9 Replies Latest reply: Jun 4, 2009 9:24 AM by Buko. RSS

    Don't Embed Fonts in PDF

    Skempy Community Member

      Hi,

       

      Is is possible to export a PDF from InDesign CS4 without embedding any fonts?

       

      I can create a .joboptions file in Distiller with font embedding disabled and have this appear as a Preset in InDesign but the fonts are being embedded regardless.

       

      Thanks.

        • 1. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
          P Spier CommunityMVP

          I don't think so, unless you pick resticted fonts.

           

          But why would you WANT to have a PDF without embedded fonts?

          • 2. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
            [Jongware] Community Member

            Some of my clients were able to do this by accident -- and nor they, nor I ever figured out how they did it.

             

            If you want to remove the fonts in a PDF, you could use Acrobat professional -> Save As -> Optimized PDF. Select the Options button; in the Fonts section, there is an option to disembed selected fonts.

            • 3. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
              Mr. Met Community Member

              Won't the fonts default for printing if fonts aren't embedded? The whole point of a PDF is to lock down art and fonts in one uneditable (ahem) file.

              • 4. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
                Skempy Community Member

                Currently we export newspaper adverts from InDesign as EPS with no fonts embedded. We then convert the EPS to a PDF using a third party system which does the font embedding using its own font library. If the required font does not exist in this library the EPS to PDF conversion fails and we are notified of this.

                 

                This enables us to trap adverts which use fonts not in the approved font library.

                 

                We want to move to a PDF workflow whilst retaining this ability and therefore need to create PDF without fonts embedded.

                 

                If this is not possible by directly exporting a PDF from InDesign then we will have to find an alternative solution.

                 

                 

                Thanks for your response.

                 

                Simon Kemp.

                • 5. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
                  Skempy Community Member

                  Thanks Peter,

                   

                  If both yourself and "Jongware" don't have a solution then I feel I can probably give up on this.

                   

                  We use an EPS/PDF post-processing system called Asura from One Vision which can report back to our Ad Tracking software if artwork contains fonts that are not on an approved list. This only works if the fonts have not been embedded in the artwork. Currently we export as EPS (with no font embedding) but want to move to a PDF workflow whilst retaining our ability to "trap" non approved fonts.

                   

                  Simon.

                  • 6. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
                    P Spier CommunityMVP

                    Thats a pretty archaic workflow. Ther point to embedding the fonts is to eliminate the need for an approved fonts list and the possibility of font substitution.

                     

                    I'm saying you should abandon what you do, but I think you should take a close look at the workflow and whether you can update the procedures on your end -- exporting your pages direct to PDF for example -- and eliminate the whole issue.

                     

                    You CAN print to PDF without font embedding if you set up  the proper joboptions, but again, this makes no sense to me.

                     

                    Peter

                    • 7. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
                      Skempy Community Member

                      Peter,

                       

                      The issue isn't with font substitution it is to do with font licensing.

                       

                      The Ad setters have fonts available to them that are not licensed to be used in adverts.

                       

                      Despite being issued with instructions as to which fonts they cannot use in Ads, the Ad Setters often "forget" and non-legal fonts get used.

                       

                      This workflow, although far from ideal, does prevent us from falling foul of the font licensing laws.

                       

                      Does this make sense?

                       

                      Simon.

                      • 8. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
                        P Spier CommunityMVP

                        Make perfect sense from the licensing point of view, but not much sense from the point of view of having fonts installed on sytems that one is not allowed to use.

                         

                        How does that happen? How can a font be licensed for commercial use (which presumably it must be to use in a newspaper) but not be licensed for all typoes of commercial use, including creating ads. I'd love to know what foundry this is and what the license says.

                        • 9. Re: Don't Embed Fonts in PDF
                          Community Member

                          Why not just install the approved fonts on the computers of the people making the ads?