What Are Embedded Fonts?

What are embedded fonts?

Embedded fonts are font files which have been included within an electronic document. This ensures that your work appears exactly as intended, regardless of where it’s viewed or printed, even if the end-user doesn’t have the font installed.

Do I need to do anything?

If you are happy with how the fonts appear on your proof then you do not need to do anything. If you have received a warning about your fonts, you will need to embed them as they won’t print successfully.

How to embed fonts

Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop

Save as > PDF > Save > Adobe PDF Presets > High Quality Print.

Adobe InDesign

Export > PDF > Save > Adobe PDF Presets > High Quality Print.

Word, Publisher and Powerpoint

File > Export > Create Adobe PDF.

Canva

File > Download> File type > PDF.

Top Tips

• Check licensing - ensure that the fonts you are embedding are licensed for embedding in documents, especially for commercial use.

• Save documents as a PDF as these files embed fonts.

FAQ’s

Q: How can I check if fonts are embedded in my PDF?

A: In Adobe Acrobat, go to File > Properties and click the Fonts tab. Here you will see a list of all fonts used in the document and whether they are embedded or subset. Font subsetting embeds only the characters used in the document rather than the entire font file.

Q:  Are there any alternatives to embedding fonts to ensure print accuracy?

A:  Converting text to outlines is an alternative, especially in vector graphics software like Adobe Illustrator. This turns text into vector shapes, ensuring high resolution but making the text non-editable. In Adobe Illustrator, select your font and go to Type > Create Outlines. In Adobe Photoshop you can also rasterise your text by going to Type > Rasterize Type Layer.

Q:  Can I embed all types of fonts?

A:  Most fonts can be embedded in PDFs, but some font licenses restrict embedding. Always check the font’s license agreement to ensure it allows embedding for print use.

Q:  What happens if I don’t embed fonts?

A:  If the required fonts are unavailable on the viewer’s device, the text may display incorrectly or substitute with a different font.

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