Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Suitcase Fusion 4 is the third update of this popular font management utility since Extensis acquire DiamondSoft and blend Suitcase with Font Reserve . In this version , Extensis focused on streamlining the process of experimenting with and activating font , peculiarly from within Adobe Creative Suite applications . It also enhanced the program ’s ability to cater designers with Web fonts .
The new Extensis font panel in Photoshop provides quick access to any font that Suitcase acknowledge about , in any subroutine library , including entanglement fonts from Google or Extensis ’ WebINK . A similar control panel is available for InDesign and Illustrator , but without the Web case .
Creative Suite font panel
Version 4 add a new Extensis font board to AdobeInDesign , Illustrator , andPhotoshopthat let substance abuser work with baptistery and readiness , without having to leave those applications and open Suitcase . Using the new Extensis font panel , you’re able to use any font to a selection , and if the font is n’t currently alive , Suitcase will touch off it . you may even use its hunting field to regain , for example , all the typeface that have Garamond in their name . And unlike in Suitcase ’s main interface , the Extensis font panel within Creative Suite lets you see and activate fonts from multiple subroutine library . This is a welcome and necessary improvement , since Suitcase now also lets you figure out with vane fonts from its ownWebINK serviceand the freeGoogle WWW Fonts . The Google Web Font service volunteer C of gratuitous , open source fonts suitable for students or beginning graphic designer . Contrary to its name , these baptistery can be used both in print or on webpage .
The Extensis font panel in Photoshop has one feature not available in InDesign or Illustrator : you may utilize Extensis ’ WebINK typeface to bemock up a webpage for free , and only give for the fount when your webpage goes live . you’re able to even give your Photoshop document to others , and if they ’re using Suitcase Fusion 4 , those case are automatically available to them as well .
Access to WebINK and Google Web Fonts has a out of sight welfare when combined with Suitcase ’s QuickMatch feature ( a phenomenally useful technology for finding similar - looking fonts ): When you want a font for a webpage that ’s similar to a font you used in a print layout , QuickMatch will also look the baptismal font in those table service . you’re able to even limit the hunting to specific characters , such as those used in a company or Cartesian product name .
The new Extensis font panel in Photoshop provides quick access to any font that Suitcase knows about, in any library, including Web fonts from Google or Extensis’ WebINK. A similar panel is available for InDesign and Illustrator, but without the Web fonts.
The young Colors palette lets you utilise a color to the text sampling and its background .
The Extensis font control board has an extra feature article : digest . A Digest is a means to immix fonts from multiple program library into one coherent group — or digest . Since the main Suitcase user interface does not earmark you to combine fonts from multiple libraries into a individual logical set , this is a way to keep track of case from multiple sources , such as two different local font Libraries , WebINK fonts , and Google Web fonts . Unfortunately , this feature seems half - baked , as you ’re limited to adding concluded set or Libraries to a Digest — you ca n’t pick out individual fonts to add to the digest . Also , while these compilation are share among Photoshop , InDesign , and Illustrator , they are not uncommitted outside those applications . And since WebINK fonts are only available in Photoshop , they are not included in the digests in InDesign or Illustrator .
More handy features
Other young feature are quite helpful : you could use a color picker to opt the text and backcloth color for font sample — this is unspoilt for when you want to drag out a font sample and have it match a client ’s corporate brand color . There ’s a newfangled auto - activating male plug - in for Adobe InCopy CS4 andCS5 , in addition to plug - in for InDesign CS4 , CS5 , and CS6 , Illustrator CS4 , CS5 , and CS6 , Photoshop CS4 and CS5 ( Extensis is currently working with Adobe to create an auto plug - in for Photoshop CS6 ) , and QuarkXPress 7 , 8 , and 9 . Unfortunately , a bug with the auto - activating XTension movement QuarkXPress to motivate you to re - save every file you give , even if the document has not been change .
Smarter interface
The primary Suitcase windowpane is also smarter in this reading : you’re able to resize the panels within the windowpane ; there ’s a fresh button for QuickMatch ; and there are new release at the bottom of the window for unwashed natural action . There is also a fresh Favorites feature that lets you mark a font by clicking a star next to its name . you could then make a saucy solidifying to exhibit all your typeface marked as favorites in Suitcase . And , you’re able to now produce a hardening from a selection of fonts .
These are just the novel feature of speech — perhaps 5 percent of Suitcase ’s total feature set . They connect the old adaptation ’s powerhouse capabilities , such as preview young font on resilient webpages , sweep font previews out as standalone trope filing cabinet to send to clients , font previews that can float above documents in any program , applications programme - free-base font sets , FontSense font designation for motorcar - activation , font corruption checking and fixture , font cache cleaning , and much more . One odd thing : Extensis Font panels use Adobe Flash to function , so they sometimes exhibit an odd , springy behavior when you work with them .
Suitcase Fusion 4 now has resizable window panes and new buttons for coarse features .
The new Colors palette lets you apply a color to the text sample and its background.
Macworld’s buying advice
designer who operate predominantly in Adobe InDesign , Illustrator , and Photoshop will find Suitcase Fusion 4 ’s new font empanel a real clip recoverer . internet designers will appreciate this version ’s unparalleled integration with Extensis ’ WebINK font and Google Web fonts . substance abuser of Adobe InCopy will welcome its fresh plug - in for exact font auto - activation . grumpy - platform teams will appreciate the superposable feature article coiffe on Macs and Windows . And all existing Suitcase user will bask the new Favorites feature , colorful font prevue and more accessible user interface . For all those thing meld , this is an upgrade well deserving having .
[ Jay J. Nelson is the editor and publisher ofDesign Tools Monthly , an executive sum-up of graphic blueprint news show . ]
Update on 9/6/12 : After this article was published , Extensis put out an update to Suitcase Fusion on its internet site that contains thePhotoshop CS6 plug - in , the InCopy CS6 plug - in , andgeneralOS compatibility information .
Suitcase Fusion 4 now has resizable window panes and new buttons for common features.
