Making your presentation doesn’t require carrying a laptop and other gadgets anymore, as you can do this with your iPad. It’s smaller and lighter than a laptop but still packs enough power to work as needed. However, there’ve been some concerns on how the app keeps crashing on an iPad, which has put off many people, especially when few people know why this happens.

PowerPoint can keep crashing on iPad due to an outdated application that becomes incompatible with new versions of iOS. The problem could also be caused by a corrupted OS that needs replacing. However, the issue could also be caused by opening too many applications at once or working on a large file.

This article will look at how you can fix a crashing PowerPoint app, how to reset it, and whether there’s a viable alternative to this app for iPad.

This is Why PowerPoint is Crashing on your iPad

There’s nothing as frustrating as working on a PowerPoint presentation only to get a popup notification that the app has crashed. You’ll end up losing the work and the time you’ve put in, making it risky if you’re working on a deadline.

The PowerPoint App You Have Is Outdated

The problem could be caused by an outdated application that is no longer compatible with the current OS version. Apple keeps updating its devices, and there are higher chances that your iPad has just received several updates in the last month. If you don’t update the PowerPoint app to keep up with the new changes, you might start experiencing such crashes more often.

Make sure you check the App Store for regular updates or set the iPad to update the apps automatically once they’re available.

The Operating System Could Be Corrupted

The crashing could also be caused by a corrupted OS that needs replacing. If other applications are crashing, it’s probably a sign that the problem is the OS. Get in touch with the Apple technical team for more support.

Opening too many applications at once could be the reason for the app crashing, especially if you’ve opened high-intensity applications. Alternatively, the problem could result from working on a huge file containing many media files.

How to Fix a Crashing PowerPoint App on iPad

Although it’s hard to pinpoint the cause of the problem of a crashing PowerPoint app, it’s best to try the following fixes:

• Update the application – It’s the first solution you should look for when dealing with a crashing PowerPoint app.
• Reset the application – This sets it back to default mode, allowing you to start fresh.
• Update the iPad – A corrupted OS can be fixed by updating the OS or removing any updates that might have caused the corruption.
• Close high-intensity apps – Shut down apps like media players, YouTube, or other resource-tasking apps that might be overloading the RAM.
• Work in segments – Break your work into projects that you can combine later on instead of working on one huge file.

If none of these fixes work, you might consider contacting a technician to have the problem investigated.

How Do You Reset PowerPoint on iPad?

One way of fixing a crashing PowerPoint app on an iPad is by resetting the application. Make sure the app isn’t running before resetting in the following steps:

1. Navigate to settings
2. Find the app and select it
3. Scroll down until you see ‘Reset PowerPoint’

Restart the iPad after this to see if the problem is fixed.

Resetting the app helps clear any bugs that might be causing the malfunction. However, remember that you might lose any settings, such as log-in details and templates, after a reset.

Is there an Alternative to PowerPoint for iPad?

PowerPoint is the go-to app for anyone working on a presentation. However, the app can prove unreliable on iPad, forcing you to consider alternatives. Are there any PowerPoint alternatives for iPad? And if there are, how do they compare with this app?

There are a few outstanding alternatives for Microsoft PowerPoint you can use on iPad, and they include:

Apple Keynotes

For starters, the app is free to use and is similar to PowerPoint in many ways. It comes with pre-made templates that you can use to create stunning presentations immediately. It’s also very easy to use, and you can create detailed slides with basic PowerPoint skills. It’s lightweight, and you won’t have to worry about the app hanging or crashing while you’re working on your presentation. However, the app doesn’t come loaded with many features like PowerPoint, but it has enough to get you started.

Google Slides

It’s probably the first viable choice outside Apple products for anyone looking to replace PowerPoint on their iPad. You can download the app from Google App Store and start using it right away. There’s not much learning curve involved in Google Slides; as with basic PowerPoint skills, you can create presentations in minutes. However, Google Slides stands out as it allows team collaboration online. Although the app is free to use, you can always purchase additional space for $1.99 per month and get 100GB with it.

Canva

Although it’s known to work better for graphics design, Canva is also very useful in designing colorful presentations, especially for people with no experience working with PowerPoint. The drag-and-drop platform works well and has a plethora of media you can choose for your presentation. You can come up with fun presentations with a few hours of training and going through the platform. The app is free to use, but you’ll have to pay $1 for any premium visual.

Final Thoughts

PowerPoint is a reliable presentation maker that usually works perfectly on iPad. However, the app may keep crashing because of an outdated app, corrupted OS, opening too many applications at once, or working on a larger PowerPoint project. You can fix the problem by updating the app, getting a new OS, resetting the app, or working on smaller projects. Apple Keynotes, Google Slides, and Canva are perfect PowerPoint alternatives for iPad use.

So, you’ve opened your current project in Photoshop and the files load in all blurry and fuzzy. Understandably, this can be quite frustrating to deal with, especially if you’re on deadline. But why is it happening and what can you do about it?

Before you can go about fixing your problem, you need to understand why. Otherwise, you’ll be clicking all over the place, possibly wasting time as you search for a solution. Below, you’ll find the most 6 most common reasons why your photoshop files could be blurry.

What Causes Photoshop Files to Be Blurry?

There are various reasons why your files could be blurry. It could be as simple as adjusting a setting, or something more serious may be going on. While knowing why your files are blurry won’t necessarily fix them, it’s a good place to start.

Here are the 6 most common reasons why files can appear blurry or pixelated in Adobe Photoshop.

