Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

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David.P
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Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by David.P »

Hello Forum and Tracker Software Team,

in an online article of yours it says to save a PDF as PDF/A to make sure that fonts are embedded in the document:
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowledgebase/161-Why-do-fonts-look-different-when-I-view-the-same-document-on-different-computers

Is there a specific reason why the PDF/X format is not recommended there? This format seems to be specifically for file exchange, whereas PDF/A is more for archival purposes (and also produces the warning bar if, for example, third parties then open the PDF):
https://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1765610&seqNum=11#:~:text=PDF%2FX%3A%20Ensures%20the%20file,time%2C%20despite%20changes%20in%20technology.

It would also be important to me that the documents be editable by third parties, with the embedded fonts available for editing.

I've just had better success with embedding fonts when using PDF/X in some attempts. When saving to PDF/A, it didn't always work to embed the fonts, and sometimes only a subset was embedded and not the entire font.

Thanks for info on what approach and format you recommend here.

Best regards
David
David.P
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TrackerSupp-Daniel
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Re: Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

Hello, David.P

There is no particular reason that PDF/X was not recommended, each has their merits, but as the purpose of the article was not to leave the document in whichever format you choose, we simply offered the simplest set of instructions available which would get the job done. I have asked our writers, who have some more experience with PDF/X, if they think adding a section about PDF/X would be helpful, but I do not expect that it will result in any major differences.

I would suggest that you use whichever works for you, but the intent of this article is to temporarily convert the file and then remove that formatting, so the file can go back to being fully editable.

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

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David.P
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Re: Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by David.P »

Thank you Daniel,

appreciate the information.

I shall keep experimenting, and report back eventually.

Best regards
David
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Paul - Tracker Supp
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Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

:)
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
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David.P
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Re: Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by David.P »

Hello forum and Tracker Support Team

I am currently having trouble again creating proper PDF/X or PDF/A files.

In both cases, not all fonts are being embedded, which is why my PDF upload portal produces the following error message:
The PDF file "XYZ.pdf" contains the following non-embedded fonts: ArialNova Arial SegoeUl
Please check the functions for saving as PDF/X or PDF/A, as there seems to be an issue with the font embedding.

Thanks & best regards
David
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Re: Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

Hi David,

one of the reasons we recommend PDF/A is simply that that we are more familiar with it. PDF/X does offer similar if less restrictive compatibility requirements. You should be able to use either to embed the font subset.

I do not believe either PDF/A nor PDF/X will embed an entire font, only a subset. A subset in this context is the font definitions for the characters actually used in the document. It does not mean that a user without said font installed will be able to make edits that require characters that are not already used (and therefore embedded).

To create documents that have a full font embedded you will need to use the PDF-XChange Standard Printer to create the PDF and set the following options:
image.png
With this option the entire font is embedded - even if only one character was used. It will make the font available for changes to any test in that font.

That aside, if saving as PDF/A is not correctly embedding the font information for what IS there I would like to investigate this. Do you have a PDF that fails in this manner we may see?

Please and Thanks
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
mCHSNUg5Pz8cPap
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Re: Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by mCHSNUg5Pz8cPap »

Paul - Tracker Supp wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 4:11 pm That aside, if saving as PDF/A is not correctly embedding the font information for what IS there I would like to investigate this. Do you have a PDF that fails in this manner we may see?
I reported the same issue along with sample files. You can find it here: https://forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?p=160937#p160937
Features I really want:
1. Fully customizable toolbars: https://forum.tracker-software.com/viewtopic.php?p=167585
2. Sanitize documents w/o being forced into save as dialog (Acrobat has this!): https://forum.tracker-software.com/viewtopic.php?p=156130
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Paul - Tracker Supp
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Re: Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

Got it - thanks.

Sorry for missing that.
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
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Jensen Head
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Re: Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by Jensen Head »

David.P wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 9:07 amIs there a specific reason why the PDF/X format is not recommended there?
I have now saved a 9.65 MB document to several PDF/A variants. The resulting files range in size from 5.42MB (PDF/A-1b) to 11.3MB (PDF/A-3b). The same document saved in PDF/X-4 is 203 MB. For me, this is an important reason not to use PDF/X unless absolutely necessary.
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Sean - Tracker
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Re: Embedding fonts ("Save As" method)

Post by Sean - Tracker »

Hi Jensen Head,

Thanks for the additional feedback/information.

Kind Regards,
Sean Godley
Technical Writer
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD
Sales: +1 (250) 324-1621
Fax: +1 (250) 324-1623
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