Good morning Inkscapers,

I'd like to use fonts without installing them on the computer, can I? Is there some way, like placing fonts in some folder as in Adobe Illustrator?

Thanks

Hmm.
There is a 'fonts' folder (or you can create one) in your user configuration directory and in the Inkscape share directory. I've just tested by adding a font into my user configuration directory and also into the /share/fonts directory, that does not work.
And there's also the option of using a font manager software, depending on your operating system that may work or not.

As far as I know, Inkscape can only use fonts which are installed. I know on Linux and Mac you can use file managers which allows you to choose which fonts are available for which programs, but I think they still have to be installed. I think there are font managers for Windows, but they don't work with Inkscape (yet - there's a feature request for it though).

I've often wondered what that fonts folder is for. I've never figured out how to use it either.

The only way I can think of would be to temporarily load the font, type out the glyphs/characters, (I'd use some guidelines to do that). Then type out the entire alphabet and save the file(s) in a directory that you create. I would use Inkscape. Then of course uninstall the font.
(just to note, in Windows, have found that even when you delete the font in c:\Windows\font dir, that it does not always delete out from Inkscape. Not sure why. I (and a few others) have not been able to figure out where Inkscape 'hides' the old fonts, must be a cache somewhere. But that's a minor issue.

I'm curious as to why you'd NOT want to install a font?
For me, there are issues in working in microstock, where you need a license to show that you have used a commercially free font, it's a hassle using any font really. So, for me, am bypassing that by creating a font of my own right now, that way I own the rights. I can then use as an installed font or even better, just use the original drawing as I described above. I use Inkscape of course.

OT: @flamingolady:

Great sources for openly licenced fonts are:
https://fonts.google.com/
https://fontlibrary.org/

There you will only find fonts that you can use commercially/modify/redistribute without unreasonable restrictions (i.e. 'libre' fonts, just like Inkscape). But perhaps you already knew this

OT: thanks Moini. Hadn't seen the google one. (am currently having an issue using Times New Roman, I thought everyone accepted this font, I was wrong, lol).

My workaround for not having to install fonts, or for fonts that don't display in Inkscape is to use a utility called Font Lab Pad to save words/phrases as SVG, then bring into Inkscape that way.

Just being inquisitive more than anything, but what's the reasoning for not wanting to download them if you don't mind me asking?

flamingolady wrote:I'm curious as to why you'd NOT want to install a font?
For me, there are issues in working in microstock, where you need a license to show that you have used a commercially free font, it's a hassle using any font really. So, for me, am bypassing that by creating a font of my own right now, that way I own the rights. I can then use as an installed font or even better, just use the original drawing as I described above. I use Inkscape of course.

I always did it with Illustrator/macOS, because often I used fonts which weren't needed to the system. Not installing them made me think I was keeping everything cleaner