One Typeface, Several Products
Foundries rarely sell “Helvetica forever for everything.” They sell use cases:
| Use | Typical license | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop design | Desktop / seat | Install on workstations, create print/PDF as allowed |
| Website | Web / pageview or domain | Serve WOFF2 to browsers |
| App / ebook | App or pub license | Bundle in software or publications |
| PDF embedding | Often desktop + embed clause | Font programs inside the PDF file |
Buying the wrong bucket is the #1 reason “we thought we were covered” fails.
Website Scans Answer Different Questions
A full-site crawl asks:
- Which fonts load on which URLs?
- Are they Google, Adobe, self-hosted, or commercial?
- Do we see license risk on the live web property?
That is essential. It does not tell you what is inside last quarter’s investor PDF.
PDF Audits Answer Document Questions
A PDF font scan asks:
- Which typefaces are embedded in this file?
- Do any match commercial catalog entries?
- Should legal verify embed / document rights before we publish it?
Together, site + PDF coverage matches how brands actually ship typography.
When You Need Both
- Agencies — launch the site and deliver brand PDFs
- Ecommerce — storefront fonts + seasonal catalogs
- Enterprises — intranet sites + policy PDFs on SharePoint
- Due diligence — web properties and marketing collateral
Pricing Mental Model (FontScanner)
On FontScanner, 1 credit runs either:
- A full-site website scan, or
- A PDF upload font audit (max 10 MB)
Pick the surface you are clearing today. Clear both before a big launch.
Practical Split for Teams
Design owns desktop installs and source files.
Web owns webfont packages and CDN hosting.
Marketing ops owns the PDF archive and re-exports.
Compliance owns proof of license storage.
Each role should know which scan type validates their surface.
Conclusion
“We licensed the font” is incomplete until you say for what. Website crawls and PDF audits are complementary tools — not duplicates. Use both when your brand lives on pages and in documents.