Why did my text change font (or turn into Arial) when I opened the file on another computer?

Why it happens

The software does not carry fonts inside the job file. The font list in the text tools is built from two places: the single-line engraving fonts that install with the program, and whatever TrueType or OpenType fonts are installed in Windows on that computer. When a job with live text travels to a computer that does not have the same font installed, the text has nothing to draw from. Users on the public forum report that as soon as the text is edited there, it falls back to Arial.

Usual causes, most likely first:

1. The font was only ever installed on the design computer.
2. The font file was copied to the second computer but never installed in Windows.
3. The font was installed while the program was already open.

How to fix it

Option A, make the font available:

1. Copy the font file (.ttf or .otf) to the second computer.
2. Right-click it and choose Install.
3. Close and reopen the software so it rebuilds the font list.
4. Open the job again.

Option B, remove the dependency before the file travels:

1. On the design computer, save a copy of the job first so you keep editable text.
2. Select the text and convert it to curves.
3. Save and send that version. The letters are now plain vectors that look identical anywhere.

How to confirm it is fixed

On the second computer, select the text and open the text tool. The font name shown should match the original, and the letter shapes should not shift. With Option B, the text selects as ordinary vectors.

Pro tips

• Use Option B for any file you sell or hand to someone else. You cannot control which fonts they own.
• To add a new font, preview your fonts or work out which font an old project used, see the entry on adding and identifying fonts.
• Converted text can no longer be retyped, so keep the live-text original.
• Script fonts converted to curves still need their overlaps welded before V-carving (see the entry on script fonts carving wrong where letters overlap).