are inside the .fonts folder. Now you can open an application that uses fonts to test out your newly installed fonts. Below is a screen captured image of LibreOffice Writer with examples of each of te fonts I installed into the .fonts folder.
Method 4 - Install Fonts using the Font Manager
You can also manually install a font or multiple fonts by using the Font Manager. To install the Font Manager, please follow the steps below.
How to Install Font Manager:
1. Open the Terminal (Shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + T)
2. Type the following command: sudo apt install font-manager
3. Press Enter or Return and type in your password
4. Type Y and press Enter or Return
5. Type exit and press Enter or Return
To access the Font Manager, click on the Applications menu, Accessories, Font Manager.
You can also manually install a font or multiple fonts by using the Font Manager. To install the Font Manager, please follow the steps below.
How to Install Font Manager:
1. Open the Terminal (Shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + T)
2. Type the following command: sudo apt install font-manager
3. Press Enter or Return and type in your password
4. Type Y and press Enter or Return
5. Type exit and press Enter or Return
To access the Font Manager, click on the Applications menu, Accessories, Font Manager.
A few seconds later the Font Manager will load.
Clicking on the green Plus button allows you to install new fonts on your computer.
After you click the green Plus button, navigate to the folder your new font is located and select it and click the Open button. After a few seconds, your font should be installed. You can now close the Font Manager.
Now you can open an application that uses fonts to test out your newly installed font. Below is a screen captured image of LibreOffice Writer with an examples of the Alex Brush font I installed with the Font Manager.
You have now learned several methods for installing new fonts on your computer. Use the method that works best for you and your needs.
Some of my favorite places online for finding fonts:
DaFont
1001 Free Fonts
Font Center
Font Squirrel
Font Space
Google Fonts
Fonts.com
Best Free Fonts for Designers
You can also use Google, Bing, Duck Duck Go, Dog Pile, or Yippy search engines to find a specific font.
Some of my favorite places online for finding fonts:
DaFont
1001 Free Fonts
Font Center
Font Squirrel
Font Space
Google Fonts
Fonts.com
Best Free Fonts for Designers
You can also use Google, Bing, Duck Duck Go, Dog Pile, or Yippy search engines to find a specific font.
