When you share design files with clients, print vendors, or collaborators, everyone needs access to the exact fonts you used, without digging through your entire font library. MainType is the perfect font manager, as it streamlines this process: organize your project fonts into a Group, then export them as a structured, ready-to-share folder.

Before you start: Most commercial fonts restrict redistribution. Verify your font licenses permit sharing before exporting files to third parties.

Edition note: Font export features require MainType Standard Edition or higher. They're not available in the Free Edition.

Method 1: Export fonts from a project group (recommended)

This method gives you maximum flexibility and keeps your original font library untouched while creating clean export packages.

A group is a virtual collection: it organizes fonts without moving or changing any files on your system. Most designers find this perfect for project work and create separate groups for each client, campaign, or deliverable.

Step 1: Create a project-specific group

Open the Groups panel and create a new group named after your project (for example, Client – Brochure – 2026). If you want to keep things organized, add subgroups for styles, deliverables, or team members.

Acme Corp – 2026 Annual Report
Social Media Templates – Q1
Print Campaign – Spring Collection

Step 2: Collect the fonts you need

Browse any font view in MainType, then drag the fonts your project uses directly into your new group. You can select multiple fonts at once and drag them together. Hold CTRL while dragging if you prefer to move fonts instead of copying references.

Step 3: Export the group with folder structure preserved

Right-click your project group and select Export Fonts. Choose a destination folder. MainType will export all fonts while maintaining their original folder hierarchy.

This is the key advantage: even if your fonts came from a dozen different folders, the export preserves that organization, making it easy for recipients to understand and install the fonts months later.

Result: A clean, self-contained folder you can zip and send, with a logical structure that survives long-term archiving.

Method 2: Keep a "project fonts" folder synced on disk

If you work on recurring projects or need an always-ready archive folder (for example, if print vendors request updated files periodically), use MainType's Keep in Sync feature.

Step 1: Create a project folder on your hard drive

Set up a dedicated folder for your project fonts:

D:\Projects\Acme Corp\2026 Annual Report\Fonts

Step 2: Add it as a Keep in Sync group in MainType

Keep in Sync groups are different from regular groups: they mirror an actual folder on your drive. You can’t rename or move them from within MainType. Make those changes in Windows File Explorer instead. When you add fonts to a Keep in Sync group, MainType copies the font files into that linked folder on disk.

Step 3: Drag fonts into the Keep in Sync group

As you identify fonts for your project, drag them into this group. MainType automatically places the files in your project folder on disk.

Your Fonts folder now stays current without manual exports. You can zip it anytime or still use Export Fonts if you want MainType to generate a fresh package with updated organization.

Exporting fonts from Adobe Creative Cloud and other installers

Windows font management has a hidden complexity: the Fonts control panel doesn't always reveal where font files actually live. Installed fonts may appear in the Windows Fonts folder, but the underlying files can be stored elsewhere, especially for fonts managed by third-party applications.

The Adobe Fonts challenge

Adobe Creative Cloud syncs fonts in a way many font utilities can't locate them:

• Adobe Fonts live in a protected CoreSync cache
• They're removed from disk if unused for extended periods
• Non-Adobe applications may lose access if fonts aren't recently synced
• Most font tools can't extract files from Adobe's proprietary storage

MainType handles this because it indexes fonts at the system level and maintains its own Vault copy of font data.

How to export system-installed or cloud-managed fonts

1. Select the fonts in any MainType view (including fonts from Adobe, Google Fonts installers, or other managers)
2. Right-click and choose Export...
3. Pick a destination folder and MainType will write the font files to disk

Even if the original font file location is obscure or temporarily unavailable, MainType can reconstruct usable font files from its indexed data.

Once exported, add those files to your project group and use Export Fonts to build your final client package.

Important licensing reminder

Font licenses vary widely. Some allow you to share font files with clients, printers, or teammates as part of a project; others explicitly restrict redistribution or limit use to licensed users/devices (this can include fonts synced or installed by third-party services).

MainType can export font files, but you are responsible for making sure any sharing or redistribution complies with the font’s license agreement.

Related tutorials

Shared Font Libraries — Keep team fonts synchronized across workstations