Inconsistent text bolding on Chrome

[SAronson]

Hi everyone, 

I'm stuck on a PDF report that must work well when emailed/downloaded through Google. Unfortunately, there seems to be a bug in how certain text is displayed (first photo is one example). When downloaded from Google Drive/Gmail and opened in the Chrome web browser, this odd bolding appears around some text. It does not happen when opened in Preview, Acrobat, Slack, etc. This needs to be a publicly available doc, with links included.

I've tried downloading an interactive PDF, print PDF, checking the text, and everything else I can think of. If helpful, the text is Roboto, size 9.5. There is no image behind the text. There is a color text box behind the text, but I tried removing it, and it still happened (second photo). I'm losing my mind and would appreciate any advice!! 

Thank you! 

SA

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

There was a similar thread recently - please try zoom in / out a few times. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/font-looks-bold-after-exporting/td-p/15287851

[SAronson]

I have, it does not work unfortunately. 

[SAronson]

I did review that thread and attempted what was suggested, but sadly none of the advice worked for my document. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@SAronson

Can you try with a different font?

Can you share your PDF - or part of it - or if it's confidential - can you create and share some mockup? 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @SAronson,

Just checking in to see if the issue was resolved after trying expert's suggestion, or if you're still facing the same problem with the bold text in Chrome. If the issue persists, would you be able to share a sample file (or a mockup, if the original is confidential) so we can test it on our end and help further? Moreover, please shared the screenhot of the export settings as well.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Abhishek 

[SAronson]

Hi, folks below were helpful, but the issue, as they identify, is not resolved and likely cannot be due to Chrome's viewer settings. I do wish there was a way to fix this as I cannot control how the public views my client's products. For now, it appears that I am simply between a rock and a hard place as I cannot change my client's brand fonts, etc., and the products must be publicly available. Thanks! 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

How well a particular viewer works is totally "on them". Most third party viewers, and especially browsers, are bad at it. Chrome is typically the worst. Adding to the misery is technology like Microsoft Cleartype, which can shift characters slightly in each independent channel RGB to "make it look better" on LCD screens*. If you are viewing this on a Windows install, turn off Cleartype if it's on and see if there's any difference. If not it's completely a Chrome issue.

*Your screen grabs actually shows this effect, but not consistently. If you open one in Photoshop and toggle between the R G and B channels, you can see letters shift one pixel either direction. This doesn't happen on evey line though, so on the ones that it does, the overall effect is that the line looks "lighter" than the ones that don't.

Regardless, this has NOTHING to do with the PDF itself.

[SAronson]

Thank you for this -- it's validating, if also frustrating. The nature of my work means people will always be viewing PDFs on Chrome and all sorts of other viewers. If there is any way to control for this AT ALL in the future (different font? something else...?), I am all ears. 

[leo.r]

(different font? something else...?)

By @SAronson

Do you have this issue with any font you try, or Roboto only?

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

I just did a test on my Mac, and Chrome shows the same issue on Mac so it's not Cleartype causing the issue as that doesn't exist on Macs). Doesn't matter what font I tried, btw. 

Chrome is just bad at rendering PDFs. 😉

EDIT: Also tried Opera and it did the same thing, which makes sense as it uses the same PDF engine as Chrome.

[SAronson]

Thank you! It does seem to happen with other fonts as well. Now that I've noticed it, I'm seeing it from other designers on other websites when PDF reports are opened via Chrome. So it seems, Brad @ Roaring Mouse, that you are correct. I wish there was a better solution for Chrome! 

[rob day]

I wish there was a better solution for Chrome!

Hi @SAronson , You can see the effect of different renderings by changing Acrobat’s Page Display > Rendering settings. I agree with Brad, I don’t think it is something you can control.

You might try testing different type faces and sizes—some faces are designed for screen display. A font with a lot of weight choises might have a weight that will look better on screen.

[rob day]

Something like Acumin, which has 9 wieghts or there is a Variable version (see attached PDF)

[SAronson]

Thank you!

[rob day]

Hi @SAronson , Is there any transparency on the spread? Does it happen using a presetmthat flattens (e.i., PDF/X-1a)

[SAronson]

Hi, no, no transparency and I've tried just about every export option (both Interactive and Print). It shows up when opened via Chrome no matter what unfortunately. 

[Willi Adelberger]

Please be aware, that onky Acrobat is the onöy valid PDF viewer. Any other viewer, like Chrome, are not able to show all flairs of PDFs. There is not a problem with the PDF or with the used font, do not use Chrome to view PDFs and inform the recipients on those problems.

[SAronson]

Thank you. Unfortunately, there is no way to control for how the public views my work in this case. It is a public link that folks can download and then read -- and many people just go to the Chrome viewer. I suppose I could propose that my client adds a disclaimer to their website? Perhaps that is a solution if I word it in the right way. 

[BobLevine]

Thank you. Unfortunately, there is no way to control for how the public views my work in this case. 

By @SAronson

That is the sad truth and there is nothing you or anyone else can do about. When you export from InDesign it's important to note you are exporting Adobe PDF, not Chrome PDF. They didn't throw that in there for nothing.