Linotype FontExplorer X

FontExplorer X features an iTunes-esque interface that makes your fonts easy to manage.

The folks at Linotype have a long history of providing graphic designers with quality fonts, as well as some nifty font tools via their website linotype.com. The typical designer, upon buying a font from Linotype, would install it on his or her system, then open Photoshop (or Illustrator, or InDesign…) and spend an eternity searching for it in the font list.

More savvy designers save a little time and use a font management utility to organize fonts and turn little-used fonts “off.” Assorted pricey font management applications are out there, but now Linotype offers a free option called FontExplorer X that is surprisingly full-featured and familiar.

Familiar? How’s that? Well, the FontExplorer X interface looks surprisingly like iTunes… and works like iTunes too, except instead of music files, you’re managing and shopping for fonts. The fonts on your computer can be easily organized in playlist-like sets—perfect for rounding up specific fonts used in various client jobs. Just use the checkbox next to a set to activate or deactivate it depending on your next project. Deactivating infrequently used fonts is a great way to improve system performance. You can also use built-in tools to clean up your system fonts and caches.

Need a new font? Just click Store and you’re treated to a simple shopping interface so you can test out tons of Linotype fonts and purchase them right in your FontExplorer app.

Try before you buy in the integrated “Store” feature.

The tools and management capabilities rival, if not outdo, other popular font management applications, and the interface and price tag ($0) just can’t be beat.