Tune Your System Fonts Folder for Graphic Design

START > Control Panel > Fonts

Notice any of your Adobe applications' splash screen loading forever?

Take a look at your System Fonts folder, pretty ugly huh? Well, especially if you've been given a hand-me-down computer. The lazy way to install fonts is to drag them into [System] Fonts Folder. Bad idea! Use Extensis Suitcase, so you can activate and disable your fonts; otherwise, your computer/programs will need to load the fonts and when you have more than enough fonts, your computer will be hurting.

So what can you do? Well, you could find a computer that has just had it's OS (XP) installed, and zip up the fonts folder and replace your obese fonts folder. When doing so, be careful. You could just delete your Fonts folder prior to dragging the new font folder in... but, you'll notice all the interface fonts will turn to junk.

What I did? I changed my garbage fonts "Modified Date" via a program called File Date Changer:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/filedatech.html

I applied the same method to the newer fonts that I was to transfer, yet with a later date (so my older fonts I put a date of 1/1/99, and my newer fonst at 2/2/00). Then I dragged the new/clean fonts into the Fonts folder. When you drag the files you will need to overwrite some of the older fonts (it will ask, and automate) and then you sort by date and delete your older fonts (based on the modification date you chose).

Restart! Now your computer is super fast. It helps to make an archive of your system Fonts folder after you've cleaned it up for future use.

You can find the exact list of XP system fonts here, and then cherry pick and delete unnecessary fonts:
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/winxp.htm

You could also perform a system upgrade/repair with the actual XP installation CD. This will fix fonts that may be corrupt, but will not clean up the garbage.

There is also a way to extract the fonts from the .cab file on the XP install disk that I have not covered here.

Keep in mind Microsoft Office fonts, which I never really use, but here's a list of fonts that are installed in your system folder:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA010347461033.aspx

Do you have a corrupt PSD file? Well, take a read...

When you do a Google search for "corrupt PSD" you'll be overwhelmed with all the available utilities at your disposable. Upon further inspection you'll notice most of these utilities are outdated or are from an unknown software developer. Usually most of these applications will attempt to repair the header information, and most will fail.

So what do you do when your PSD file is corrupt? Well, you could try the applications explained above (most of which cost money). In my experiences they will not work, either by simply doing nothing, or removing layers, layer FX, and pertinent information. If you've a corrupt PSD file with limited information (being the aforementioned) then this may be a great fix.

Here are some workarounds, try one or all:

1. Try opening your PSD file in another application that supports PSD files such as Painter, Acrobat, Sketchbook Pro, etc. And then re-save as another copy with different filename, so you're not re-saving over a corrupt data file.

2. Try creating a new [blank] PSD file and place the corrupt PSD file within it as a smart object. Then activate that smart object, to then from that point, save a copy of your file (not over the existing corrupted file). This has worked for me.

3. Try opening your file in an older version of Photoshop, step down a version.

4. Try deleting your Photoshop preferences:
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings\Adobe Photoshop CS4 Prefs.psp

5. Try opening your PSD file on a separate computer.

6. Try deleting all of your temporary files... via a disk cleanup, or by physically locating the temp/scratch/cache locations and deleting information (while Pshop is closed).

If any of these solutions work, you owe me! Actually, I've only experienced corrupt PSD files that happen to break into the gigabytes. If you are working with files above 250MB I'd recommend saving your files as a PSB file, instead of the PSD extension. I've never had a corrupt PSB file, and I believe that Photoshop CS and above accept this file type.

Good luck, and I feel your pain.

Spybot S&D, what a great program, but if used inappropriately you can really kill your computer. In the event you're running TeaTimer you can do some damage.

What do I mean? So if a process occurs and Spybot asks you if it's OK, and you say "No!". Wait! I didn't mean to say that and now I've disabled internet access... well you could roll back your settings via the program itself. What if by some freak accident you unistalled Spybot without rolling back your decision? Game Over! No, not really!

The easiest way to fix the damage that Spybot has done, you can simply create a new account:
Start > Control Panel > User Accounts

Then you could delete your old account. Make sure to transfer your files before doing so via a public folder or a USB key.

You're good again!

Now, this is just an easy non-technical way to do this. There are many other ways, but by far this is the easiest way.

