Letter spacing with Helvetica Now Variable

[sofinski]

I have created a pdf with InDesign, using the new Helvetica Now Variable font. When I open the df with Adobe Acrobat, everytheing looks good. But when I print the file, some letter spacing gets messed up. Printing the same file with Apple’s Preview app everything is fine. You can see it here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bu9rklyjewhh15v/Helvetica%20Now%20Variable.pdf?dl=0

[Karl Heinz Kremer]

What printer are  you using? If the printer supports multiple languages, which one are you using (PostScript, PCL, PDF ...)? 

Most printing problems in my experience can be resolved by updating the printer driver. 

As a workaround, you can print the document "as image". You can find this optinon on the Advanced dialog. 

[sofinski]

Thak you, Karl Heinz,

I work on an iMac, my printer at home is an HP Laserjet M552, the Contol panel says "Airprint". But this happened with a poster in the local print shop with Adobe Acrobat too (but I don't know what machine was used). But we need a brochure with 80 plus pages and several hundred copies that will be printed in a big printing house. I don't know if I can tell them to change their usual work flow. I guess I will have to change text to paths (with much bigger file size).

[sofinski]

I did not want to mark the post as "Correct answer", I was only trying to edit my post (insert the missing n in Thak you,).

[Karl Heinz Kremer]

Is the font embedded or subset embedded? 

[sofinski]

Acrobat tells me that subset is embedded.

[Karl Heinz Kremer · Accepted solution]

In that case, converting to outlines may be your only option. I would run a preflight check in Acrobat Pro to see if it picks up anything "fishy" with the file, but I suspect because it came from InDesign, it's fine. Adobe knows how to create good PDF files. 

[sofinski]

Thank you, Karl Heinz.