1. Your Document is Too Small

In Photoshop, a bigger project size gives you more pixels to work with. A document with a resolution of 800×1200, for example, has twice the number of pixels as one with a resolution of 400×600. You’ll still receive the same shaped document, but when you add text or images, there will be enough pixels to display them properly.

When starting a new project, go to File > New to ensure your document size is sufficient. You’ll see an area on the right of the new project window where you may adjust the dimensions of your document. Make sure Pixels is chosen in the drop-down box next to Width and Height.

You may now enter the desired width and height. It’s best to select anything over 1000×1000 with a resolution of 200 PPI or greater for the best resolution.

2. Poor Scanner Quality

If you are using a document such as a PDF that was scanned from a physical copy, this may be the cause of your blurry files. Sometimes, during the scanning process, the image may become pixelated due to the quality of the scanner.

When scanning, try these techniques if a scanned picture seems deformed or blurry:

• Check to see whether the original is wrinkled or distorted.
• Make sure the scanner isn’t tilted or sitting at an angle
• Do not move the original while scanning
• Adjust the scanner settings, such as Resolution, Unsharp Mask, and Exposure, and try scanning again

Typically, your best bet is to try re-scanning. However, this isn’t always an option. In this case, you could try sharpening the image in Photoshop and see if that fixes your problem.

3. Camera or Human Error

If you’re working with photographs, there is a slew of reasons why your images may be burry. Much of the time, pixelation or blur in your photographs can be caused by human error or camera mistakes.

• Burry images caused by camera shake
• The subject moved when the photo was taken
• Shallow depth of field
• The camera was out of focus
• ISO is too high
• Poor lens quality
• Lighting is too low

To fix these types of issues, you need to return to the root of the problem: your camera. You have to make sure to operate your camera properly in order to avoid blurry photographs.

While Photoshop is capable of performing all kinds of magic in terms of editing, fixing a blurry photo is beyond what the program can do. You may be able to sharpen the photo a bit, but you’re not going to see significant improvement if the photo is extremely blurry.

4. The File is Too Magnified

Another reason your files may seem fuzzy is if you have zoomed in too far on the document. As you zoom in closer to your project, the pixels get larger. You can even zoom in to the point that you can see the pixels, making the image or text appear blurry.

Let’s say you’ve downloaded a logo from Placeit.net and would like to add another element to your design. While your logo is 4000×4000, the element you are adding is much smaller. You may have made the mistake of zooming in to make the design appear larger, creating a fuzzy appearance around the edges.

To see how far you’ve zoomed in on the page, go to the tab above your project that displays the project name and a percentage. This percentage represents how far you’ve zoomed into the canvas.

5. You Haven’t Enabled Anti-Aliasing

If your text or image is appearing pixelated or fuzzy, it may have something to do with anti-aliasing.

Anti-aliasing is a technique for smoothing down jagged edges in images. Working with typefaces follows the same logic.

To enable anti-aliasing, first select the text tool. At the top of the screen, you’ll see a menu with settings to change your font. A dropdown menu labeled aa is located to the right of the font type and size dropdown menus.

When None is selected, the typeface will have the most visible pixelation. The other options include Sharp, Crisp, Strong, and Smooth. These will soften the pixelation and make it less obvious from a distance. Smooth is typically the best option, but you may experiment with the others to see how they impact the font.

6. Your PPI is too Low

The amount of pixels in each inch of your image is measured in PPI (pixels per inch). Because of the increased pixel density, an image with a higher PPI has a higher quality. However, because raising the PPI increases the file size, you should only utilize a high PPI when absolutely essential.

Exporting at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (PPI) is considered the industry standard.

On a current project, go to Image > Image Size to verify and change your PPI. Make sure Pixels/Inch is chosen as the default resolution measurement in the pop-up box, then change the value to anything higher than 300.

If PPI was your issue, then this should fix your blurriness problem.

Final Thoughts

It’s aggravating to see fuzzy files when working in Photoshop, especially if you don’t know why. Hopefully, now that you’re aware of some of the most common causes for pixelated, fuzzy, and blurry files, you’ll be able to swiftly resolve the difficulties and get a crisp, smooth-edged design for a stunning end result.

As a Photoshop user, you may try to access the application on your Mac one day and find that instead of the typical icon there is just a question mark in its place. This is very confusing, and if you need to use Photoshop for time-sensitive graphic design projects, it can be very frustrating as well.

The question mark icon occurs because a new version of Photoshop has been created that is not yet visible as a Mac doc icon. It can also occur when the Photoshop application has been recently deleted from a laptop.

The question mark may not only be strange to look at but also an inconvenience. Keep reading to learn more about why this phenomenon happens, how you can fix it, and some tips to bypass the inconvenience it may cause.

Question Mark as Photoshop Icon

As one of the most popular graphic design software tools, it is to be expected that Photoshop may run into the occasional glitch. If you are trying to open Photoshop one day and see that there is a question mark instead of the standard Photoshop icon, this is a common occurrence that can leave you wondering if the problem is with the application or with your computer.

There are two main reasons why this icon typically shows up on the dock of your Mac. The following sections will discuss the standard causes.

1. There is a New Version of the App

Because it is such a cutting-edge graphic design software, Photoshop is continuously updating. Sometimes, rather than just updating, Adobe will create a new version of the app. While this is exciting as it promises new and enhanced features, it is also the primary cause of the icon disappearing on your Mac dock and being replaced with a question mark.

The simple answer for why this happens with a new version of Photoshop is because there has been a glitch and your Mac has not yet had time to accommodate the new version. For this reason, the question mark occurs as the icon image may be temporarily incompatible with your Mac’s display capabilities.