Spybot S&D:
http://download.cnet.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?tag=mncol

First off, I can't stand Norton Antirus or any Norton application; but, that's just me. Don't get mad at me.

If you are trying to install a Norton program and can't do so [because of a previous Norton install], you may get agitated, especially after shelling out cash for the program. Or, maybe you've ditched Norton altogether and just want to clean your registry of everything Norton.

Download the Norton Removal Tool:
http://www.freewarefiles.com/Norton-Removal-Tool-XP-Vista_program_15892.html
Run this program, and you'll notice you now have the ability to install your program, or you've cleansed your system of unnecessary files and background processes.

By the way, I highly recommend BitDefender Antivirus:
http://www.bitdefender.com/

I used BitDefender in place of Norton. It has a less hokey interfeace and has much better/intuitive/thorough security options.

Malware!!!!!

Many of you may have been visited by the Conflicker virus and then some of you may even have a Trojan Virus and not even know it.

Download this utility [might already be installed from a Windows Update]:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

You can run a quick scan and you'll be scared to see you likely have a trojan virus. If you're thorough you can even run this program to do a full scan of your system... which can take hours (worth it!).

But, what if you can't run this utility because the Trojan Virus is tricky? Well, you can try to run this program in safe mode... but what if even then this malware is so smart that it has disabled the tool. You're in luck...

Download this utitliy called Norman Malware Cleaner:
http://www.norman.com/Virus/Virus_removal_tools/en-us

Run Norman Malware Cleaner in safe mode and it will clean you up. After doing so, then run Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool.

You'll be suprised that some of you have had a Trojan Virus for years and not even know it. Scary huh?

Also, you can revisit Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool by typing "mrt" at the command prompt [Start > Run > mrt].

If you're working with Flash CS3 and sometimes CS4 you'll notice there are times where the program doesn't see your font.

You'll need to convert your OpenType font into a Postscript 1 font. Simply use a program called CrossFont. You can convert your font from OpenType to a PS1 font. Then once you activate your Postscript 1 font and deactivate your OpenType version of that font you'll notice that now Flash sees it.

Also, in addition, you'll notice that using Suitcase (font manager) you'll have more freedom in activating and deactivating your fonts.

CrossFont:
http://www.asy.com/scrcf.htm
Suitcase:
http://www.extensis.com/en/products/suitcasefusion2/index.jsp?ref=gppc&gclid=CL7tgbfO6ZkCFRFMagodIwWNQg

Transfer Postscript 1 Fonts Between OSX and Windows XP (or Visa Vera)

Have you ever transfered fonts between operating systems, and upon doing so you get empty files (0kb) on the other end?

What you need to do first is compress your fonts first (via a zip utility) from the OS your transferring from. That's not enough though. Once you have the compressed file you need to use a program called CrossFont on the destination OS... with this utility you can convert the opposing OS 's Postscript 1 file into a Postscript 1 file that is compatible with your OS.

Also, to take it a step further you can convert this newly (or existing PS1 font that works with your OS) into a OpenType font. To do this you'll need a program called Transtype Pro. Once your font is OpenType it can be used on any OS without a hitch.

Crossfont:
http://www.asy.com/scrcf.htm
Transtype Pro:
http://www.asy.com/scrcf.htm

Migration of Wacom Preferences to a Different Computer:

Wacom for some reason has failed to create an appropriate migration utility for your preferences. "Wacom Preference File Utility" is a utility that Wacom has created (you'll find it in via Start > All Programs > Wacom Tablet > Wacom Preference File Utility) that only offers the ability to delete (or reset your preferences back to default). So what if I want to transfer my settings that I've spent hours creating per application to another computer? Well, here's the trick when using Windows XP:

Migration of Preferences:

1. Copy your "Wacom_Tablet.dat" file from:
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\WTablet

2. On the computer you'd like to transfer your preferences to...
a. Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services: STOP "TabletServiceWacom"

3. Copy/Paste your "Wacom_Tablet.dat" over the existing file:
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\WTablet

4. Then START "TabletServiceWacom" via the way descibed in #2 above...

5. Now your preferences have been officially transfered.

Just keep in mind that you can only transfer settings between the same Wacom tablet size and product. Transferring settings from a 4" x 6" to a 6" x 8" will render the settings on the latter tablet settings unmanageable.