Overlapping text when opened as bundled PDF

[elig93856810]

I'm using Illustrator CS6 and Adobe Acrobat Pro 6. When I bundle multiple sheets into one PDF the I'll sometimes get a word that overlaps. The letters come out on top of one another.. It is very random, just a few words on a page, doesn't always happen, also doesn't always happen to the same page in the document when opened another time.

I can get around it by converting the text to outlines but this is an extra step I don't want to have to take.

Is it a compatibility issue? I was able to go from Illustrator 10 to Adobe Acrobat Pro 6 without this issue. Or is it the way I'm saving the file? Can I save down to a different version to get around it? Or is there a text setting I should be using that embeds it or something? I save my file as a PDF from illustrator if that matters.

TIA!

[Bill Silbert]

When you make your pdf out of Illustrator make sure that in the Advanced section of the Save Adobe PDF dialog that "Subset fonts when percent of characters used is less than" is set for 100%. See screen shot:

[elig93856810]

It was set to 100% so that can't be it. I can try the 0% But also I checked the document properties of a file I had an issue with and it listed 6 different fonts and says (Embedded Subset) next to each. So does that mean all the text is embedded already and that this would not be the cause?

[barbara_a]

I'm trying to avoid subsetting the fonts altogether.

If you set it to zero percent, the fonts will be embedded but NOT subset.

Give it a try.

[Bill Silbert]

I had suggested 100% based on my own experience which has been that complete subsetting had never led me astray with my final pdf. It certainly is worth a try to use Barbara's approach. Fonts are certainly a tricky bunch. Is this problem only happening with one particular font? If so I would also recommend trying to load another copy of that font to eliminate font corruption.

[barbara_a]

When creating the PDF, try changing Subset fonts to zero percent. Let me know if this solves the issue.

[elig93856810]

Thanks Barbara, then I will try that. I am clearly not familiar with the difference between embedded and subset...

Bill thanks, I always use Arial and it is happening with that. Is the font tied to the program or to the computer? Because it was happening on two different computers. If tied to the program then it would be worth trying to load another copy of the font.

One more thing I thought of. I'm working from a template that was created originally in Illustrator 10 and I had to update the fonts when I opened it in CS6. I then typed new text, as that was only a template, but could updating the font have done anything to the file that would cause future text typed into a "save as" version to have an issue?

I will be trying 0% and hopefully that solves it. It might be a while till I know if that solved the issue since it's sporadic and random.

Thanks so much for the help!

[Monika Gause]

I don't understand the workflow.

You are working on an AI file? Or on a PDF file which is saved with AI editing features?

What exactly do you save to which file format at which point in the process?

What happens then?

You combine many files in Acrobat and the text then overlaps in Acrobat?

Or do you open the file again in Illustrator and the text overlaps there?

Would make a huge difference.

[elig93856810]

I am working in AI and save it as a PDF file with AI editing features.

Then i combine many files in acrobat and there some of the text overlaps.

When i reopen the file in illustrator the text does not overlap.

[Monika Gause]

elig93856810  schrieb

Then i combine many files in acrobat and there some of the text overlaps.

When i reopen the file in illustrator the text does not overlap.

So after combining the files you reopen them in Illustrator?

That is a dangerous workflow, becauseon this way either the Illustrator editing features or whatever editing you have done in Acrobat might get lost.

Do the words overlap as soon as you open those files in Acrobat? Or only after editing in Acrobat?

[elig93856810]

no... i work on them only in illustrator. i use acrobat strictly to bundle them. i dont edit them at all in acrobat. Words overlap as soon as i open in acrobat. thanks.

[Monika Gause]

Can you please create  a new file in Illustrator and then place (link) a file that shows the error into the new file?

Oh and it would be nice if you could show a screenshot.

[elig93856810]

If it happens again i'll take a screenshot, its not consistent, so even if I reopen the last file that had this issue, it doesn't currently have that issue.

[Monika Gause]

On which system are you running your ancient Acrobat Pro?

[elig93856810]

windows 10

[Test Screen Name]

Really the more than 10 year old Acrobat 6 Pro?

[Test Screen Name]

I asked but for some reason you didn't reply: is there a problem with the question? "Really the more than 10 year old Acrobat 6 Pro?"

[Test Screen Name]

Acrobat versions up to 9 are not considered compatible with Windows 10. May be the cause of your misfortunes. Or not. 6 was a particularly troublesome release.

[elig93856810]

thanks. I dont think it is a compatibility issue between windows 10 and acrobat because I also have this issue on my laptop which is Windows XP using the same version of illustrator and acrobat so i think its something to do with CS6+acrobat 6. (XP with Illustrator 10 and acrobat 6 was not an issue)

[Monika Gause]

Does the overlapping also happen when you place the file in Illustrator (linked) or open in Photoshop?

Because: if not, it's not an issue with Illustrator.

[elig93856810]

I'm not sure, I can try it next time if it happens again. but when you say placed, do you mean if i have a blank file and do "file, place" and select the file with the issue?

[Monika Gause]

elig93856810  schrieb

I'm not sure, I can try it next time if it happens again. but when you say placed, do you mean if i have a blank file and do "file, place" and select the file with the issue?

Exactly. And make sure it's linked. That way you open the file the same way that Acrobat does.