2. You Have Recently Deleted the App

Some people may find that Photoshop is not for them, opting instead for more straightforward graphic design software like Placeit.net, and will delete the application. Sometimes deleting the application is not as simple as hitting a button, though. When you delete Photoshop, it is common that a question mark will remain on the dock where your Photoshop application once was.

This may seem strange to look at, but rest assured that the app has been successfully deleted and in this case, it is just a display error with your computer.

Fixing the Issue

Once you have realized why the question mark is there, you will naturally want to take steps to resolve the issue. There are generally some easy-to-follow solutions that can help you get rid of the pesky question mark icon and get back to your graphic design work.

• Restart your computer: Sometimes your laptop might just need a chance to catch up. If it has been a while since you have restarted your laptop, take some time to do that. Make sure it is plugged into its charger and you select the option to install updates, if possible.
• Remove the icon from your dock: Keep in mind that this is only a solution if you want to delete the app. If you do, you can get rid of the question mark by opening your dock, and then dragging the question mark icon to the trash or left-clicking to delete.
• Remove the icon from your dock and then re-open Photoshop: Sometimes you may just need to remove the icon and then access the Photoshop application from Adobe Cloud. Once you have done this, it will hopefully open up again on your dock, this time displaying the correct image.

If you still run into issues after attempting these fixes, it may be best to contact Adobe directly or a reputable tech-support company in your area.

Can I Still Use Photoshop When There is a Question Mark?

Do not panic. If your Adobe Photoshop is showing a question mark, you should still be able to access the application through the Adobe Cloud. You can do this by following these steps:

• Go to the cloud icon at the top of your screen and click on it
• Drop down the menu
• Click on the Photoshop button to open the application

This should allow you to open the application and get back to your design work.

Does the Question Mark Only Appear on Macs

Though this is a problem most commonly found with Macs, it may still happen on your Windows computer or laptop and its version of an application dock. If this is the case, you should follow the same steps to resolve the issue.

Conclusion

There is no greater frustration to a graphic designer than technology not working as it should. When a question mark shows up instead of the Photoshop icon on your application dock, your first instinct might be to grow irritated and contact tech support. Fortunately, this problem is most often caused by a new version of the app or a recent app deletion and can be solved through some quick steps.

Try removing the icon from the dock, restarting your computer, or accessing the application through Adobe Cloud. If all else fails, know that you can still access the app through the Cloud function. At this point, you may also want to contact Adobe tech support to explain the issue and see how they can help you.

Graphic design does not have to be so complicated. Although Adobe Photoshop is a very useful tool, other online design tools like Placeit.net can give you some reprieve from the constant software updates and the complications that this can cause. Whatever you decide to do, know that the question mark icon is not the end of the world, and you should hopefully be back to designing in no time at all.

If you’ve ever switched from Mac to Windows, or vice versa, you may have noticed a change in the way the fonts look. The way fonts look from screen to screen can alter the way you view a design. Is this a trick of the eye, or do fonts actually look better on a Mac?

The different operating systems have different font rendering philosophies that alter the way fonts appear on the screen. Apple renders fonts in a way that preserves the design of the typeface, which makes the fonts look better to some.

If you’re working on a typographical design and you switch from a Mac to a Windows computer, you may be questioning your font choice. But don’t go changing your typeface just yet. Read on to find out why fonts look better on Mac, and if it’s something you need to be concerned about.

Why Do Fonts Appear Smoother on Mac Computers?

If you’ve noticed a difference in fonts between operating systems, don’t worry, it’s not a trick of the eyes. The fonts are in fact being displayed to you in different ways. But why is it that one looks better than the other?

Generally, this is going to come down to personal preference and what you are used to. While there are many people who prefer the look of fonts on Mac over Windows, others find them to be too fuzzy for their liking.

The soft look of fonts on Mac computers has to do with the way Apple renders fonts compared to Microsoft and the philosophies behind this.

Essentially, Microsoft computers render subpixels in a way that improves readability, while Apple renders fonts with the goal of preserving the original design of the typeface.

How Do Windows and Mac Render Fonts Differently?

The conversion of a design into pixels is not a natural or uniform process. In fact, operating system developers use many ways to render how fonts are presented.

Sub-pixel rendering is used by both Apple and Microsoft to extract sharper-looking fonts from common low-resolution displays. However, there are some differences in the way that each operating system chooses to render fonts.

Mac OS’s subpixel rendering is quite strong. All browsers on Mac OS employ the Quartz rendering engine. TrueType and PostScript fonts are displayed identically since hinting is disregarded. Because everything is represented by more or less black pixels, the rasterizer makes no attempt to grasp the strokes and characteristics that make up a typeface. The letterforms cannot be misconstrued since they are not interpreted.

While Mac’s rendering is more consistent across fonts, font format has a considerable influence on rendering on Windows.

Microsoft’s approach to subpixel rendering is known as ClearType. ClearType is a cross between subpixel rendering and black-and-white rendering. In this method, PostScript fonts simply carry abstract information about the position of various parts of each letter, but TrueType fonts include extremely detailed low-level instructions that govern the rendering process directly.

How To Adjust Font Smoothing on a Mac

The rendering approach used by Apple gives the text a more authentic feel. However, if you’re used to Windows or Linux, the difference between the two techniques might be difficult to grasp. After all, it’s what your eyes are accustomed to.

If the fonts on your screen appear fuzzy, blurry, or jagged, you may wish to modify the font smoothing style or text size at which OS X begins to smooth fonts. This is called anti-aliasing.

To smooth the fonts on your screen, open System Preferences and choose Appearance.

