Please add "Convert fonts to outlines" function in Export/PDF/Advanced dialog box in InDesign.

[graceful_Mirage3830]

Dear Adobe!

Please add "Convert fonts to outlines" function in Export/PDF/Advanced dialog box in InDesign.

Thank you!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

If you have access only to printers and print providers who have truly obsolete systems and no choice but to provide outlined files, that changes the nature of the question and useful answers.

I remain skeptical, though, that you have no other options. The window of needing files outlined was for RIPs and prepress systems in a fairly narrow window almost 20 years ago. Even in a city or country with older resources, it does not seem likely that all printers are stuck — technically — at this point. I'd suggest they are more likely stuck in their work methods and understanding.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You failed to mention you live in a third-world country (your terminology) until three days later. I consider that critical information. That would have changed some of the responses. 

[JR Boulay]

We're no longer in the 19th century!

😉

[Frans v.d. Geest]

Nor in the 20th century 🙃

[Mike Witherell]

That was, for a brief time, a problem from 35 years ago. This industry is not filled with imagesetters from that long ago.

[Willi Adelberger]

You can convert PDFs in Acrobat Pro WITHOUT converting them to PS. Please learn Acrobat Pro. 

[Colin Flashman]

I'm going to be the Devil's advocate here and actually agree that it would be required.

From time to time, I have to deal with suppliers that aren't in the ink-on-paper space but still involved in printing, but they need to handle the files that I've given them that were created in InDesign. Now these suppliers range from applying spot UV varnishes to making hot foil stamps or emboss/deboss blocks - the two latter are often done with cnc machining and they need to open the files outside of Acrobat... so naturally one of the first issues they will have is missing fonts... and I certainly don't want them to substitute the fonts out!

It's also very easy to say "use another provider" but come to Adelaide sometime and see just how many providers we have that are local and not interstate in Melbourne or Sydney. Cost and Time does play a big part in who we use as a contractor and I'd love to say to my supplier "get with the times" but they'll just tell me to "get another supplier" that will add days to the turnaround and eat $$$ of margin.

However, I do agree with Bob Levine that this isn't the place to ask - the indesign uservoice is where to make the feature requests.

[graceful_Mirage3830]

Thanks, I have exactly the same problems with some print providers!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

None of this argument, in this thread or any other, discounts the need for converting fonts to shapes for art purposes — to allow editing and combination of the letterforms, or for specialty printing such as spot color, UV, embossing or foiling. But this conversion should be done in the composition tool (ID, AI etc.) and not as part of the export process where it is non-selective.

It is the blanket conversion of all fonts, including small text and body fonts, that is completely obsolete and if requested should lead to an investigation of the printer's capability, quality and processes.

Apples and oranges.