Need to convert all text to outline

[ScribbledBeauty]

Is there a way in InDesign to convert all text to outline? I would prefer not to go to every single page and click on the text block then convert to outline. I tried to find a way to do it in Find/Change... but nothing.

A bit of what the file is, I am sending addresses to be printed on envelopes. InDesign is the best option with using Data Merge from a .csv file but it would be nice to convert all text without having to convert everying in Adobe Acrobat Pro. Please don't respond with I shouldn't be converting to outlines.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

Just curious, why do you want to convert all text to outline? 

[ScribbledBeauty]

Because I have had text/fonts appear fine on the screen in the PDF (looks fine on my screen, looks fine on print shop screen) but print wrong. Letters getting cut off to the point of a persons name missing letters completely. It was fixed by converting all text to outline.

I tend to use fancy fonts for weddings because that is what they want. I can't take the chance of having something go wrong with the file and I don't have the option of getting a proof printed. I am just looking for a faster way to do this while still in InDesign.

[BobLevine]

You're either using low quality fonts, low quality printers or both.

I've been doing this for a long time and I've never had that happen. I've seen my share of other issues in the olden days but nothing even resembling that.

[ScribbledBeauty]

It was a font downloaded from Adobe Fonts. I would think it should be high quality.

I have had it happen, so I will be converting all text to outline. I was just looking for a faster way of doing it.

[BRNicholas]

I, myself, have run into this issue. For some reason when I send a PDF to a printer that contains a strange font sometimes it prints odd or adds artifacts that aren't there when I print on my test printer. Fonts from Adobe Fonts and the same way I always prep files for printing but some fonts just act silly on some printers. If converting the text isn't the recommended way to deal with issues like this then what do you recommend?

[Willi Adelberger]

Why do you want to do it in InDesign?

Do it in Adobe Acrobat Pro, as Dov Isaac has described it 4 Years ago. Nothing has changed and nothing will change in the near future.

[BobLevine]

I recommend talking to the printer and if they refuse to help, finding a new one.

[BRNicholas]

For my example, that isn't possible. Using a print-on-demand service like KDP gets your book sent to whatever of the tons of printers they use. Some print good, some print like crap. You can report the issue but I haven't seen anything actually come from that in terms of future quality. Typically, I just flatten the layers so they are printing a picture instead of all the layers with the embedded font but I was looking for a better solution.

[rob day]

If all the document fonts are fully embedded there shouldn’t be a problem no matter where the PDF is printed—but you have to take the time to check the font embedding in AcrobatPro before you send the file.

[rob day]

If converting the text isn't the recommended way to deal with issues like this then what do you recommend?

Hi @BRNicholas , Make sure you are using a font or fonts that allow embedding—Restrictions Normal in Find/Replace Font

Then in AcrobatPro confirm that all the document fonts are embedded—Document Properties>Fonts. In this case I forced the entire font to be embedded by setting Subset fonts... to 0% in the Export Advanced tab:

The default Advanced Subsetting is 100%, which will only embed the characters used in the document, but if you want to be safe set it to 0%

[Barb Binder]

Is there a way in InDesign to convert all text to outline?

I'm sure this could be scripted, but no, it's not within the standard feature set of InDesign.

Please don't respond with I shouldn't be converting to outlines.

Ok, but will you tell us why are you converting to outlines?

~Barb

[ScribbledBeauty]

Because I have had text/fonts appear fine on the screen in the PDF (looks fine on my screen, looks fine on print shop screen) but print wrong. Letters getting cut off to the point of a persons name missing letters completely. It was fixed by converting all text to outline.

[Dov Isaacs]

The simple answer is no!

The simple and best way to convert all text in a document (in this case InDesign) is to export PDF from InDesign (preferably PDF/X-4) and in Acrobat Pro DC, use the Preflight profile Convert text to outlines. This comprehensively converts absolutely all text in the PDF to outlines and you still have live text in your InDesign document.

That having been said, there are very few and rare occasions in which there is any reason to convert text to outlines. If you have a print service provider that demands such conversion, it is indicative of a vendor who has ancient coal powered, steam driven RIPs or more likely is ignorant of current best practices, relying instead on old myths and legends. If your print service provider really believes this garbage about converting text to outlines, s/he likely is doing other foolish things in terms of end-to-end publishing workflows (such as demanding conversion of all images to CMYK and flattening all transparency). You may want to start looking for an alternative print service provider ASAP!

               - Dov

[ScribbledBeauty]

Thank you for replying.

I won't be looking for a new printer as they are not the one asking for it. I prefer to convert to outlines in InDesign (because I can see the outline of all text). I can't take the chance of any font messing up. I don't need to have live text as this is a copy of the original file.

I want to convert all text to outline because I have had examples where the file looks fine on my screen and the printers computer but still prints with letters cut off or missing.

[Willi Adelberger]

Outlining fnts in InDesign is a no go. You loose not only live fonts, you loose underlines, strikethrough, text frame borders, text frame colors, paragraph rules, paragraph frames, automatic numbers, cross references, automatic bullets and other lists and many information more. I strongly recommend not to do it.

Why not Acrobat? There it is a 2-second command to change all text in a document without loosing anything except lie text.

[Ken Webster]

I agree, there is no practical way to do it within InDesgin. But, what I don't understand is why does Adobe not provide a way to convert all text to outlines when exporting the PDF??? If you can do it within Acrobat, then why not InDesign? There should be a simple checkbox: "Convert all fonts to outlines" when exporting the PDF.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Because it instantly renders the entire document un-editable, for one thing; it's an antiquated and largely unnecessary procedure as well.

The only two reasons to convert text to outline are (1) to manipulate the letters, usually in relatively large font sizes, as graphic objects; and (2) to accommodate printers with very outdated RIP software and processes. (2a: a very few old-school print processes like vinyl cutting and letterpress still work best with letter outlines, but those are niche, not mainstream printing.)

Thus, the only two ways to convert text to outline are (1) at a very small scale within most design and layout tools, and (2) at the export stage.

If you need to, or are being asked to convert pages of body text to outline — you need to examine your workflow, your printer, or both.

[BobLevine]

This is a public forum. You can ask whatever you want but you don't get to dictate the answers.

You already know this is a horrible workflow so whether you like it or not, I'm going to point it out for anyone else reading this.

[Kasyan Servetsky]

Check out these scripts.

Also, you can do it in Acrobat.

[toniat43741624]

the links you posted are not working, do you have a script to convert the entire document to outlines?

[Willi Adelberger]

Don't do it in InDesign as it causes multiple changes in the appearance in the document!!!!

Do it in Acrobat Pro.

[toniat43741624]

If you have the InDesign script, please post. 

[ScribbledBeauty]

I agree it would be nice to be able to convert the whole document to outlines. Instead of page by page

[Willi Adelberger]

Why are you nt doing it in Acrobat Pro? 1 command, no problems.