is now part of CreativePro.com!

Using Google Fonts With InDesign

Keith Gilbert
4

This article appeared in Issue 109 of InDesign Magazine.

How to Find, Install, and Use Google Fonts in InDesign

If you’re a Creative Cloud member, you have access to Typekit, which at last count featured over 1500 type families for desktop use. But if, like me, you believe that you can never have enough fonts, Google Fonts is another large type library you can access… and it’s free!

The primary purpose of Google Fonts is to serve up fonts to websites. But, like Typekit, Google Fonts can be used for projects destined for print, PDF, or EPUB output as well.

. . . .

This article is for members only. To continue reading, please sign in, or sign up for a membership today. Thanks for supporting CreativePro!

BECOME A MEMBER

CreativePro membership keeps you up-to-date with the technology, solutions, and resources to strengthen your professional development.

For just $6.50/month (billed annually), you’ll get access to valuable benefits, including:

  • 12 monthly issues of CreativePro Magazine, filled with practical, real-world tutorials written by experts
  • Downloadable resources including templates, fonts, scripts, design assets, cheat sheets, and more
  • Hundreds of members-only tutorial and tip articles
  • Top Tips for InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator ebook collection
  • Discounts on events and books
  • and more...

Sign up now!
Recommended For You

Find URLs and Email Addresses in InDesign with GREP

CreativePro Font Collection Vol. 3

Data Merge SuperGuide

Added Fonts: The Confusing New Change in Adobe Fonts
Keith Gilbert
Keith Gilbert is a design consultant, developer, educator, speaker, and author. His work has taken him throughout North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. During his 35+ year career his clients have included Adobe, Apple, Target, Oracle, and the United Nations. He is the author of several popular titles for LinkedIn Learning, Adobe Press, and CreativePro. Find him at gilbertconsulting.com and on Twitter @gilbertconsult
  • Sarah Dukes says:
    May 14, 2018 at 7:51 am

    So with SkyFonts and Typekit… how do you package files with fonts for your printer and/or project archive? Especially if you work with multiple designers. That’s the main reason that’s kept me away from cloud font services.

    Reply
    • Keith Gilbert says:
      May 15, 2018 at 5:01 am

      Sarah, you’re right, Typekit fonts aren’t included when you package a file. But, as far as a printer is concerned, the printer would need to have Creative Cloud in order to open your packaged InDesign CC file. So, the printer would also have access to Typekit fonts. When they open the file they will be notified the fonts are missing, and ID will ask if the printer wants to sync the missing fonts from Typekit. In this workflow, they would be using the same fonts you would have packaged for them if you could.

      This doesn’t help with the file archiving issue, but it shouldn’t be an obstacle for printers.

      Reply
      • Michael Lande says:
        December 21, 2022 at 9:39 am

        Hi Keith.

        Would you happen to know or would one of your colleagues know if Google fonts are allowed to be packaged in InDesign? Asking because the person who manages our Font Explorer font server has indicated that this is not allowed or Font Explorer just doesn’t support that feature.

        Thanks in advance for your advice on this.

  • Joe Crocenzi says:
    May 17, 2018 at 10:19 am

    Just a word of caution, when using Google Fonts for print.
    As Keith states, “Since the primary use of Google Fonts is to serve fonts to websites”, Google Fonts could possibly not print correctly when printed to a digital press. Just don’t paint yourself into a corner with a deadline when using a Google Font, and allow yourself time to print a single proof-copy before committing to a large order.

    Reply
    • >