So you need some slick new fonts? Here's my top picks
So the other day I posted on Instagram as I was trying to find new fonts on Canva for my new Canva Course Creator template bundle, and I forgot just HOW SHIT the font selection is in there, even when you're on the paid plan. So I shared this post to elaborate some more...
👩💻Newsflash :: Most of the free fonts you'll find in Canva are shit. And so are most of the ones available on the 'paid' option. They're very low quality and they're the opposite of slick & polished – which is NOT what you want if you're trying to create a brand worth noticing.’
Here's what I suggest you can do about it :: Upgrade to Canva Pro, which allows you to upload your own fonts. Yes, this means you'll need to purchase the rights (and files) to fonts you plan on using in your brand, but they're also a business asset and a business expense.
I've said it before and I'll say it here too — while it doesn't have to cost the earth to begin crafting a 20/10 Brand vibe, I think its worth investing in at least a FEW really fucking high quality resources, such as fonts.
You can also get Adobe InDesign, which yes, will require a learning curve, but that option will also give you access to Adobe Fonts, which includes a whole STACK of really solid fonts, whenever you need 'em (and you won't be held to the limitations of Canva).
If you're gonna put a ton of time into creating some really sick new program or product, you should at least put in a LITTLE more effort into how to introduce it to your people – cuz first impressions matter, and half-assing your visuals doesn't cut it.
Someone commented and ask what some of my fave fonts were, so I thought I'd round up a little selection to help take some of the guess work out of it, cause sometimes its a damn PROCESS, lol.
These are all paid fonts (some are lower priced than others), because I reckon that if you're gonna invest in anything design-related, grabbing yourself some high quality fonts should be on the top of your list. So lets go!
I've created two separate sections —Adobe Fonts, which you have access to if you're signed up to Adobe Creative Cloud, and Other Rad Fonts, which are ones you can just purchase and use however you like, whether you have an Adobe program or not. 🤘
Adobe Fonts
If you're signed up to Adobe Creative Cloud, you'll probably have access to Adobe Fonts — which is basically unlimited access to a whole library of sweet, high quality fonts. (I'm not gonna say they're ALL amazing, cause there are some average ones in there too lol). At the moment you can't access Adobe Fonts without being subscribed to at least one Adobe program, but if you've been thinking about getting Photoshop or InDesign, it could def be worth it.
If you're wanting to use these fonts on non-Adobe programs like Canva, it will mean you will need to purcahse the font so you have the files and a license (which you need to upload to Canva), since the fonts in Adobe Fonts are 'cloud based', it means you don't actually have access to the downloadable font files. But I'm assuming if you're already signed up to Creative Cloud, it's probably more worth your time just designing whatever you need in InDesign or another program. ✌️
Click through on each image 👉
Other Rad Fonts
These babies are all available for purchase, which means you'll easily be able to install them on your computer and upload them to Canva to use however you like.
A note for when you're purchasing fonts — usually you'll need to buy all of the variations separately (like the Italic, Bold, Light, etc), so the 💵 can add up pretty quickly. But you don't always NEED every single variation, and sometimes there might be only one that you really like anyway. So defo don't feel like you need the whole set — you can defo just start with one. 🤘
You can also creep around on myfonts.com to see whats on offer too!
p.s. Do ya use Squarespace and wondering how you can use new fonts on there, too? Well, there's a couple options for you...
👉If you're using an Adobe Font, it will probs already be available in Squarespace! (I know, this shit is my fave integration). Squarespace uses built-in Adobe Fonts, so it makes life about 1000x easier. See more here on Squarespace.
👉If you're using a font you brought, double check its not already listed in Squarespace, but if not then you can add custom fonts. It does require a little coding, but its not too hard. Here's a video on how to get 'er done.
*A side note about Fonts + Licensing + Uploading fonts to Canva...
So, this shit is a bit of a weird middle ground to be honest. In general, you're paying for fonts and following the terms of the license, you're good. For example, if you purchase a font for Desktop use from myfonts.com, their license states 'With a desktop license, you can install a font into your computer’s fonts folder and use it in any of your favorite applications that contain a fonts menu such as TextEdit, Microsoft Word, and Photoshop. Create and print documents, as well as static images (JPEG, TIFF, PNG), even if the images are used on the web or in a mobile app.'. Which is perfect. Easy peasy. No worries.
But apparently, Canva says you need to 'own' any font you upload to their platform, which I kinda understand from a legal perspective, but its also bullshit — because if you were going to follow their rules exactly, you could only ever upload fonts that you've either created, or have somehow acquired full copyright to (like if you brought it outright, or commissioned someone to create one for you, etc, which is obviously a huge, huge expense). So, technically speaking, that doesn't really include fonts you've purchased a license to. So... I'm honestly not sure what advice to give here. It's also a massive topic I could write numerous emails on, lol.
This is also why I feel like its important to talk about this shit and compare free/easy access software like Canva, with the real shit like Adobe, because when you break things down like this, there is a huge, huge difference — in more ways than you might think from a just quick surface look. Using Adobe programs, and Adobe Fonts, none of this is a problem because its basically all included in your subscription.
For context, if you're not sure — owning the copyright means you fully, 100% own the rights to something, and you're free to do whatever you want with it. Purchasing a license means you are granted use of something, and that may come with its own set of limitations. It's a lot more in depth, but that's the VERY basic bitch explanation, lol.
As always, do your own research into things and make decisions for yourself. And if I find out any more info, I'll let you know!