To enable anti-aliasing, check the box next to “Use LCD font smoothing when available.” Depending on your display, you may detect only a little or no variations between smoothing techniques.

Smaller font sizes might be difficult to read while anti-aliasing is enabled, therefore you may wish to disable it for smaller font sizes. Choose a point size from the “Turn off text smoothing for font sizes” pop-up menu if you want to use tiny font sizes in your project.

Final Thoughts

You should now have a clear idea of why fonts might look better to you on a Mac. Microsoft and Apple have never really seen eye to eye on the way that fonts should be displayed on a computer screen. If you’re someone who prefers digital fonts to look similar to how they would appear printed, then Mac’s rendering philosophy will probably appeal to you more than other options.

However, if the fonts on your screen are too fuzzy for your taste, then some simple adjustments should do the trick.

You are at the office, and you have to send a document as a PDF to one of your colleagues so that the formatting does not get ruined. The conversion process completes, and you open the document to check it, only to find that the font you initially used is replaced when something different. Why do fonts change when documents are converted to PDF?

Fonts change during the conversion to PDF because:

1. The fonts you used are not available on your operating system
2. Microsoft Office does not support the fonts you used
3. The PDF has embedded fonts in it
4. The PDF is sent to someone with a different operating system

Font conversion is a common issue that frustrates many users. So, read on to discover why fonts change during the PDF conversion process and what you can do to fix it.

Why Does the Font of a Document Change When It Is Turned Into a PDF?

PDF converters are a ubiquitous tool to quickly turn any document into a PDF. Unfortunately, when you download these documents to your computer, you may find the font in the document has changed. Fonts change during the PDF conversion process for one of four reasons:

1. The Fonts You Used Are Not Available On Your Computer’s Operating System

When you use PDF converting software, they have fonts that are not ordinarily available in Microsoft Word, so when you convert the file to a PDF and open it on your Windows computer, the font will be different.

2. Microsoft Word Does Not Support The Font

Sometimes a font will be listed within the font book on your computer, but Microsoft Office does not support it, so when you open the PDF in Microsoft Word, it will be different.

3. There Are Embedded Fonts In The Document

When creating a document, the author can embed fonts with their own names in them to make sure that the PDF looks the same across all devices. So if Arial is embedded and the name is changed to font 1, the computer will look for font 1 instead of Arial, so the font will change during the PDF conversion process.

4. The Users Receiving The PDFs Have Different Operating Systems

If the person you are sending the PDF to has a Mac and you have a Windows computer, the fonts may change for them because these devices do not always have the same fonts.

Now that you know why font changes happen, let’s explore what you can do to address this issue and prevent it from happening.

Ways To Prevent Font Conversion When Making a Document a PDF

You can use multiple different methods to make sure that the existing font in a document remains consistent when it is made into a PDF. This section will discuss just a few of them.

Convert the Word Document to a PDF Directly in Word

Microsoft Office 2013 and onward can save or export documents as PDFs under the File Menu. When you use this option after completing a document, the font you choose will be preserved because you are using the default font book and not relying on a third-party service to do the process for you.

This is also helpful if you want to turn an existing PDF into a Word Document.

Embed Fonts Into the Word Document

One of the reasons why fonts change during the conversion process is also used to prevent it. The process of embedding fonts can be confusing if you have never done it, and completing this process incorrectly can cause fonts to change.

To correctly embed fonts in your Word Document prior to making it a PDF, do the following:

1. Navigate to the Options menu under the file tab
2. Go to the Save tab in the left column
3. Once here, find Preserve Fidelity When Sharing This Document
4. In this tab, check off the Embed fonts in this file dialog box
5. Click OK

As a side note, selecting the other box in this area called Embed Only Characters In This Presentation reduces the size of the file and makes it harder to edit the file with the same font. Leaving it unselected makes the file bigger but allows others to edit the document in the existing font.

If the steps above do not work, the font you chose cannot be embedded.

What Fonts Cannot Be Embedded in Word?

Embedding fonts is one of the best ways to keep fonts the same when converting a Word document to PDF, but sometimes fonts cannot be embedded. The fonts that cannot be embedded and should be avoided to skip the text change are those that are not TrueType or Type 1 fonts.

TrueType or Type 1 fonts are those that have been designed with Apple Inc TrueType technology, which is now used by Windows and Mac laptops and computers. There are separate versions of the font for each operating system, but these fonts are the highest quality and most versatile of all the font options.

The benefits of Truetype fonts are that they can be scaled to and read clearly at any size. Fonts that are not Truetype will become blurry when too large or too small. They are also easy to manage and are supported by most printers.

When a font is not Truetype, it may not be functional or may be difficult to read on Word documents and PDFs.

If You Are Sending a PDF to Someone, Check What Operating System They Have Beforehand

This prevents compatibility and font switching issues because if you know that your Word document has fonts that aren’t available on a Mac, you can make sure to address that issue before making the document into a PDF and sending it to the recipient.

Conclusion

The reasons why fonts change when documents are converted from Word to PDF are because certain fonts are not available on all operating systems, fonts are not supported by Microsoft Office, the PDF has embedded fonts that are not supported, and the PDF is being sent to someone with a different operating system.

The best way to avoid font conversion issues is to convert a Word document to PDF right in Word.

Computer screens can display a vast array of colors. Instead of trying to remember a name for each and every tint, shade, hue, and everything else, there have been codes designed to tell the screen how much red, green, and blue to display in order to get the exact color desired.

Designers use hex codes for many reasons. One is that it is far more compact than others, so it makes coding simpler. It’s also more supported across various design needs, from web to print. Therefore, it tends to be more versatile of a system.

