In this article, you will learn
- how to embed missing Fonts,
- how to convert Fonts to paths,
- where these Fixups can be accessed within the Workflow, and
- which additional information about Fonts is important for processing print data.
1. Introduction
If the Fonts used in the source applications are accessible at the time of PDF creation, it it theoretically possible to include the description of the Fonts – so called font programs – into the PDF and thereby embedding the Fonts. If the Fonts used cannot be accessed at the time of PDF creation, the glyphs used can be embedded, but not the descriptive Outlines of the glyphs. In the first case is referred to as embedded Fonts, and the second case as missing Fonts.
2. General
The Fixups listed below can be found in the selection menu Tools for Fonts [2], which is located in the footer of the sections Fonts [1] in the tab Print Data of the Print Item Detail view. In addition, the Fixups are also available in the tab Data Preparation.
The following Fixups are offered in the Fixup Group Tools for Fonts:
- Embed missing Fonts
- Convert Fonts to Outlines
Figure 1: The settings area Fonts of the tab Print Data
3. Fixups for Fonts
In the Fixup Group Tools for Fonts, two Fixups are currently available. These are briefly described below.
3.1. Embed missing Fonts
The purpose of the Fixup Embed missing Fonts is to embed missing Fonts so that the Outlines description for glyphs can be processed completely. Fonts must be embedded to guarantee error-free print output, enable text editing, and allow the conversion of Fonts to outlines.
Fonts can only be embedded if they are directly accessible to the application. Direct access includes all typical font directories of the operating system in use, as well as selected Workflow directories through which Fonts can me made available to the application.
Figure 2: The dialog of the Fixup Embed missing Fonts
Functionality and description, including the corresponding sample file, can be found in the Description.
Making Fonts available to the application
If you need specific Fonts in the application, you can upload them in Administration > Settings > Fonts.
3.2. Convert Fonts to Outlines
The purpose of the Fixup Convert Fonts to Outlines is to convert embedded Fonts into Outlines. During conversion, the outline description of the glyphs in the font program is used to resolve the individual glyphs in the PDF as vector graphics. However, conversion to Outlines can only take place if the corresponding Outline description is available – that is, if the font is embedded.
Converting glyphs to Outlines can reduce the PDF file size in some cases. On the other hand, it can significantly improve print output reliability, as there will be no font conflicts in the RIP. However, if large text documents are converted to Outlines, this can increase the PDF’s file size. As a result, text output quality may be lower on low-resolution printing systems – below 300 dpi – and it will no longer be possible to edit text before printing. Therefore, it always depends on the intended use whether Fonts should be converted to Outlines or not.
Figure 3: The dialog of the Fixup Convert Fonts to Outlines
Functionality and description, including the corresponding sample file, can be found in the Description.
Article Update: Workflow 1.21.0 – 09/2025