When I print random letters are missing. InDesign on an iMac

[georgej2018]

I'm using an iMac 10.13.6 High Sierra (and old). I export my document into a PDF using one of Adobe PDF Presets in InDesign (v15.1.4). Invariably random letters are not printed.

January comes out as J nua y. 

I have restared the computer, the printer (Epson PX605F), updated the driver for the printer, and twice I have aligned the heads, cleaned the heads, and did a nozzle check. 

When I print directly from InDesign, no letters are skipped. I'm assuming the problem lies with the PDF configuration.

Any hints or suggestions as to what I should do? Thanks.

[Manan Joshi]

I have moved your post to a more appropriate InDesign forum

To me your problem looks like a font problem. Check if the fonts are properly being embedded. I will leave more informed folks to comment on this further

-Manan

[georgej2018]

I have checked and the fonts used in the missing words are embedded. Baskerville TrueType for bold, italic, and SC700 (whatever that is.) I'm using Baskerville regular small caps.

[Derek Cross]

You can't use TrueType fonts in InDesign documents any more, use an OpenType version of the font(s).

[mk-will]

Hi, @Derek Cross ,

"You can't use TrueType fonts in InDesign documents any more..."

sorry, but this is wrong.

PostScript Type 1  fonts are not supported anymore with newer CC versions (see PostScript Type 1 fonts end of support), TrueType fonts are supported.

Regards

Stephan

[Derek Cross]

Yep, Type 1

[rob day]

Right, @georgej2018  is using CC2020 on OSX, so the font format is not a problem

[rob day]

Are the characters missing in the PDF when you view in Acrobat, or just when you print? Are you printing from Acrobat? 

[Lukas Engqvist]

Am I understaning that you are missing letters when printing via PDF? (You mention that printing directly from indesign you get correct result?) What application are you printing PDF from? (Please try printing from Acrobat if you can.) What PDF settings are you usning Please try PDFx1a nad PDFx4 if you have not already.. Are you subsetting fonts? (it's in the fonts tab in PDF settings)

[georgej2018]

I print the PDF in Cheap Impostor in order to print have an imposed book. I'll try acrobat but does it impose? I've been using PDFX4.

[Willi Adelberger]

Imposing is the task of the printer. Is there a reason to do it yourself?

[georgej2018]

How can my printer (an Epson, yeah, sorry) impose a 112-page document so that it opens like a book? (The first sheet has pages 1 & 16 on one side and pages 2 & 15 on the other). Probably with about seven signatures of 4 pages each. If it is easier, I'd like to try it.

[Willi Adelberger]

Let the printer do it. 112 pages are not to impose via print booklet. The printer knows to do it and has experience.

[mk-will]

Hi, @georgej2018 ,

what version of Cheap Impostor are you using?

Is that version capable of handling all flavours of PDFs correctly?

Maybe you should ask the manufacturer about the problem (as printing from ID works correctly).

Is printing from Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader or other PDF sofware possible without that problem?

Regards

Stephan

[rob day]

Does the problem happen when you Export vs Print the PDF to regular reader pages? Acrobat will print simple 2-up, saddle stitch impositions, but with 112 pages you must need to perfect bind right?

[Lukas Engqvist]

Use print booklet feature from InDesign. If you want better imposition then use a software like Imposition Studio. (Imposition Studio lets you set up section sewing and compensate for creep. It's try and buy so you can test that it works for you before committing)

I think the error that is happening is when fonts are subset and then merged you are getting encoding problem. If you do not subset your font you will probably get around that problem (set subset font to 0%, embeds all used fonts without subletting) 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

"I think the error that is happening is when fonts are subset"

Agreed. I downloaded the software and tested a few things and I also lost characters due to improper re-subsetting. You get what you pay for, I guess!

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

If it prints properly directly from Acrobat, then the issue is is being introduced by Cheap Impostor, and I suspect it's happening when it creates the new PDF;. i.e. it's not properly embedding the font subsets that were already in the source PDF and hence dropping characters.

[Luke Jennings3]

You can split your pdf into 7 separate sections and print to a booklet from Acrobat to give you the needed imposition for a perfect bound book. Try running a preflight fixup in Acrobat to embed the fonts (even though they appear to be embedded when checking the file properties in Acrobat), this may help the cheap imposter function properly. Tools> Print Production> Preflight> Fixups.