In the end, whatever color code a designer uses falls back on their needs, familiarity, and general preferences. Keep reading to find out more about hex color codes and why they are used in design.

What are Hex Codes?

Hexadecimal color codes, or hex codes, are a string of six letters and/or numbers after a pound (#) to denote the red, green, and blue levels in a specific color. This code has been used in HTML and many other programs to ensure that the color is exactly the same as intended. From a design standpoint, whatever color code system used is mostly based on preference, familiarity, and use.

This is how the six placements are broken down to denote color:

• First two: How much red is in the color
• Second two: How much green is in the color
• Final two: How much blue is in the color

Hex codes are compact and can easily be put into a program to tell it exactly what needs to be displayed.  They’re most useful for web design and color matching, but it mostly falls back onto individual preferences and needs.

How are Hex Codes Determined?

Digitally made colors have a 0-255 scale that tells the screen how much red, green, or blue to display in order to make a specific one. Hex codes take whatever value that is and divides it by the number 16. The top number of the equation is the first digit, whereas the remainder is the second. If both of these are single digits, it is just plugged right into the code. If the number has multiple digits, they are then converted to a letter.

These number to letter conversions look like this:

Number	Letter
10	A
11	B
12	C
13	D
14	E
15	F

These codes might be a little more complex to determine than some of the others, but they are very compact which makes them ideal for coding.

What Other Color Codes Do Designers Use?

Hex codes aren’t the only color codes out there. In fact, it’s only strictly useful for digital designs and coding. However, even when designing for print, some designers are simply more comfortable using them and will keep using them in an effort to maintain consistency. There are some other popular color codes however that might be used in place of hex.

RGB

RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue and is used commonly in much the same way as hex. However, unlike hex, it uses the whole 0-255 scale when denoting color. It is the most commonly used color profile in digital media, as what is seen is a mixture of red, green, and blue light blended together to make color. Therefore, it’s also often used in designs where a long string of values is not going to be such a big deal like it would be in coding.

CMYK

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key. Key is usually black, but sometimes is replaced with a specialty color. This is most commonly used in printed work, as all ink is a mixture of the colors. These colors absorb light, leaving only what is perceived by the eye. Essentially, it’s a bunch of tiny ink dots overlaid on top of one another to trick the eye into seeing more than four colors.

PMS

PMS stands for Pantone® Matching System and are 1,755 patented, standardized, solid colors. They were even the first company to have a comprehensive system of standardization in color codes. Utilizing the PMS system means that the color will always be the same in print and is often used in limited color designs where the color is more important than the overall design. Think the Starbucks green circle or that distinctive red of Coca-Cola.

How to Know Which Color Code to Use When Designing

When looking to design something, the first thing to consider is if it’s going to be for web or print. For web, color codes should be in hex or RGB. For print, color codes should be in CMYK or PMS. After that, it all falls onto what the program itself uses.

It is important to note that these colors don’t all need to be remembered. They are easily found listed out or color picked from the program itself or on design tools. Therefore, it’s easy to find them and then only the color needed is the one that needs to be remembered and standardized.

Conclusion

Designers have a wide range of tools at their disposal to create their designs. Hexadecimal color codes are widely used and highly versatile, making them prime choices for designers. They’re neat and compact in their RGB color denotation which makes them prime candidates for web design and code. In the end however, it is mostly up to the designer’s personal preference, their needs, and their familiarity with each color code system.

When in doubt, there are always easy to find color code lists and design services websites such as Placeit.net which can help suggest the perfect color combinations for every project, and keep them consistent across all pieces.

The font you choose for your brand is important for drawing attention and making your logo, design, or page stand out among your competitors. If you find a font you would like to label your company with, you may not have a free range of use. So, what happens if you use a free font for commercial use?

Without proper licensing, you might find yourself in trouble when using a certain font for commercial use, even if it is a free font. Most fonts themselves are software, and in most cases, the creator(s) of the software owns the rights and can set boundaries for commercial use.

Read on to learn what happens if you use a free font for commercial use. Sometimes, it may not be a problem at all, but especially with the involvement of an established business, failure to follow legal rules surrounding font usage can be a major inconvenience and can land you and your marketing team in trouble.

What Happens If You Use A Free Font For Commercial Use?

You can find a font whose rules and regulations allow for unrestricted use. As you will learn shortly, however, it is best to make sure the claimed owner of the font is the true owner. In other instances, you can find free fonts but still have to get licensing for them.

If you find a font you like, the first thing you should do is get as much information about the font as you can. Learn about the owner of the font, the software itself, and the legality regarding the use of the font. If you do all this and find that the font is free with no restrictions of use, you should be able to use the font however you want, even for a major logo or other design.

The main problem with free fonts having unrestricted use is that there is a chance several other companies have used the font, which can take away from the individuality of your marketing endeavors. Using free font for commercial use, especially when dealing with free fonts with lackluster licensing, can prevent you from making your logo as unique as you might like.

Still, free fonts are a valuable option for those wanting to save money on marketing, and when used correctly for commercial use, can be very beneficial. In fact, commercial use for fonts consists of much more than creating a logo. Your logo may not even have words in it that would require a font. Whether you want to use a free font for a logo design or any other commercial use, you are likely going to have to obtain a license.

Font Licensing

As mentioned, even free fonts may require licensing. Typically, you should not have too much trouble getting a license to use a free font. A font license is a document signed by yourself and the licenser which states how you can use the font. Free fonts can have restrictions, and a contract explaining those restrictions is required for proper licensing. 

