How do I add a custom font to Revit?

To add a custom font to Revit, you first need to install the font on your operating system. Once installed, Revit will recognize the new font, allowing you to select and apply it within your project's text and dimension styles.

Installing the Custom Font on Your System

Revit uses fonts that are installed on your Windows operating system. Therefore, the initial step is to make the font available to Windows.

Method 1: Installing for a Specific User Profile

This approach is particularly useful for ensuring a font is available to your specific user account, especially in shared or virtualized environments like a Windows virtual machine or Citrix server.

1. Download the Font: Obtain your custom font file (e.g., "Revit ISO Font. ttf" or any other .ttf or .otf file) and save it to a known location on your system (e.g., your Downloads folder).
2. Open Run Dialog: Press the Windows key + R simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
3. Navigate to User Fonts Folder: In the Run window, type or paste the following path:
   %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Fonts
   Press Enter. This will open your specific user's Fonts folder.
4. Install the Font: Drag and drop your downloaded .ttf (or .otf) font file into this folder. Windows will automatically install it for your user profile.

Method 2: System-Wide Installation (Common Method)

For most individual workstations, you can install fonts for all users on the system with these simpler steps:

1. Download the Font File: Download your desired font file (typically .ttf or .otf format) to your computer.
2. Right-Click and Install:
   • Locate the downloaded font file.
   • Right-click on the font file.
   • Select Install or Install for all users.
   • Windows will then install the font, making it available system-wide.

You can also install fonts by dragging them directly into the main Windows Fonts folder, usually located at C:\Windows\Fonts. For more details on managing fonts in Windows, refer to Microsoft Support.

Where to Find Reputable Fonts

Many websites offer free and paid fonts. Always ensure you are downloading from credible sources to avoid malware and respect licensing terms.

• Google Fonts: A large library of open-source fonts.
• Adobe Fonts: Included with Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions.
• Dafont / Font Squirrel: Popular sites for a wide variety of fonts (check licenses carefully).

Common Font File Types

File Extension	Description
.ttf	TrueType Font: Widely used and compatible.
.otf	OpenType Font: More advanced features than TTF.
.fon	Bitmap Font: Older format, less common today.

Using the Custom Font in Revit

Once the font is successfully installed on your operating system, you can access it within Revit. If Revit was open during the font installation, you might need to restart Revit for the new font to appear in the drop-down lists.

1. Modifying Text Styles

Text styles control the appearance of most annotative text in Revit.

1. Go to the Manage tab on the Revit ribbon.
2. In the Settings panel, click on Additional Settings (the small arrow at the bottom right) and select Text Styles.
3. In the Type Properties dialog box, select an existing text style from the Type selector dropdown.
4. Click Duplicate to create a new text style (e.g., "My Custom Font Text") and give it a descriptive name.
5. Under the Graphics section, locate the Font parameter.
6. Click the dropdown menu next to the Font parameter and select your newly installed custom font.
7. Adjust other parameters like Text Size, Tab Size, Color, etc., as needed.
8. Click OK to apply the changes.

You can then apply this new text style to text notes, labels, and other textual annotations in your Revit project.

2. Modifying Dimension Styles

Dimension styles dictate the font used for dimension text.

1. Go to the Manage tab.
2. In the Settings panel, click on Additional Settings and select Dimension Styles.
3. In the Type Properties dialog, select an existing dimension style.
4. Click Duplicate to create a new dimension style and give it a name (e.g., "My Custom Font Dimensions").
5. Scroll down to the Text section.
6. Locate the Text Font parameter and choose your custom font from the dropdown list.
7. Adjust other dimension text properties like Text Size, Text Offset, Text Color, etc.
8. Click OK to save the new dimension style.

3. Tags and Symbols

Some tags and symbols in Revit families may have their own font parameters. To change the font for these, you might need to:

• Edit the Family: Open the specific family (e.g., a door tag family) in the Family Editor. Check its Family Types for font parameters or Text Types used within the family's annotation.
• Modify Annotation Generic Annotations: Some generic annotation families might use a text style that you've already modified.

Best Practices for Font Management in Revit

• Consistency: Use a consistent set of fonts across your projects to maintain a professional and legible appearance.
• Font Licensing: Always be aware of the licensing terms for any fonts you use, especially in commercial projects.
• Project Sharing: When sharing Revit projects, ensure that all project members have the necessary custom fonts installed on their machines. Missing fonts can lead to text display issues or font substitutions.
• File Size: While usually not a major concern, very complex font files can slightly impact performance in extremely large projects.