Font Won't Appear as an Option

[weitrhino]

Today I upgraded from a 2.6 version of Gimp to 2.8.4 in an attempt to solve this rather vexing problem. (Mac OS 10.6.8)

First, sorry about posting a problem as my introduction. I'm not usually that guy, but I'm truly stuck with this one.

I'm working on a project modifying some existing poster art that already contains a font called Plaza Swash. The originator sent me the font for installation into my (Mac) system, which I did using Font Book. No problem there as Plaza Swash shows up in the list as being perfectly accessible. However, using the text tool in Gimp, this font does not appear in the list. It appears in every other program I have that can access fonts, I just cannot get it to appear in Gimp. I really need to use this font, too. As I said I'm modifying existing work and I need my work to match. This is not the first time I've installed new fonts, it's just the first time I cannot get one to work. It is a true type font and shouldn't present a problem.

I'm stuck. Has anyone had this issue and found a solution?

[ofnuts]

Try copying the font (TTF file) in the "fonts" directory/folder of your Gimp profile

[weitrhino]

(Mar 6, 2013 20:33)ofnuts Wrote:  Try copying the font (TTF file) in the "fonts" directory/folder of your Gimp profile

This keeps getting weirder.

Plaza Swash is a postscript type 1 font. When I point the fontconverter web app to it and click convert the fontconverter simply states "Invalid font file, did you remember to choose one?" But this font shows up in Word, etc. so I know it's ok.

In the Mac world you typically use Fontbook to manage fonts for the system and that's seems to be how Gimp reads all the other fonts. Plaza Swash is only the second additional font I've installed, the first being Edwardian which works perfectly in Gimp. But I still can't get Plaza Swash to show up and it's very frustrating. No matter where I put this font Gimp doesn't recognize it. Why would that be?

[ofnuts]

TrueType is a Microsoft thing so if they change the format slightly Word (also a Microsoft thing) may still be able to read it while other apps have to be updated. The FontManager in your system only indicate where fonts are, not how they are read (did you try it in Word?). AFAIK Gimp has it own library to generate characters from fonts (Pango).

[weitrhino]

Turns out the guy who sent me the font in a zip file forgot to include the .afm file. He sent me a replacement and all is well.