Fonts in PDFs

[Possum]

Assuming that no changes will be made after you get a PDF (yeah, I know, but just bear with me), do you prefer fonts embedded or outlined? Do you notice any difference between the two methods with small type?

[ninjaPB_43]

yes.  outlined fonts do have their drawbacks..    see thread for more info..

Great trick!

I linked to it on my site but think this thread isn't complete without mentioning the disadvantages of outlining fonts: you lose hinting support and small type 'fattens up' a bit.

[Joe]

Outlined so it's less trouble for me. Screw how it looks!

[Possum]

yes.  outlined fonts do have their drawbacks..    see thread for more info..

Great trick!

I linked to it on my site but think this thread isn't complete without mentioning the disadvantages of outlining fonts: you lose hinting support and small type 'fattens up' a bit.

Thanks a bunch, ninjaPB_43, I'm gonna check it out!

[Sparky]

embedded, If I don't have the font, I'll severely beat the client around head and neck with a baseball bat until I get the fonts sent to me.

Even if it means spending hours over the phone trying to "talk" the Secretary/Graphic Designer through "finding, copying, and attaching to an e-mail", and keeping them on the phone until I successfully get them on my end and have them in my system.

[David]

I prefer embedded.
Live text makes for a smaller file. All the points in the paths of the outlined copy will make it larger, especially if you got several hundred pages.

[beermonster]

i prefer embedded, and will resort to outlines if there's problems

[ninjaPB_43]

prefer embedded just like everyone else for all the same reasons..   since I didnt say in post above.

[Pointyhat]

Embedded, alot of times I have to tear the pdf apart and rebuild it so I need the text live.

[born2print]

Ditto, embedded, also need live type for 2-3 rounds of client type alts :rolleyes:

[delooch]

embedded is always best when i receive files, however when i outsource jobs i outline everything just so theres no surprises..

[DigitalCrapShoveler]

I prefer embedded. Once in awhile when I get those jobs that I can't fix in PitStop, I resort to Illustrator. If the fonts are subset, I can get some pretty bizarre results upon conversion. However, if the fonts are embedded, the file is usually gold. It depends on what native app was used in the PDFs conception and of course the font. "Stable" fonts obviously produce better results, while downloaded custom fonts can do the opposite.

[jezza]

Generally. subsetting will add to the complexity of the postscript that the pdf will be generated from, data is read and then removed (such as hinting etc) during the creation process however that may be. Admittedly including the whole font will give you more data, hence a slightly larger file size, but it is complete data that hasn't been manipulated in a way that you have little or no control over.

That's my understanding of how it works. I've no doubt that someone will correct me if I'm wrong and I would welcome it

[Joe]

I've been communicating with Nexus support for the last week over font issues. They are telling me that subset fonts should work okay most of the time unless they are True Type or Composite fonts, in which case it would be better if they were fully embedded. Who wants to volunteer to teach my customers the difference between the different types of fonts and how to embed them once they learn that? :laugh:

[jezza]

That's clinched it for me then Joe. Embed.