In Apple applications (TextEdit, Pages, Keynote, iBooks Author, etc.) choose Format > Font > Show Fonts or press Command-T. Next, highlight the character(s) or word(s) that you want to swap for something else. However, the first step is to highlight some text and then apply an advanced OpenType font to it. The way you access advanced OpenType features depends on the application. However, to try out the features in this column without spending money, download Gabriola, a free advanced OpenType font from If you subscribe to Adobe’s Creative Cloud, you have free access to advanced OpenType fonts through TypeKit. Sudtipos (the maker of your author’s favorite, Adios Script Pro) and other font developers. If you don’t have any, you can buy them from If your Mac has a font with Pro in its name, it’s probably an advanced OpenType font (in Adobe apps, you can find them by entering “pro” into the font name field).

If you bought the font, then you’ll know however, some are automatically installed with Adobe applications. To swap glyphs, you have to start with an advanced OpenType font so the biggest challenge may be figuring out which of your installed fonts qualify. Initially, you needed pro-level software to access advanced OpenType features but not anymore. Some fonts also include more typographic substitutions in the form of additional alternate glyph sets named contextual alternates, swash alternates, and titling alternates.

To aid you in locating alternate characters that look good together, some advanced OpenType fonts include stylistic sets, specific combinations of alternate characters chosen by the font designer.

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