How to manage fallback fonts in your Brand Kit

How to manage fallback fonts in your Brand Kit

A fallback font is the web safe font Instant uses when a recipient’s email client or browser can’t load your custom web font. Every custom font you add needs a fallback so your emails always render in a sensible typeface, no matter where they’re opened.

To add a custom font and set its fallback:

1. Go to Brand Kit and open the Typography section
2. Click the typography style you want to update (for example Heading 1) to expand it
3. Open the font dropdown showing the current font name
4. Click Add font
5. Choose how to add your font using the tabs on the left:
   • Import font to upload your own file. Enter the Font Name, choose the weight and style, then upload your file (WOFF2 format). Use Add weight to upload additional weights.
   • Google fonts to pick from Google’s library. Choose your font under Font name.
6. Under Fallback font, click Select web safe font and choose a fallback (Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica, Georgia, or Verdana)
7. Click Add font

Your new font now appears under Your fonts in the font dropdown and can be applied to any typography style.

To change the fallback font for an existing custom font:

1. Go to Brand Kit and open the Typography section
2. Open the font dropdown on any typography style
3. Under Your fonts, click the pencil (edit) icon next to the custom font
4. In the Edit window, open the Fallback font dropdown and choose a new fallback
5. Use the Preview to check how the fallback renders
6. Click Save changes

Tip: Web safe fonts are pre-installed on almost every device and email client, which is what makes them reliable fallbacks. Pick the closest match to your custom font’s style, for example a serif fallback (Georgia or Times New Roman) for a serif font, or a sans-serif fallback (Arial or Helvetica) for a sans-serif font.

Note: The Edit window only lets you change the fallback font. To rename a font, change its weights, or replace the file, remove the font using the X next to it in Your fonts, then add it again.

Note: After adding or editing a font, click Save changes in the top right of your Brand Kit to apply your updates.

FAQ

What is a fallback font? It’s a web safe font Instant uses when your custom web font can’t load in a recipient’s email client or browser. It keeps your emails readable everywhere, even where custom fonts aren’t supported.

Why do I need one? Some email clients and browsers don’t support custom web fonts. Without a fallback, those recipients would see a default system font you haven’t chosen. Setting a fallback gives you control over what they see instead.

Which fonts can I use as a fallback? Any of the web safe fonts: Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica, Georgia, and Verdana. These are the safest choice because they’re available on almost every device.

Can I change a fallback without re-uploading my font? Yes. Open the font dropdown, click the pencil (edit) icon next to the font under Your fonts, and change the fallback there. You don’t need to re-upload anything.

Can I edit anything other than the fallback when editing a font? No. The Edit window only changes the fallback. To change the font name, weights, or file, remove the font and add it again.

Do web safe fonts need a fallback? No. Web safe fonts are already supported everywhere, so they don’t use a fallback. Only custom imported fonts and Google fonts have one.