How to export with letter contours??

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
November 7, 2023
3 replies
8349 views

Previously I always used a slightly older version of Indesign. If I wanted to export a file to PDF, I went to the 'Advanced' tab and then indicated "convert to letter contours" under 'Preset'.

Now I'm working with the new version and I no longer see this option. After a lot of searching on the internet, I came up with the following method: select all text, then convert text to letter outlines and then export your file. Unfortunately, the file will then no longer be editable. Can anyone tell me if the method I used before is now completely gone? Then I have to adjust my working method.

Import and export

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Peter Spier

Community Expert

If you have a real reason to need conversion from type to paths, it is best to do it in Acrobat Pro after making the PDF. This will preserve any enhancements, like automatic numbers and bullets, as well as adornments like underlines that would be lost converting before making the PDF.

Scott Falkner

Community Expert

You should not be converting text to paths in InDesign unless you have a specific need for the text to be paths. Examples include adding a gradient (which can be done to text but it is very porrly implemented), editing the path of text, using text as a mask.

PDFs do not need to have text converted to paths. I understand some vendors either require it or think they require it, and you cannot always choose your vendors.

The best way to convert text to paths in a PDF is with Acrobat. Open the PDF in Acrobat then open the Preflight window (Click All Tools, then Use Print Production, then Preflight). In the Preflight window search for Outlines then double-click on Convert Fonts to Outlines. You wil be prompted to save a new PDF.