Articles on: Templates and Layers

Uploading Custom and Google Fonts

Templated includes a set of built-in fonts. On paid plans you can also add any Google Font and upload your own font files (brand fonts).


Where to find fonts


Fonts are managed in the fonts panel of the editor, not in the Uploads tab.


  1. Open a template in the editor.
  2. Select a text layer.
  3. Click the font name in the toolbar. The fonts panel opens on the left.


The panel has:

  • My Fonts: fonts you uploaded or added (shared with your whole team).
  • System Fonts: the built-in fonts available to everyone.
  • Add Google Font button (paid plans).
  • Upload a font button (paid plans).


Use the search box at the top to find a font by name.


Upload your own font (paid plans)


  1. Open the fonts panel (select a text layer, click the font name).
  2. Click Upload a font at the bottom of the panel.
  3. Choose a .ttf, .otf, .woff or .woff2 file.
  4. The font appears under My Fonts and is applied when you click it.


Good to know:

  • The font name is the file name without the extension. For example, BrandSans-Bold.ttf becomes BrandSans-Bold. Rename the file before uploading if you want a cleaner name.
  • Each file is a separate font. Upload one file per weight or style you need (for example BrandSans-Regular.ttf and BrandSans-Bold.ttf), then pick the right one per text layer.
  • Avoid variable fonts. Files named like BrandSans-VariableFont_wght.ttf contain many weights in one file and may not render the weight you expect. Upload the static files for each weight instead (most font downloads include a static folder).
  • Uploaded fonts are shared with all members of your team.
  • You can also upload fonts with the API: Upload a font.


On the Free plan, the upload and Google Font buttons show a crown icon and open the upgrade screen.


Add a Google Font (paid plans)


  1. Open the fonts panel.
  2. Click Add Google Font.
  3. Search for the font and add it.
  4. It appears under My Fonts.


Not every Google Font is available until you add it. If a Google Font is not in System Fonts, add it first. After that you can use it in the editor and via the API by its name.


Use fonts via the API


Set font_family on a text layer to the exact font name shown in the fonts panel:


{
  "template": "YOUR_TEMPLATE_ID",
  "layers": {
    "title": {
      "text": "Hello World",
      "font_family": "BrandSans-Bold"
    }
  }
}


  • The name must match exactly (same spelling, hyphens and spaces).
  • List the fonts on your account with List fonts (GET /v1/fonts).
  • List the built-in fonts with List gallery fonts (GET /v1/fonts/gallery).
  • For a second font inside the same text, use font_family_2 with *asterisks* around the words. See Create a render.


Arial, Helvetica and other system fonts


Arial is not included by default. You can:

  • Upload your own Arial file (make sure your license allows it), or
  • Add the Google Font Arimo, which has the same letter widths as Arial.


The same applies to other fonts installed on your computer, such as Helvetica or Calibri: they are not available in Templated unless you upload them.


Non-Latin scripts (Hindi, Arabic, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and others)


If text shows as empty boxes (also called "tofu") or question marks, the font does not contain the characters for that language. The renderer does not automatically switch to another font.


Fix: use a font that supports the script. For example:

  • Hindi, Marathi, Nepali (Devanagari): add Noto Sans Devanagari with Add Google Font.
  • Arabic: Noto Sans Arabic or IBM Plex Sans Arabic (built-in).
  • Thai: Noto Sans Thai (built-in).
  • Japanese: Noto Sans JP. Korean: Noto Sans KR (built-in).
  • Chinese: add a Noto Sans SC or TC font with Add Google Font.


Right-to-left languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian) are supported. Text direction can be set to Auto, LTR or RTL in the text settings.


Remove a font


  1. Open the fonts panel.
  2. Under My Fonts, hover the font and click the trash icon.
  3. Confirm.


Before removing a font, change the text layers that use it to another font. Otherwise those layers will no longer display that font. You can also delete fonts with the API: Delete fonts.


Embedded editor


When the embedded editor is used with an external-id, fonts uploaded by an end user are associated with that user's session.


Font licensing


Make sure your font license allows web and commercial use and embedding in generated images and PDFs. Templated does not check font licenses.


Troubleshooting


  • Font not in the list: search for its exact name. Uploaded fonts are named after the file name.
  • Bold or italic looks wrong: upload the separate Bold or Italic file and select it on the layer.
  • Font works in the editor but not via API: check that font_family matches the font name exactly.
  • Text shows boxes: the font lacks the characters for that language. See "Non-Latin scripts".
  • Render looks different from the editor: see "Why does my render look different from the editor?".


FAQ


Q: How do I upload a custom font?
A: Select a text layer, click the font name in the toolbar, then click "Upload a font" at the bottom of the fonts panel. It is not in the Uploads tab.


Q: Can I use any Google Font?
A: Yes, on paid plans. Click "Add Google Font" in the fonts panel, then use it in the editor or via API by name.


Q: Is Arial available?
A: Not by default. Upload Arial or add Arimo, a free alternative with the same letter widths.


Q: My Hindi text shows as squares. Why?
A: The font does not support Devanagari. Add Noto Sans Devanagari and apply it to the layer.


Q: Can I upload a variable font?
A: We recommend uploading the static file for each weight instead of a variable font.


Q: How do I delete a font I uploaded?
A: In the fonts panel, under My Fonts, click the trash icon next to the font. Change layers that use it to another font first.


Q: Can I upload fonts on the Free plan?
A: No. Uploading fonts and adding Google Fonts require a paid plan.

Updated on: 01/10/2026

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