Since InDesign 21.0 BOLD styles of any font get ignored in linked WMF files

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
January 6, 2026
3 replies
194 views

Since InDesign version 21.0, the following problem occurs with linked WMF files:
Text that is “bold” in the WMF file is displayed and printed as “regular” in InDesign.
This error did not occur in InDesign versions up to 20.5.1.

This behavior can be easily reproduced on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. You can use different fonts for the test, e.g., Minion Pro, Myriad Pro, Times New Roman, Arial, etc.

Test instructions:
1. Use Illustrator to create a file that contains text in regular, italic, bold, and bold italic.
2. Export this file as a WMF file.
3. Place the WMF file in InDesign 20.5.1 and InDesign 21.x.

Result:
In InDesign 20.5.1, all font styles appear correctly (see attachment: TEST InDesign 20.5.1 + Illustrator 30.1.pdf).
In InDesign 21.x, bold styles appear incorrectly as regular (see attachment: TEST InDesign 21.1 + Illustrator 30.1.pdf).

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

TEST_InDesign_20-5-1_-_Illustrator_30-1.pdf

TEST_InDesign_21-1_-_Illustrator_30-1.pdf

Manuela MariaAuthor

Participating Frequently

Update:

Adobe has now confirmed this issue and is working on a solution.

I got the following message at 2026/01/15:

„This is regarding the InDesign issue that you reported.

We have forwarded the details to the backend team and reported the issue.

We may not commit how soon the issue may get resolved but are working on it to fix in the future updates.

We will close ths case but this does not mean we are closing the issue or the issue is resolved. We will contnue to work on it to fix in the future updates.

Till then you may use the previous version as a workaround.

We appreciate your patience.“

There is also a font problem in Illustrator 30.1, but when EXPORTING as a WMF file.

See my community post dated 2026/01/20:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/in-illustrator-30-1-italic-styles-of-adobe-minion-and-myriad-fonts-are-ignored-in-exported-wmf-files/m-p/15670572#M461480

Manuela MariaAuthor

Participating Frequently

The following problem occurs in Illustrator 30.1 when exporting as a WMF file:

For Adobe fonts Minion and Myriad Pro, the italic styles are displayed as regular in the exported WMF file.

Other fonts, however, appear correctly after being exported to the WMF file, e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, Adobe Caslon, Adobe Garamond.

Test instructions:

Use Illustrator 30.1 to create a file containing text using Adobe Minion and Myriad Pro and other fonts with styles regular, italic, bold, and bold italic. (The Minion and Myriad Pro fonts I am using are dated 2013/02/22.)
Export this file as a WMF file.
Open this exported WMF file in Illustrator.

Result:

The Adobe Minion and Myriad Pro fonts display the italic styles incorrectly as regular.

Other fonts, e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, Adobe Caslon, Adobe Garamond are display correctly as italic.

See attachment:

OK: TEST Illustrator 30.1 - Italic + WMF (PDF created from AI file).pdf

NOT OK: TEST Illustrator 30.1 - Italic + WMF (PDF created from formerly exported WMF file).pdf

Does anyone else have this problem?

PS: There is also a font problem since InDesign 21.0, but when IMPORTING a WMF file into InDesign.

See my community post dated 2026/01/06:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/since-indesign-21-0-bold-styles-of-any-font-get-ignored-in-linked-wmf-files/m-p/15653922#M646225

TEST_Illustrator_30-1_-_Italic_-_WMF_(PDF_created_from_AI_file).pdf

TEST_Illustrator_30-1_-_Italic_-_WMF_(PDF_created_from_formerly_exported_WMF_file).pdf