Why is the background color disappearing when a Text Frame having background is outlined

[ML Rahman]

Hi there,

You know that there is a menu command "Create Outlines" under "Type Menu" as in Illustrator. Once I notice that the background/outline-color is gone after I made the Text Frame outlined!

It will be a huge mistake when you do so for a print production unconsciously.

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[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

That's how create outlines works in InDesign.

My question for you is why are you creating outlines to begin with? If you deliver a high-res PDF the fonts will be embedded.

Years ago we routined converted to outlines in Illustrator to avoid type issues—for most people, it's no longer necessary, it's just a habit. Here's a doc from 2007 that addresses this.

This is one of those urban myths of publishing that you frequently need to outline fonts. The truth is that you should almost never have to outline fonts. Really only if you want to mess around with the glyph shapes for a special artistic effect. Unfortunately, it’s perpetuated by some print service providers and others who insist that they won’t receive a PDF file unless the fonts have been outlined.

—https://indesignsecrets.com/outlining-fonts-is-it-necessary.php

[SJRiegel]

That is only one of many things that will disappear when you use Create Outlines in InDesign. You will also lose auto-bullets and numbering, underlines and other text attributes.

That's why it is never a good idea to convert entire documents worth of text to outlines in InDesign. The feature is useful for small bits of text to apply special effects and turing text to frames.

If you must have all the text in the document as outlines, there is prepess setting in Acrobat to allow you to do the conversion to the PDF.  Most modern printers do not need this, and it is not considered best practice.
I only do if if the printer insists (and only because I don't have the option to change printers).