Hello there...

How do you professionals work with fonts ??
Do you all have them installed on your computer, or are you only working with the one you need ?

I also noticed that Illustrator CS crashes when I run it while I have a lot of fonts installed on my computer (over 4000). Can that be solved ???

Thank you !

move the fonts you don't always use to another folder , so they
don't all load w/ the program.
For font advice i would <B>ONLY</B> listen to
CHRISPIS!

Right.

He'll tell you that all you need is Helvetica.

I use a font managing system. Like Scion said, all my fonts are in a Font folder (apart from the system fonts.) When I am working on a file that uses certain fonts, I launch the font manager (I use suitcase, but ATM works well), and open them through that application.

On the mac, OSX, most applications will automatically open and close the fonts used in my files.

Are all your fonts in the system folder? If so, take them out (except the ones the system needs to run) and place them outside your system folder all together.

Ummmm...and listen to Chrispis.

I've used Suitcase for years,on my Mac at work and my PC at home. If your not familair with a font utility like that, what it enables you to do is turn fonts on and off when you need them. Keeping the fonts OUT of the system folder.

But since Mac OSX at work, I've been trying to get used to useing Font Book that comes with OSX. It's not as good as Suitcase but it works.

My Illustrator CS crashes often too,I haven't looked into it that much but I think taking your over 4000 Fonts! Out of your system folder is a good start,