Embedding Fonts into PDF files

[Reclaimer1]

Hey Everyone,

I don't know if this is the section to post this question but I'm hoping one of you guys can help me out.

I'm uploading my graphic novel to a print on demand site. The site requires that the actual file should be converted into a PDF. Well I made the graphic novel a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat 8.

Here's my problem; when I went to upload the file, the print on demand site said that it couldn't because one of the fonts was not embedded and they give you steps to embed the fonts. I followed those steps but again it was a no go.

I'd greatly appreciate any advice/help any of you can provide to me on this subject. What am I doing wrong? How can I correct this? I really would like to get this project resolved.

Thanks for reading this post and I hope to hear from you soon.

[Piekos]

Convert all the fonts to outlines and you won't need to embed anything.

~N

[Reclaimer1]

Convert all the fonts to outlines and you won't need to embed anything.

~N

Hey thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. But how do you convert the fonts to outlines? I don't want to sound like the uninitiated but I have no idea on how to go about doing that.

[Gonzogoose]

If you're using illustrator for the lettering you can simply select all the text and hold down ctrl, shift and the letter "O" to create outlines. I'm not sure about other programs.

[Reclaimer1]

If you're using illustrator for the lettering you can simply select all the text and hold down ctrl, shift and the letter "O" to create outlines. I'm not sure about other programs.

Yes I'm using Illustrator 8 for lettering and I did make the fonts outlines. I went to upload the PDF file again and I get the same result. The error message I'm getting is "Helvetica is not embedded." To the best of my knowledge Helvetica wasn't even used in the lettering process.

This is kind of frustrating. Any other advice you can give me would be appreciated.


Thanks

[Gonzogoose]

Hmm, are you including any kind of text document in the PDF or just the actual comic pages?

[Reclaimer1]

Hmm, are you including any kind of text document in the PDF or just the actual comic pages?


Now that you mention it yeah I have about 5-6 text pages along with the comic pages.

[Darren Schwindaman]

Yeah if you're copying/pasting from a text document, a lot of times some character will hang around that is invisible, but messes up font stuff. The Adobe palettes also have a default typeface setting that oftentimes gets stuck into a picture box or shape or something. If the font they're telling you is missing is DEFINITELY not in the final work, maybe you can tell them to just go on ahead with the printing.

[Reclaimer1]

Ok I appreciate all your help. Now here's the problem now after tooling around with my file. This graphic novel is an anthology book consisting of about 9 stories. All 9 stories have been saved as PDF files with the Helvetica font embedded.

When I go to make the final graphic novel combining PDF files consisting of all these smaller pdf story files in Acrobat 8, Helvetica is no longer embedded. This is what's preventing me from uploading my file onto that site.

I don't understand how the separate components of the book has this font embedded but when you go to combine them the font isn't embedded anymore.

[Darren Schwindaman]

How are you creating the PDF? Maybe instead of saving as a PDF, you can print to a PDF. Go into your Print dialogue like you're going to send it to a printer, and there should be something to select that will have you print it as a PDF.

[Kep!]

I own at least three diferent versions of Helvetica; not just different weights, but full-blown types (Helvetica, Helvetica Neu and another I forget)...and one has both TTF and OTF which Illustrator sees as different fonts. Is it possible that the flavor of Helvetica you're using is different on these pages?

[Reclaimer1]

Ok I think I have an idea about what you're all saying. I admit I'm not that techincal of a person with this stuff. I know just the basics and I thought maybe that was enough to help me make a PDF file of my book and upload it to this print on demand site. The name of the site itself is called Lulu.com have any of you heard or worked with them before?

Their procedures require me to upload my book as a PDF to their site.

Funny thing that still bothers me a bit is I took my book apart and split it into 11 different PDF files and they all uploaded onto lulu fine. It's when I make the final full PDF file combining all these parts using acrobat 8 that's when the helvetica font is no longer embedded which is preventing the upload on lulu's site.

Does that make sense to any of you guys?

[devildog]

If you aren't using Helvetica in your Quark text, but it's telling you that you are....Go to the "Usage" panel and if Helvetica is in the list of fonts, just replace it with another font that is less problematic for you. Then output your Quark file as one complete PDF.

If you have your story broken into multiple Quark docs...combine all your separate Quark docs...you can do this by looking at the layout in thumbnails mode, it allows you to drag pages from one Quark doc to another. This way you can make one PDF rather than having to combine separate PDFs.

[JeffPowell]

If none of the above solve the issue it may just be an empty text path in the Illustrator files. You may have clicked the document somewhere with the text tool and not typed anything. Either go back to the AI files and select all then convert to outlines. Or try Object>Path>Clean Up... and choose Empty Text Paths. Good luck.

[Reclaimer1]

I'm at loss here. I tried everything and anything and nothing is working. Lulu.com is still saying that the Helvetica font is not embedded. I'm out of options other than maybe arranging the files to not have the helvetica font be a font in the PDF files. Either that or I rescan and re save the every page of this book.

If I substitute the helvetica font for something else using Illustrator 8 how do I go about doing that?

[Jason Arthur]

Personally, I'd open every page, one-by-one, and hit "Select All" (Ctrl+A on PC or Command + A on a Mac) then Create Outlines (Ctrl + Shift+ O on PC or Command + Shift + A on a Mac).

Then re-save each page straight from Adobe Illustrator in pdf format and re-assemble it.

That should solve your problem.

-- J

[Reclaimer1]

Personally, I'd open every page, one-by-one, and hit "Select All" (Ctrl+A on PC or Command + A on a Mac) then Create Outlines (Ctrl + Shift+ O on PC or Command + Shift + A on a Mac).

Then re-save each page straight from Adobe Illustrator in pdf format and re-assemble it.

That should solve your problem.

-- J


That sounds like great advice. I just finished speaking to a Lulu representative and they also were saying that I should re size my file to fit. I admit that I saved my PDF files in letter 8.5 X11 size for something to be scaled down to comic book size.

Are there any links you can direct me to that gives step by step instructions on how to make these changes?

Thanks a lot to everyone who responded to my thread. You have all been helpful.

[Jason Arthur]

That sounds like great advice. I just finished speaking to a Lulu representative and they also were saying that I should re size my file to fit. I admit that I saved my PDF files in letter 8.5 X11 size for something to be scaled down to comic book size.

That won't work. You need to have your book sized to 6.875 x 10.5 for full-bleed comic book work. Email me and I can send you my lettering template (which you can also use to make sure your pages are scaled properly).

Are there any links you can direct me to that gives step by step instructions on how to make these changes?

When you email me for the template I can try to help you.

-- J

[Reclaimer1]

That won't work. You need to have your book sized to 6.875 x 10.5 for full-bleed comic book work. Email me and I can send you my lettering template (which you can also use to make sure your pages are scaled properly).



When you email me for the template I can try to help you.

-- J
Ok Jason. Sounds like a plan. I just sent you over an email to your web page.