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wendyl15148942
Participant
June 19, 2017
Answered

Appearance of the letter"l"on a logo does not render correctly on PDF

  • June 19, 2017
  • 6 replies
  • 3436 views

I have a logo created in illustrator that has two lowercase l's. The logo is placed in Indesign and then a PDF is created. The "l" look different than the other letters on the PDF, sometimes thicker or thinner depending on what percentage it is viewed. When you zoom in, they look fine. I tried to make the paths a compound path which was a suggested fix. This worked inconsistently. I also read that you can set your viewing preference in acrobat to have enhanced viewing. This wont work because I do not control how every user views the PDF. Any other ideas on how to fix this?

    Correct answer Test Screen Name

    I wasn't clear, I see. I meant this is characteristic of flattening transparency - so DON'T do that. Don't flatten transparency and don't outline fonts.

    6 replies

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    Xan319643809uc6
    Participant
    August 30, 2023

    Hi, old thread and still am reopening it.

    Now in 2023, I am to convert an html to pdf file using the adobe acrobat web browser extension.

    The ONLY thing that remains without any livable options, still, are the "l" letters.

    They render bold, however NOT in the preview but after printing the document to pdf.

    I see people making workarounds, I want a simple straightforward fix for it.

    NO settings exist in the preferences are offered for this problem.

    I have tried multiple web browsers, Google Chrome, Edge, nothing.

    I am not to pay for a full product for such little feature.

    I would really like it to be short sweet and simple, and no twerking neither coding involved. Please.

    X
    Xan319643809uc6
    Participant
    August 30, 2023

    "Allow access to file URLs" seem to have been my fix thanks.

    K
    KHCAP
    Participant
    February 26, 2020

    Hi Wendy, 

    Just wondered if you ever came across a fix for this? I have a company logo that has done the exact same thing (same letter!) for years and it's freaking out everyone who views PDF proofs (even though it prints just fine). I know it's just a glitch in Acrobat because if you zoom in it appears fine. Just wondered if you had any luck. Thanks!

      C
      Catharine5EB3
      Participant
      October 28, 2021

      Wow. I can't believe the only advise is to not outline fonts or to expect other users to turn off a preference! There are lots of times when I have to outline fonts. The answer is really, really simple - in any shape that has only four points (the lower part of a lower case i, a lower case L or an upper case I) simply add an extra point anywhere along the path. That way, Acrobat no longer sees it as a line and therefore doesn't try to enhance it. You haven't changed the shape or destroyed any one's precious design, just let Acrobat know that this rectangle isn't a line

        sideliner
        sideliner
        Known Participant
        August 8, 2023

        Catharine, thank you so much for posting your fix for this perennial problem. Just tested and it works perfectly.

        This has caused issues for so many years. Reading all the suggestions of 'never turn type into outlines' while researching this makes me wonder how close some commenters really are to the practicalities of design work.

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          Test Screen NameCorrect answer
          Legend
          June 20, 2017

          I wasn't clear, I see. I meant this is characteristic of flattening transparency - so DON'T do that. Don't flatten transparency and don't outline fonts.

          T
          Test Screen Name
          Legend
          June 19, 2017

          What did you try, by the way?

          W
          wendyl15148942Author
          Participant
          June 20, 2017

          I flattened the transparency when making the PDF out of indesign. It is odd because the logo is used on many pages and in different sizes and some look better than others.

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          Test Screen Name
          Legend
          June 19, 2017

          You mean it was already outlined before you got it? if so, find out the font used to make it, and use the original font in Illustrator.

          W
          wendyl15148942Author
          Participant
          June 20, 2017

          I will look into that. Thanks

          T
          Test Screen Name
          Legend
          June 19, 2017

          This is characteristic of outlining text rather than keeping fonts, which include "hints" for accurate screen display. Or, flattening transparency before, or as part of, making the PDF. Do neither of these things, if you want it to look nice on screen, would be my advice.

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          wendyl15148942Author
          Participant
          June 19, 2017

          Thanks for the advice.  I tried that and it actually made it worse. I cannot keep it as a font because it is a logo that was provided as vector art in illustrator.

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