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InDesign 2020 Convert Text To Outline

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
December 18, 2019
7 replies
13053 views

I'm stuggling to convert text into outlines.

I have a 250 page InDesign book that I can't get to export with the text in an outline.

Any help?

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Correct answer Jongware

Thank you for the suggestion. I've tried what that 9 year old article says.

> I've tried what that 9 year old article says.

You're right, apologies. That was an older answer -- as you can see, your specific request has been discussed (and discouraged) more than once. I was actually looking for https://indesignsecrets.com/outlining-fonts-the-2016-edition.php

(Just for the record: it re-states that (1) outlining fonts is bad practice; (2) you should not be doing it; (3) .. even if your obvious clueless printer "demands" it; (4) but if you do, use Acrobat Pro. Dov Isaac's official advice dates from 2015 so I'm not sure if you would consider this "too old to follow" too.)

S

SJRiegel

Legend

You haven't answered as to why you are converting 250 pages to outlines, but I can tell you (as others have already), that this has the possibility of introducing all sorts of errors in the process. Any printer worth using can use a PDF as generated from InDesign - no font outlining needed.

BobLevine

Community Expert

I don't know about the rest of you but I'm beginning to feel like we're all wasting our time trying to help.

Dan013Author

Participating Frequently

My apologies for not responding. THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to respond. Let me clarify…

The 250 page book I’ve created with InDesign is a photobook. There are only 2 pages dedicated to text and page numbers on each page. So there isn’t a lot of text to start with.

However, the printer I’m working with wants text converted to outlines. Yes, I’ve read that if a printer requires this, they’re working with old or outdated equipment and you find a new printer. Unfortunately, at this stage, I’m committed to using this printer. I just needed to get this project sent out.

After reading several “How To’s” and searching YouTube. They all seemed to use this technique or hack.

https://youtu.be/MjGpeySLq5E

https://youtu.be/ska6zutS2j0

I still had no luck. After creating the PDF when I opened it in Acrobat or Reader, the text was still in font form.

The solution was to open the PDF in Acrobat and convert it from there, as mentioned.

Again, THANK YOU gang for jumping in and helping out!

Danny Whitehead.

Legend

Don't. If a printing company is asking you to, tell them you're going to use a company that doesn't have this arcane requirement.

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Hi Dan,

if you must convert text to outlines best do it with the exported PDF in Acrobat Pro DC.

Print Production > Preflight

Choose:

Acrobat Pro DC 2015 Profiles

Tab: Profiles

Right most button: Select single fix ups

Document > Convert fonts to outlines

Run the fix with the Fix button of the Preflight panel.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

EDIT: Did not see datap's nested reply with the screenshot of Acrobat's Preflight panel before.

Dan013Author

Participating Frequently

I use InDesign because it's easy to use. Once a year I create an awesome book filled with pictures from the race season. I love to contribute back to the community.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

We have (kind of indirectly) asked you again and again WHY you want to outline text. You haven't replied. We ask because it's a bad idea, because it damages quality and usability, and because it is almost never needed. But there's a lot of bad advice on the internet so 9 times out of 10 people are doing it when they don't need to. Even more confusingly, you keep posting screen shots with no text in them, so we have really no idea what your problem is with outlining text.

Dan013Author

Participating Frequently

Believe me, I was confused. You're 100% correct about bad advice. That seems to be all I found. Thank you for taking the time to help out, it's appreciated.