Fonts missing in placed PDF in CC 2019

Question

When I run the script in InDesign to place a multipage pdf file onto multiple pages in a document, InDesign substitutes the fonts and throws errors on the preflight panel stating that the fonts (that are in the PDF file itself) are missing. I did not have this issue before updating to 2019. (This is on a Mac Computer)

It is in a file I have been working on since April 2018. I also have a PC running indesign CS6 and I exported the file on the mac as an .idml file. I was able to open the .idml with CS6 on my PC with no issues. The placed PDF pages in the indesign document are present and display correctly.

I have only come across a similar issue to this once before years ago (perhaps in version CS4 or 5?) but it was with a single page pdf, and the only thing I could do was convert it to a TIFF in photoshop and place it into the document. That would be incredibly time consuming for this instance as the script is placing a file thats about 60+ pages long. Is there any solution to this?

Much appreciated.

Willi Adelberger · Accepted Answer

If you place PDFs in InDesign use only PDF/X-4, this should solve any problem as this standard guaranties that the fonts are not lost and delivers the best quality. Don't use ever X-1a or X-3 or most other PDF types as those can cause problems the one or other way when imported to InDesign.

Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com · Answer

Trying to summarize what the problem is and how to correct it.

As others have said, 1. the fonts were not embedded into the PDF when it was originally created, and 2. PostScript Distiller was used to create the PDF.

Best to fix the problem at the source:

Open the original Word.docx file in a recent version of Word (365 or Office 2016).
Re-export the PDF from Word using the Acrobat ribbon, which is the PDF Maker plug-in installed into Word with Acrobat Standard or Pro.
Set the export Preferences to embed all fonts, and clear out the boxes on the right side that essentially say "except these fonts." You need to embed all fonts into the PDF, even ubiquitous ones like Times New Roman and Arial.
Then re-place the PDF into your InDesign layout.

Of course, when exporting the final PDF from InDesign, ensure that all fonts are embedded (subset if less than 100% of characters were used). Although PDF/X-4 settings are fine, any other of the default or custom settings will work as long as you embed all fonts (in the Advanced settings), which InDesign does by default.

Hope this helps clear up the confusion.

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