Using the correct fonts for a client’s branding is just as important as using their logo consistently. Using the font throughout their collateral is vital to marketing, but it isn’t always easy.

Often times, clients come to us very disorganized and can’t find original files. And even if they can, fonts are often turned to outlines in order to be web compatible, which eliminates your ability to identify them directly in AI or PS. So how can you match the fonts if you have no clue which font it is?

Luckily, there is a handy dandy app called, “WHAT THE FONT?”

It’s a quick and simple, yet an incredible lifesaver. Just take a snap of the font on your smart phone and upload it. What the Font will ask you to verify the characters in the photo. Here you can delete any that aren’t being used correctly. Then click “identify”.

The app analyzes the characters and gives you a list of fonts that match. Typically, there is more than one option unless it is a very easily identifiable font (Arial, Helvetica, Palatino, etc.) You can either email the list of fonts choices or select the font that matches best. Here, additional information about the font can be obtained. You can then use this information to search for a font file online, or ask your client to see if they have any font files that match the fonts on the list. It’s likely they will be able to do so, considering the file had to originate from somewhere. But instead of blindly looking for a font amongst hundreds of files, you have a better place to start.