Inspiring

Question

Best and Fastest way to create outlines in file

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
April 16, 2018
5 replies
2745 views

Hi there,

Every working file that leaves my workplace has to have outlines. We are not allowed to share the fonts. I don't always want to rely on sending a high res PDF either. Is there a better way to create outlines in my file than manually doing it. Is there an automated way? Sometimes there are 10+ files and I have to manually do each one and it's very time consuming.

Any tips would be great!

This topic has been closed for replies.

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umagurl77Author

Inspiring

Hey everyone,

I have seen the light and have started to mandate not converting to outlines manually in our studio. I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, but . you were all so knowledgeable..

After I make the high res PDF, what things should I check in Acrobat before I send to the printer? Things like colour space, DPI? I'm going to train the rest of my co workers on this and just want to be thoroughly informed.

Thanks in advance!

John Mensinger

Community Expert

umagurl77 wrote
Every working file that leaves my workplace has to have outlines. We are not allowed to share the fonts.

The maker/enforcer of that policy is incorrect, and responsible for the only reason you have a perceived breakage in your workflow without a simple solution.

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umagurl77Author

Inspiring

I suppose I was generalizing. We are not allowed to share fonts unless the license allows sharing it with a printer, 3rd party, etc. Sure I could include those. I'm going to look into eliminating working files more and go with print PDFs.

Colin Flashman

Community Expert

Am I understanding your workflow correctly? A packaged InDesign file that only has links but all the fonts are converted to curves is supplied, but not a PDF... or a PDF is supplied but the preference is not to?

By adding the "convert all text to outlines" in InDesign and supplying that to the printer, digital integrity is lost because the printer is no longer using the same artwork that the original artist has, and if there is an error in terms of content disappearing, the fault is more likely to lie with the artist than the printer purely because of this extra step.

I can see reasons where converting all text to outlines is required, but this may inadvertently breach the EULAs that are associated with the fonts. Some examples are:

* Typekit fonts (don't get packaged in an InDesign packaged file, though can be accessed via the Typekit service);

* Fonts that don't allow font embedding into a PDF;

* Fonts that - while they will embed into a PDF - won't package into a folder due to licensing restrictions.

Besides my own opinion of preferring that packaged files NOT be converted to curves, there are three other VERY experienced InDesign users on this forum saying that the intended procedure will cause further pain points.

If your hand is forced and you MUST convert files to curves, do it OUTSIDE of InDesign and use a preflight action that is available in Adobe Acrobat DC as initially suggested by Steve Werner: https://indesignsecrets.com/outlining-fonts-the-2016-edition.php

If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!

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umagurl77Author

Inspiring

Thx Rob!

I'm able to send high res print PDFs with my files, but I just like to also send an outlined file in case they need to do something in the file on their end. Maybe old school. And not being able to send fonts anymore, if they need to work in the file, I have to outline it.

rob day

Community Expert

in case they need to do something in the file on their end.

But what would they be doing?

I can see wanting the printer to make last minute text corrections, but they wont be able to do that. They can't fix resolution problems, and most color management issues can be handled in AcrobatPro if you provide PDF/X-4 files.

rob day

Community Expert

Honestly, I don't know what they would be doing. I set up my files pretty good. But the last thing I want is to hear back from the printer that they need the file because they can't do whatever. It's just kind of a precaution.

But the last thing I want is to hear back from the printer that they need the file because they can't do whatever.

But that's the reason for the PDF (PDF/X-4) workflow. If there's a problem in the PDF that can't be fixed via AcrobatPro or other PDF prepress tools, access to the native files wouldn't help because you've made the text uneditable. Outlining is a solution looking for a problem.

BobLevine

Community Expert

Of course you’re not allowed to share the fonts but that doesn’t mean you have to outline everything. Frankly, that is absolutely insane.

If you use Typekit, anyone receiving the file will need to have a CC subscription and will have access to the same fonts.

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umagurl77Author

Inspiring

It's unreasonable to think that everyone getting the file has a CC subscription? I am part of a very large company and we didn't get a CC subscription until 6 months ago. All of our software is monitored and pushed out from a central location which also does the same for thousands of companies.

Can anyone help me with the actual question of a automated way to make physical outlines, whether it's agreed upon or not?

rob day

Community Expert

It can be done via scripting—you might ask in the scripting forum.

Just curious why isn't PDF always an option? Usually the reason to send a package is to allow the printer to make edits, but with all of the text as outlines there's not much they can do.

Steve Werner

Community Expert

If you need to outline fonts, this is now considered the best way:

Outlining Fonts, the 2016 Edition - InDesignSecrets.com ...

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umagurl77Author

Inspiring

Thank you. This is good, but I still have to send the high res PDF. Let's just say I don't want to. Sometimes I want to send the file though. Any other tips for physically outlining fonts?

Steve Werner

Community Expert

The method I linked to can done with a high resolution PDF. No problems with that.

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