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Anonymous
July 14, 2008
Answered

Convert PDF text to curves (LOCKED)

  • July 14, 2008
  • 12 replies
  • 91015 views

Hi,

I need to do a couple of minor text changes to a menu that I have been sent as a PDF. When I open the file in Illustrator CS2, it all works except for the headings - which are in a font (Shelley Allegro) that I don't have.

The headings look fine viewed in Acrobat 7 Pro, so obviously there is an embedded subset of the font in the PDF.

Is there a way to convert the text to curves when opening the file? I don't need to edit the headings - but I don't want to rasterise them by opening in Photoshop either.

    Correct answer _Rachel_Strickland_
    I was able to place the pdf in Illustrator CS3 and then go to Object/Flatten Transparency. In the pop-up window check turn fonts to outlines. I didn't need to change the transparency.

    12 replies

    S
    Suffakate
    Participant
    May 19, 2017

    Thanks Rachel and John's Solutions  worked best for me - The solution of placing in Illustrator then flatten transparency from there.

      Nini Tjader
      Nini Tjader
      Participating Frequently
      August 19, 2008
      Emily - did you check the file in Adobe Reader or Acrobat Pro if the fonts aren't embedded? What I can see Pages (in my case '08 version) embeds a subset by default. Just chekc the file Properties in Acrobat to see what it did. In Acrobat Pro and Preview you can also resave the pdf created as a PDF/X file.
      _
      _Emily_Cleveland_
      Participant
      August 19, 2008
      The fonts aren't embedded in the PDF files when I print to PDF or export to PDF from Pages, so they're not appearing correctly for the printer...
      Nini Tjader
      Nini Tjader
      Participating Frequently
      August 19, 2008
      Emily - why would you want that?
      _
      _Emily_Cleveland_
      Participant
      August 18, 2008
      Any suggestions for changing several long Pages (iWork '08) documents into CURVES or Line Art for printing? The above is great, but would take FOREVER to do page by page... and I'm new to this, if that's not obvious :-)

      Thanks!
      Steve Fairbairn
      Steve Fairbairn
      Inspiring
      August 18, 2008
      Luke says that outlining is old-school.
      All the same, if you want to be 100% certain that things get printed the way you want them, it's the only foolproof way to do things, especially if you're using unusual or homemade fonts.
      Thing is that fonts are identified by a code number, so if your printer has a font with the same id-code as yours you will get his version - even though your font and his are totally different. No amount of embedding will prevent this.
      I have seen it happen numerous times and it still happens every now and again.
        _
        _John_Kallios_
        Known Participant
        August 17, 2008
        If you have pitstop, you can use this to convert text to outlines.

        Tman's suggestion will work. Kurt's suggestion also works.

        Another method, link place the pdf in Illustrator. Select the linked element, object flatten transparency with convert fonts to outlines.

        All methods require embedded fonts in the pdf.

        Every method, except using pitstop, will flatten transparency.
          _
          _Rachel_Strickland_Correct answer
          Participant
          August 13, 2008
          I was able to place the pdf in Illustrator CS3 and then go to Object/Flatten Transparency. In the pop-up window check turn fonts to outlines. I didn't need to change the transparency.
          Kurt Gold
          Community Expert
          Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          July 15, 2008
          I think tman's suggestion should work, but I haven't tried it. However, what works for me is:

          - Place the .pdf in InDesign

          - Give it an opacity other than 100%, for example 99%

          - Create a Flatten Transparency preset that forces all text to be outlined

          - Export the document to an .eps file and choose the above created preset

          - Open the .eps in Illustrator
            _
            _Luke_Jennings_
            Participating Frequently
            July 15, 2008
            You can see if the fonts are embedded in Acrobat (file> properties) if they are, you may be able to make the edits in Acrobat using the select text tool (or pitstop if you have it). A PDF may appear to display properly without embedded fonts, but editing and printing is dicy. Outlining is old-school, but if you must, this will work: In Acrobat go to document> watermark> add> text> (hit space bar) opacity 99%> OK.
            Then, advanced> print production> flattener preview> convert all text to outlines> apply> save. The idea is to add transparency to the PDF (with an invisible watermark) then use the flattener preview to force outlining.
            Edit- These instructions are for Acrobat 8, for 7 use Tools> print production> transparency flattening.
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