If you have to acquire licensing for a font, even if it may be free, do not be surprised if you have to pay a minor fee for the license. Along with the rules stating how you can use the free font, the license agreement will also explain how you cannot use the font and how doing so is a breach of the contract. Different fonts and licensing agreements vary in rules, so it is important to read your agreement thoroughly. 

Font As A Logo

While it may be uncommon, you must be careful of using a font that is said to be free but might have copyright laws from a well-known logo it is used for. As you will see in the next section, this can lead to much more trouble than a simple licensing rule-break. For now, just know that if you recognize a “free” font that you know is used in a famous logo, you should be wary.

Copying Font Without Copying Software

It can be legal to essentially create your own font out of an already existing font. That is to say, you can print letters and symbols of a font, scan the images, and then trace the glyphs on your computer. Technically, this counts as creating your own font, as you are in no way copying or stealing the potentially licensed software created to produce the font.

As said above, this can be a problem if the font is used for a famous logo or another aspect of an established company’s commercial use. The font – or in many cases, the typeface – may not require licensing, but a logo containing the font is likely copyrighted. Although it is the logo that is licensed and not the font itself, you can get into trouble for “creating” font in this way.

Copied Commercial Fonts

You read earlier that you must make sure the source of your font is the original owner. If you can find this out and work out a licensing agreement with the font owner, you should have no problem. 

On the other hand, some people illegally copy fonts and/or font software and attempt to advertise them as free fonts. It is essential to track who you are receiving font permissions from, especially if you recognize a font as used by a major company or something of the like.

Microsoft Word Fonts

Microsoft word and other processing software contain hundreds of fonts. Since you have likely purchased the processing software yourself, you have the right to use the fonts provided to you. Keep in mind, however, that fonts in these categories could potentially lack a bit of individuality and may be well overused. Although, there are plenty of high-quality, free fonts out there.

It is also worth noting that it is illegal to sell fonts from processing software. You can benefit from your own purchase, but stay away from trying to sell the software to others.

Placeit.net Is a Great Alternative

If you do not wish to deal with the possible legal conflicts of free fonts, you might like to try out Placeit. Placeit is an online software where you can create logos, designs, mockups, and more, all with 100% commercially usable fonts, images, and templates.

With tens of thousands of templates, you’ll likely be able to find what you need for any project. Whether you choose to use pre-made designs or want to make tweaks of your own, Placeit is a great place to consider when it comes to free fonts.

Takeaway

You can find many great fonts that are free to use with no restrictions regarding how you use them. However, even some free fonts can require licensing agreements between you and the owner of the software and font. Be careful when delving into the field of free fonts, as failing to do proper research can land you in trouble.

The font you use for your logo or design is a crucial decision. However, before you use a font to try to earn a profit, be sure it is officially licensed or free for commercial usage. If you are working on a project in Procreate you might be wondering if the system fonts are commercial-free, or if you’ll have to choose something else.

For the most part, the fonts included in Procreate are considered free for commercial use. However, there are a few exceptions. Several of the fonts within the program are licensed for use only within app.

If you’re looking to create a typographical design on your iPad using Procreate, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll go through what typefaces may be used commercially and how they can be used in this post, so you don’t end up in a heap of trouble with your final product.

» MORE: Are Procreate Brushes Free for Commercial Use?

Are the Default Fonts on Procreate Free for Commercial Use?

By default, whatever art you produce using the tools included with Procreate and Procreate Pocket is your work, and you are free to use it in anyway you choose. This means that any of the fonts, bushes, and swatches used within the program are free for commercial use.

However, Procreate has stated that there are several exceptions. Some of the fonts available are solely licensed for usage within the app. This means that, while they can be used in personal projects, they are not to be used commercially.

These fonts include:

• Eina 01
• Impact
• Jack Armstrong BB

While the default fonts are listed as free for commercial use, keep in mind that it is your obligation to determine whether a relevant license is available for your usage. If you want to use a typeface in a commercial production, it’s always best to double-check to be on the safe side.

What Does It Mean If a Font is Free for Commercial Use?

A commercial license is required for any typeface used in a design on a product for sale, as well as for your website, logo, or advertising.

Commercial usage licenses allow you to put the design on an item and sell it for profit. Some commercial licenses limit the number of projects you can do with a given design, while others let you make as many as you like.

» MORE: Why Does Procreate Keep Freezing? [4 Easy Fixes]

Can You Download More Fonts to Use on Procreate?

Fonts can make or break your design, so it’s important to make sure you are choosing the right one. If you aren’t satisfied with the selection of fonts on Procreate, you always have the option to import your own.

Procreate supports .ttf, .ttc, and .otf font files. If you are seeking a specific font type, your best bet would be to download one from a reputable site.

Where to Find Commercial Fonts for Procreate

Free fonts appear to be everywhere these days but finding decent free fonts may be a bit of a challenge. Here are some sites to take a look at when searching for the perfect font:

• Font Squirrel
• Urban Fonts
• Creative Bloq
• FontSpace
• Google Fonts
• DaFont
• Font Meme

This is only a handful of the sites that offer fonts that are free for commercial use.

In the past few years, several websites have begun to provide additional licensing conditions, such as usage for Desktop, Web, App, and E-Pub. As a result, it’s critical to read the licensing terms on each site completely so you’re familiar with the licenses from each vendor you buy from.

» MORE: Apple Pencil Not Working in Procreate [How To Fix It]

How To Import New Fonts in Procreate

To install fonts in Procreate, you’ll first need to install them in the operating system, Unfortunately, installing fonts on an iPad is more difficult than on a computer. However, once the font is installed, you’ll be able to is it in other applications on your iPad.

