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.

U

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.

U

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.

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Here's a js. There are obvious risks with this—forget to do a Save as and you would loose the original. This wouldn't get tables, overset text, or fonts in placed files.

for(var i=0; i < app.activeDocument.stories.length; i++){
    var s = app.activeDocument.stories.item(i);
    for(var j=0; j < s.paragraphs.length; j++){
        var p=s.paragraphs.item(j);
        p.createOutlines();
    }
}

https://forums.adobe.com/people/rob+day  wrote
Here's a js. There are obvious risks with this—forget to do a Save as and you would loose the original. This wouldn't get tables, overset text, or fonts in placed files.
for(var i=0; i < app.activeDocument.stories.length; i++){     var s = app.activeDocument.stories.item(i);     for(var j=0; j < s.paragraphs.length; j++){         var p=s.paragraphs.item(j);         p.createOutlines();     } }

Hi Rob,

maybe it's better to do a GREP find action for all text so that also all text of table cells can be reached. Or footnotes text.

Wheras footnote numbers will simply vanish. Bullets and numbered paragraphs: Bullets and numbers could be converted to regular text first and some other things like text frames could be duplicated that contain fills and converted to graphic frames; things like that and way more…

Ah. Forgot: cells in tables will maintain cells in tables so one has to fix the height of every cell in a table before creating outlines.

And on and on with exceptions…

Regards,
Uwe

U

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.

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umagurl77Author

Inspiring

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.

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 ...

U

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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