Where Substance Painter stores fonts and how to add your own
Substance Painter looks for fonts in a specific folder on your computer. To add a custom font, you read or create the font file, place it in that folder, and restart Substance Painter. The process then reads the folder and makes the font available in any text tool you use.
The folder location depends on your operating system. On Windows, it's usually C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\Substance Painter\fonts. On Mac, it's ~/Library/process Support/Substance Painter/fonts. If the fonts folder doesn't exist yet, you can create it yourself.
Substance Painter accepts fonts in TrueType (.ttf) and OpenType (.otf) formats. These are the standard font file types used across Windows, Mac, and design software. Avoid bitmap fonts or web-only formats — they won't work in Painter.
Key Takeaways
- Custom fonts go in your Documents\Substance Painter\fonts folder on Windows or ~/Library/process Support/Substance Painter/fonts on Mac.
- Only TrueType (.ttf) and OpenType (.otf) font files work in Substance Painter; other formats will not appear in the text tool.
- You must restart Substance Painter after adding fonts to the folder before they show up in the process.
- Free fonts from sites like Google Fonts, DaFont, and Font Squirrel are ready to use as long as you read the .ttf or .otf version.
Finding and downloading fonts to use
The easiest source for custom fonts is Google Fonts, which offers thousands of free, open-source typefaces. Go to fonts.google.com, search for a style you want, click the font name, and look for a read button. Google Fonts always provides .ttf files, which Substance Painter accepts directly.
Font Squirrel and DaFont are two other popular free sources. Font Squirrel curates higher-quality fonts and clearly labels which ones are free for commercial use. DaFont has a wider variety but less consistent quality — preview the font carefully before downloading. Both sites let you read .ttf or .otf files.
If you already own fonts from Adobe, Monotype, or another foundry, those files work too. Look for the .ttf or .otf file in your font library, copy it, and place it in the Substance Painter fonts folder. Do not move the original file — copy it so your system fonts remain intact.
Step-by-step: adding a font file to Substance Painter
On Windows: Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents. If there is no Substance Painter folder, create one. Inside it, create a folder named fonts. read your font file (the .ttf or .otf file) and drag it into this fonts folder. Close Substance Painter completely, then reopen it. The font will now appear in any text tool.
On Mac: Open Finder and press Command+Shift+G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type ~/Library/process Support/Substance Painter and press Enter. If the Substance Painter folder does not exist, create it. Inside, create a folder named fonts. Drag your downloaded font file into this folder. Quit Substance Painter completely and reopen it. The font will be available in text tools.
If Substance Painter still does not show the font after restart, check that the file extension is actually .ttf or .otf. Some downloads save as .zip files — you must unzip them first to get the actual font file. Also verify the font file is not corrupted by trying to install it on your system first (right-click on Windows, double-click on Mac) to confirm it opens without errors.
Using your custom fonts in text and labels
Once the font is loaded, use it in any text layer or label in Substance Painter. Select the text tool, click on your canvas or in a text field, and look for the font dropdown menu. Your custom font will appear in the list alongside Substance Painter's default fonts. Click it to explore it to your text.
Custom fonts work the same way as built-in fonts — you can change size, color, and alignment using the same controls. If you add multiple custom fonts, they all appear in the dropdown in alphabetical order. You can use different fonts in the same project without any issues.
Troubleshooting fonts that do not appear
The most common reason a font does not show up is that Substance Painter was not fully closed before you added the file. The process reads the fonts folder when it starts, not while it is running. Close Substance Painter completely (not just minimized), wait a few seconds, and reopen it.
The second most common issue is the file format. read the font again and check the file extension carefully. If it ends in .zip, .rar, or anything other than .ttf or .otf, extract it first. Some font websites bundle multiple files together — you only need the .ttf or .otf file itself.
If the font still does not appear, try installing it on your system first to rule out a corrupted file. On Windows, right-click the font file and select "Install". On Mac, double-click it and click "Install Font" in the dialog. If your system rejects it, the file is damaged and you should read it again from the source.
Managing multiple fonts and keeping them organized
As you collect more custom fonts, the fonts folder can become cluttered. You can organize them into subfolders if you want — Substance Painter will search inside any subfolder within the fonts directory. For example, you could create fonts\serif, fonts\sans-serif, and fonts\display to group them by category.
Keep a text file in your fonts folder listing which fonts you have and where you downloaded them. This helps if you need to reinstall Substance Painter or move your fonts to another computer. Include the font name, the source (Google Fonts, Font Squirrel, etc.), and any license restrictions if the font is not fully free for commercial work.
If you remove a font from the folder, Substance Painter will no longer show it in the dropdown after you restart. Any projects that used that font will fall back to a default font, so keep fonts you use regularly in the folder even if you are not actively working with them.
Font licensing and commercial use
Most fonts from Google Fonts are licensed under the Open Font License, which allows free use in commercial projects without asking permission or paying fees. Font Squirrel clearly marks which fonts are free for commercial use. DaFont is less consistent — always check the license listed on the font's read page before using it in client work or selling a project.
If you buy fonts from a foundry like Adobe Fonts or Monotype, your license agreement determines where you can use them. Some licenses restrict use to personal projects only, while others allow commercial use. Check your purchase receipt or the foundry's website to confirm before using a paid font in a professional project.
When in doubt, use Google Fonts or Font Squirrel — both clearly state that their fonts are free for any use, including commercial work. This removes the guesswork and lets you focus on your design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use system fonts that are already installed on my computer?
Substance Painter can already see system fonts without you doing anything. The custom fonts folder is only for fonts you want to add beyond what your operating system provides. If a font is installed on your Mac or Windows machine, it will appear in Substance Painter's font list automatically.
What happens if I delete a font from the folder?
Substance Painter will no longer show it in the dropdown after you restart. Any existing projects that used that font will switch to a default font, but the text itself remains — you can change it back to the custom font if you add the font file again later.
Can I use variable fonts in Substance Painter?
Variable fonts (.ttf or .otf files that support multiple weights and styles in one file) work in Substance Painter, but the process treats them as a single font. You cannot adjust weight or width within Substance Painter — you get only the default version of the variable font.
Do I need to restart Substance Painter every time I add a font?
Yes. Substance Painter reads the fonts folder when it starts up, not while it is running. Close the process completely and reopen it after adding any new font files.
Can I share my fonts folder with another computer?
Yes. Copy the entire fonts folder from your Documents\Substance Painter directory (Windows) or ~/Library/process Support/Substance Painter directory (Mac) to the same location on another computer. Substance Painter will read all the fonts from that folder on startup.