There are a couple of different ways you can go about installing fonts on your iPad. However, the easiest method is to use a third-party application like iFont or Fonteer.

First, you need to go to the app store and install the app. Next, open the font file with your chosen application and follow the instructions. When you are done, the fonts should show up in any apps that support them.

After the file is installed on your iPad, you’ll want to make sure to import it to Procreate. To do this, go to the Files App and drag and drop your fonts from On My iPad > Procreate > Fonts. Now you just need to verify that the fonts were imported correctly and start creating.

» MORE: Why Does Procreate Fill the Whole Page?

Creating Your Own Fonts in Procreate

One way to get around font licensing is to create your own font. While it is a bit of a process, you can make a brand-new font in Procreate using your own unique handwriting.

The easiest way to do this is with Calligraphr. Simply write out your letters in Procreate, save the file, then upload it to Calligraphr. Once the file is uploaded, you can make any needed adjustments, then click Build Font.

Calligraphr will give you the option to download your font as a .ttf or .otf file that can be imported to Procreate for use on whatever you’d like. The best part is that you won’t have to worry about licensing since it is a font of your own creation.

» MORE: The Ultimate List of The Best Online Design Makers

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how and when to use the fonts included with your Procreate. Many of the typefaces are free for commercial usage, but there are a few caveats to be aware of. Make sure you read the license conditions before using a typeface, so you know what permissions you have.

Keep in mind, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of websites offering free fonts. So, there is no need to limit yourself to only what is available on Procreate. If you’re still undecided at the end of the day, you can always get creative and make your own. This is, after all, the most risk-free option.

There is a lot that goes into printing and file types, and not much of it is simply explained. There’s a reason there’s entire professions, degrees, and resources designed for this exact niche. It’s easy to tell someone to make sure something is in one color mode or another, or what file type to save things as. It’s a little harder to explain if and why certain file types have to be one way or another.

A JPG can have CMYK color because it depends on the color mode used when creating the file. Any file intended for print should be in CMYK so that it is compatible with printers without the loss of color quality.

JPGs are the ideal file type for printing pictures or other files with a high number of of colors. CMYK is what printers use to make prints, which is likely what is the end goal for photography. Therefore, JPGs and CMYK can definitely work in tandem. Keep reading to find out more about JPGs and CMYK color.

What is a JPG?

JPG, also known as JPEG, stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. It is a highly compressed file type comprised of many pixels. Initially, it was a file type intended for photography but has expanded well past that into being one of the most common file types found anywhere.

It breaks images down into tiny pixels and uses those to save color and data in tiny packages unlike some other file types. The downfall of this is that it cannot support transparency or be easily resized. However, it is a very lightweight type that has a multitude of uses from web to print.

What is CMYK Color?

CMYK Color stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key. Key almost always means Black, but in some specialty machines it can be another color. It is a subtractive color mode, meaning that the darker it is the more color is in it. This is the color mode used in printing due to the fact that printers cannot print light, which is what the additive color mode RGB does in order to make colors.

While it doesn’t have as many colors possible as what is digital, CMYK is still capable of doing a huge range of colors. Files intended for print should be saved if not designed entirely in a CMYK color mode in order to ensure there are no surprises from the screen to the page. Some specialty printers can do the conversion themselves, but that always leaves a high risk of quality degradation.

Can a JPG Have CMYK Color?

A JPG definitely can have CMYK color. These are not mutually exclusive and are not even the same thing. Whereas a JPG is the whole file type, CMYK is the color mode. JPGs were initially designed to be lightweight file types for photographs, and the only thing a printer can print truly is CMYK. Therefore, it would be extremely silly if the file intended for photographs, something that almost always needs to be printed, could not handle CMYK Color.

The main thing to remember is that most programs are going to try and be RGB as they themselves are digital. This color mode will need to be changed. If it is possible in the program, it’s going to vary as to how exactly to change it.

Pros of the JPG File Type

JPGs are one of the most commonly used file types. It’s a well-established file type that is recognized by many programs, web, and print. Not to mention, they also take fewer resources to make and store on most devices. Therefore, there are quite a few pros to using them.

Such pros include:

• Highly compressed
• Lightweight file size
• Useful in both print and web
• Recognizable by printers
• Accepts both RGB and CMYK color modes
• Massive support across various programs and devices

While other file types might be able to preserve more of the quality or digital information of the file, a JPG can be more easily recognized and supported by other programs, devices, and services.  Quality loss is relatively minimal as long as it isn’t saved or edited to frequently, making it an excellent choice for printed work.

Cons of the JPG File Type

Nothing is perfect, and that includes JPGs. While the file type is good for some things, it unfortunately is not going to be the solution to every problem or a perfect file type for every need. While the file type does have a lot of good points, it also has a handful of cons that should be considered when selecting how to save.

Such cons include:

• Repetitive saving causes it to lose quality
• Does not support transparency
• It will make anything pixelized
• Not easily edited
• Unable to be cleanly resized

For professional photography or highly complex designs, utilizing bigger file types such as TIFF, RAW, or EPS would be more beneficial due to the lack of extreme compression. Any file that needs to be freely scaled needs to be saved in a vector format, while those needing transparency, animation, or other complex data really should be saved as another file type instead.

Conclusion

JPGs are an extremely common file type. It was initially designed to be a lightweight file for photography. Since it is meant for something that often needs to be printed, it has to have compatibility with the printers in order to do so. Printers use CMYK color in order to make colors people can see and recognize. While it doesn’t have as many colors as RGB, it is the only thing that printers can do.

