Skip to main content
elig93856810
elig93856810
Participating Frequently
August 8, 2017
Question

Overlapping text when opened as bundled PDF

  • August 8, 2017
  • 6 replies
  • 9009 views

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!

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    6 replies

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    August 9, 2017

    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
    elig93856810Author
    Participating Frequently
    August 10, 2017

    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)

    elig93856810
    elig93856810Author
    Participating Frequently
    August 10, 2017

    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.


    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?

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    August 9, 2017

    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?"

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    August 9, 2017

    Really the more than 10 year old Acrobat 6 Pro?

    elig93856810
    elig93856810Author
    Participating Frequently
    August 9, 2017

    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
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 9, 2017

    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
    elig93856810Author
    Participating Frequently
    August 9, 2017

    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.

    barbara_a7746676
    Community Expert
    barbara_a7746676Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 9, 2017

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

    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 9, 2017

    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
    elig93856810Author
    Participating Frequently
    August 9, 2017

    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_a7746676
    Community Expert
    barbara_a7746676Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 9, 2017

    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.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices