topic Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces in AutoCAD for Mac Forum

Can't use 'Light' typefaces

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 05:12:14 GMT

I've noticed in the text style editor, Autocad hides fonts that are not called 'Regular', 'Italic', 'Bold' or 'Bold italic'. I want to use lighter type faces for larger text, like drawing numbers. Has anyone ever noticed this? Can it be changed?

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 07:57:27 GMT

Welcome to the Autodesk Forums!

Hi,

If you mean you cannot use Dfont, OTF or Font Suitcase Mac specific fonts, than indeed - AutoCAD doesn't support them. It can show only four standard typefaces from such font files.

If you want to use other font faces you need to split initial font (Dfont, OTF or Font Suitcase) to multiple TTF files - each file will contain one font face.

You can accomplish splitting with DfontSplitter application:

http://peter.upfold.org.uk/projects/dfontsplitter

After you split initial Mac specific font, you need to remove it from Fonts folder and substitute with multiple TTF files you got from DfontSplitter, but be careful with System fonts (in /System/Library/Fonts and /Library/Fonts folders) - I don't recommend to split them.

Maaxim

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 08:36:22 GMT

Thanks for the prompt reply Maaxim,

My fonts are in seperate .ttf files. I have also discovered that if I remove all the fonts, except the ones that are msissing, one 'Regular' font is listed. This is a very frustrating problem. Is there some way to alter .ttf file metadata so that they appear to Autocad as seperate fonts?

Thanks, Matt

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 10:25:05 GMT

Hi Matt,

What font you are trying to use in AutoCAD?

Maxim

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:22:49 GMT

Hi Matt,

Seems I have found the solution for you on this page:
http://fontforge.github.io/fontinfo.html
Look for "Preferred Family" explanation in TTF Names section:

"This is to get around a quirk of windows where only four Style names are allowed per family, so font families with more than four styles would get different family names above, but the preferred family name would be the same. This should only be specified if it differs from the family"

In fact TTF fonts in AutoCAD for Mac handled the same way as in Windows version: you can see only four Style names per family, so in order to be able to use other typefaces (Styles) such as Light or Extra Bold you need to modify existing TTF files by changing "Preferred Family" property of the font.

You can do this in commercial application such as Glyphs, but you can also use FontForge application:

http://fontforge.github.io/en-US/downloads/mac/

Open your TTF font in FontForge.app, save it as FontForge source file (.SFD), go to menu Element -> Font info:

Than open TTF names section and edit "Preferred Family" field by adding new information to it, for example for Light font face you can add Light to the preferred name:

Save .SFD file and use menu File -> Generate fonts to generate new TTF file:

Now if you put this new file to the Fonts folder on your Mac you will be able to use this typeface in AutoCAD for Mac.

Maxim

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 08:05:17 GMT

Hey Maaxim,

Thanks for the prompt reply. The fonts I'm wishing to use are separate
.ttf files, though when I look at them with Font Book, they appear as
font family containing different weights and typefaces.

Other fonts which are separate files also appear as a font family and
are also hidden in Autocad.

Also, where is this type of granular/specific information on Autocad
for Mac found?

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 09:42:09 GMT

Have you read my previous post about FontForge application?
The only one way to enable additional typefaces for AutoCAD is to edit TTF fonts in font authoring application as I described in my previous post.

Macim

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

earthsquare — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 12:45:05 GMT

Thank you very much.

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

kristina_critien_14 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 10:28:43 GMT

HiMaxim - Thanks for your in depth steps. Once I try and generate as part of the last step i'm getting this warning ( shown in images below )

Could you help me please as it's really frustrating trying to sort this out.

Thanks you

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 14:28:51 GMT

Hi @kristina_critien_14 ,

Usually I select "Yes" to proceed anyway. Do you get the correct font in this case?

If you need Montserrat-Light.ttf - look >>>>HERE<<<<

Renaming "Preferred family" to Montserrat-Light works for me fine.

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

kristina_critien_14 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 14:57:50 GMT

For some reason i'm still not managing and its taken me an afternoon. Is there any way I could contact you against payment and have you check it out for me yourself please?

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 15:40:38 GMT

We are all ordinary AutoCAD users here, just like you. 😉

No payment - see attached archive with the font file

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

annieH5CZ7 — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:24:18 GMT

Hi,

I am having the same issue trying to get Monserrat light into auto cad. I tried font forge but my Mac won't open the downloaded file and refuses to as says malicious spyware detected.

Is there just an easy way to import a light font weight into auto cad on a Mac? Does anyone have this split font ready they could send?

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:43:49 GMT

Hi @annieH5CZ7 ,

Have you tried downloading the font archive from >>>>THIS<<<< post?

I checked it just now and was able to use Montserrat-Light-1.ttf font from this archive in AutoCAD.

You need to download the archive, extract TTF file from it and add it to Font Book.app. Don't forget to relaunch AutoCAD.

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

annieH5CZ7 — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:09:44 GMT

THANK-YOU 🤩 what an incredible help! Have a lovely Christmas!

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:19:37 GMT

You're welcome!
Merry Christmas!

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

annieH5CZ7 — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:41:05 GMT

I don't supposed you have the same for Monserrat BOLD due you Maxim? 🙂

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:45:39 GMT

I don't have it, but can try to prepare it for you later. If you need it.

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

annieH5CZ7 — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:59:32 GMT

If you can easily, I am not able to open the font forge application

Thanks

Re: Can't use 'Light' typefaces

maxim_k — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:39:33 GMT

Hi Annie,

You don't need Font Forge application.

Just download Montserrat-Bold.ttf font >>>>>HERE<<<<< and add it to Font Book.app