InDesign is a leading layout and page design software made by Adobe. Artists and designers of all kinds love the software for its wide array of features and support for all sorts of file types. However, one of the biggest problems with the software is that PDF exports are blurry when opened. How can low-quality PDF exports from InDesign be fixed?

Low-quality InDesign PDF exports can be fixed in the following ways:

• Fix any image links in the file that are affecting the design quality
• Make sure the High Quality Display Performance setting is on
• Reset your preferences in InDesign
• Use the Publish Book for Print option, then export your project

For many who work in the creative industries, delivering high-quality finished products is a must. So, read on to learn more about fixing your low-quality PDF exports from InDesign, and find out why they become low quality in the first place.

What Can You Do To Adjust Low-Quality PDF Exports in InDesign?

Many InDesign users noticed that their PDF exports have decreased in quality in the latest versions of the software. This has caused unnecessary stress as they work to finish their projects and meet deadlines. Luckily, you can use multiple workarounds to fix those low-quality exports. This section will cover some of them.

Re-Link Images in Your InDesign File

One of the main reasons PDFs become blurry or low quality when exported is because the files’ images have lost their link. You can re-link the images in the file by doing the following:

1. Click on Window and select Links.
2. Find the image you want to update the link for in the book, images that need updates will have a yellow triangle, and images with a stop sign are no longer linked to the book or were moved.
3. Click on Edit Original to modify the image in the file and save your changes.
4. Click the Update Link button to update the document to the latest version and restore the links.

Once you follow these steps, the image links should work, improving the quality of your export. This makes sense because if something in the document is not working, it will undoubtedly affect the outcome of anything you decide to do with that document.

Turn High Quality Display Performance On

High Quality Display Performance is a setting in InDesign that will ensure that everything you have created is in the highest resolution possible. InDesign places all projects in low resolution by default, so users have to adjust the quality settings on their own.

To turn high quality display performance on in InDesign, do the following:

1. Highlight the image/images that you want to change the quality of
2. Go to the Object Menu
3. Navigate to the Display Performance tab and select High Quality

When the images in your design are high quality, the quality of the export, no matter what format, will be higher regardless of what format you choose to export in.

Reset Your InDesign Preferences

Some users have found that the best way to fix the low-quality export issue is to completely reset the preferences you have set up in InDesign. This is a quick solution that simply involves navigating through a few menus.

To reset your InDesign preferences, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Edit, then Preferences, then General, or use the shortcut Ctrl + K
2. Go through all of the options to determine what settings work for you and customize your experience
3. Start InDesign, and hold Crtl + Shift + Alt
4. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete your preferences, and the program will restart
5. Review the preferences you created by navigating through the menus again, in case you want to make any other changes

Resetting the preferences will allow InDesign to start on a clean slate, ideally correcting any resolution issues that used to present themselves.

Select the Publish Book For Print Option Before Exporting

Since books require the highest resolution possible so that they can be read with ease by all audiences, you may want to navigate to the Publish Book For Print option before exporting your PDF.

The Publish Book For Print option should be with the other book-related settings in the program.

Now that you know how to fix low-quality PDF exports in InDesign, let’s explore why they happen in the first place.

Why Do InDesign Exports End Up In Low Resolution?

All exports in InDesign, not just PDFs, end up in low resolution. The PDF is the one with the most issues because PDFs are used every day in every industry. Why do all of these exports become low quality anyway?

The low resolution can happen for four reasons:

• The export is in the wrong format
• Images are missing in the book
• The effective PPI is too low
• The book has the wrong compression settings

Let’s look at each of these reasons in a little more detail.

The Document You Want to Export is in the Wrong Format

Sometimes, designers can place their work in the wrong format when they are getting ready to export, which impacts the resolution of the final product. The main types of file formats used are:

• PNG– Portable Network Graphic, can have a transparent background and is commonly used for gradients. They do not lose clarity but are slow to load. PNGs should be used for Web exports; if you print a PNG it will be low resolution.
• JPG– Joint Photographic Experts Group, great for web exports. Files in this format are compressed, which lowers the quality and resolution and results in blurry exports.
• PDF– Portable Document Format, great on the web and in print. Working with documents in PDF format reduces the file size, making them blurry when coupled with default low-resolution InDesign image quality.

The Document Has Low Resolution or Missing Images

If you are using the format you need, the export quality may be impacted by the quality of the images within the document. Image quality can be negatively impacted in two ways:

• Missing images
• Low-resolution images

If images are missing in the document, you will need to relink them as described above. Low-resolution images look fine on your computer but will decrease in quality when exported or printed. Images should be at least 200-300 PPI, otherwise they will be blurry in a PDF export.

To check PPI, navigate to Windows, Link Panel, Effective PPI and skip to the next heading to adjust if necessary.

The Effective PPI Is Too Low

Increase the effective PPI of images by increasing the size of the images in the book or document. When the effective PPI is high, images will not be blurry, and neither will the export you want to send out.

The Book Has The Wrong Compression Settings

Too many people press export without double-checking to see what will be exported. If a PDF is not compressed, the quality of the images and the resolution will not decrease, so exports will be higher quality. However, uncompressed files are larger.

If you follow one or a combination of these tips, you will achieve higher quality exports of all PDFs.

Conclusion

Four ways to fix low-quality PDF exports in InDesign are fixing any image links in the file that are affecting the design quality, making sure the High Quality Display Performance setting is on, resetting your preferences in InDesign, and using the Publish Book for Print option and then export your project.

PDFs become low quality due to file compression, missing or low-resolution images, the wrong document format, and the low effective PPI of images.