# Premium Font Scan > Use when a font category is known and local premium files must be checked before choosing the OFL baseline. Unlike font-selection-and-pairing, this resolves availability and licence evidence; embedding routes to font-embedding-and-licensing. - Skill: `peterbamuhigire/premium-font-scan` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add peterbamuhigire/premium-font-scan` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/peterbamuhigire/premium-font-scan/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Design & Media - Author: peterbamuhigire (https://skillmd.com/u/peterbamuhigire) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/peterbamuhigire/premium-font-scan --- # Premium Font Scan Acknowledgement: Shared by Peter Bamuhigire, techguypeter.com. ## Use When - About to commit to a typeface and you want to check whether a purchased premium family is available and would look better than the OFL baseline. - Called as step 2 of `font-selection-and-pairing`. ## Do Not Use When - No font category has been chosen yet - classify the artifact first. ## Required Inputs | Input | Supplied by | Required? | Why | |---|---|---|---| | Design-intent category | Typeface selector | yes | Limits the scan to the correct role | | Format and distribution model | Delivery brief | yes | Determines licence permission | | Local font tree and manifests | Repository/device | yes | Establishes actual availability | - The chosen font category and the artifact's output format and intended use, so the licence check is meaningful: embedding, reference, or raw file shipment. ## Workflow 1. **Verify the shared folder taxonomy:** before scanning on a new device or after a pull, ensure these exact top-level folders exist under `fonts/`: `01-formal-institutional`, `02-editorial-literary`, `03-modern-product-grotesque`, `04-technical-data-code`, `05-friendly-humanist`, `06-expressive-display-artistic`, `07-script-cursive-handwritten`, and `08-body-ui-workhorses`. Create any missing category folder using the idempotent setup command in `fonts/README.md`. Do not rename categories or move local font files while doing this check. 2. **Locate the folder:** `fonts//` in this engine. 3. **List present families.** Premium binaries are gitignored, so they may or may not be on this device. List whatever `.ttf`/`.otf`/`.woff2` families are actually present. 4. **Read `MANIFEST.md`** in that folder. For each present family confirm: role, voice, best use, avoid-for notes, pairing guidance, licence, embedding permitted?, and file redistribution permitted? 5. **Decide:** if a present family fits the artifact's voice and role better than the baseline and its MANIFEST grants the permission the format needs, use it. Otherwise use the named OFL baseline from `font-groups-and-usage.md`. 6. **Never ship a file you may not redistribute.** Embedding a Fontshare face into a built artifact is fine; committing or shipping the raw file is not. 7. **Report** which family was chosen and why: premium vs baseline, category, role, pairing, and licence basis. ## Anti-Patterns - Using a premium family whose MANIFEST does not grant the needed permission. - Assuming a premium file is present because it is on another device - always list first. - Skipping the eight-folder taxonomy preflight on a new device, then creating ad hoc categories. - Committing premium binaries into any repo. - Scanning a body workhorse category when the artifact needs an expressive display face. - Using a script/cursive face for body text or dense UI. ## Outputs | Output | Consumer | Evidence / acceptance | |---|---|---| | Availability inventory | Typeface selector | Files grouped by family and category | | Licence disposition | Embedding workflow | Permission and restriction recorded | | Resolved font choice | Design owner | Role, pairing, availability, and reason stated | - The resolved typeface, premium or baseline, with role, voice, pairing, and licence basis recorded for the embedding step. ## Examples - See `examples/premium-scan-worked.md` for a file, manifest, licence, and fallback decision. ## Quality Standards - Treat filesystem evidence and the manifest as authoritative for local availability. - Record embedding and redistribution permissions separately. - Stop selection when licence evidence is absent; recover with the named OFL baseline. ## Decision Rules | Condition | Decision | Wrong-choice failure | |---|---|---| | Premium face is present, suitable, and licensed | Prefer it when it improves the artefact | Purchased differentiation is missed | | File is absent on this device | Use the OFL baseline | Build depends on an unavailable binary | | Embedding allowed but redistribution forbidden | Embed only in the permitted artefact | Raw font is unlawfully shipped | | Licence evidence is missing | Stop and use the baseline | Permission is guessed | ## Capability Contract Read and filesystem search are required. Create a missing taxonomy directory only through the documented idempotent preflight; do not move, delete, commit, or redistribute binaries. Network access is optional for licence verification. ## Degraded Mode Without local file access, return the category baseline and a pending scan checklist. Without reliable rights evidence, mark the premium option blocked and recover with the OFL baseline. - `examples/premium-scan-worked.md` - a full worked scan for a startup-product artifact: scan `fonts/03-modern-product-grotesque/`, read its MANIFEST, find Satoshi present, apply its Fontshare embed-yes/redistribute-no rule, decide premium-vs-baseline with the licence basis stated, and record the resolved face. ## References - `fonts/README.md` - required eight-category folder taxonomy and new-device setup command. - `doctrine/references/font-groups-and-usage.md`, `licensing-and-embedding.md`; the per-category `fonts//MANIFEST.md`.