Fix Font Changes After Optimizing PDF in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user is experiencing font changes or substitutions after optimizing a PDF file to reduce its size.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reducing the file size of a PDF exported from InDesign using Acrobat's optimization tools.
- Observed behavior
- Fonts are altered, unembedded, or substituted after the optimization process, creating extra manual editing work.
Before optimizing your PDF, ensure you have the original InDesign file and the required fonts installed on your system to prevent unexpected substitutions.
Export Directly from InDesign with Optimal Settings
The most efficient way to reduce file size without losing font integrity is to configure the export settings directly in InDesign rather than relying on Acrobat's post-export optimization.
By handling compression during the initial export, you avoid Acrobat's aggressive optimization processes that often unembed fonts to save space.
In Adobe InDesign, go to File > Export, choose Adobe PDF (Print) or Adobe PDF (Interactive) as the format, and click Save.
In the Export Adobe PDF dialog, navigate to the Compression tab. Lower the image resolution and adjust compression settings to reduce file size instead of tampering with font data.
Go to the Advanced tab and ensure that the subset fonts threshold is set correctly (usually 100%) so that all used characters are embedded into the document.
Click Export to generate the optimized PDF directly from InDesign.
Adjust Acrobat PDF Optimizer Settings
If you must optimize an existing PDF in Acrobat, modify the optimizer settings to ensure fonts are explicitly protected from being unembedded.
Reduce PDF File Size Without Losing Fonts in WPS Office
WPS Office provides a built-in PDF compressor that intelligently reduces file size while preserving your original fonts, layouts, and formatting.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your large PDF file using the WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Access the Compressor: Navigate to the Tools tab on the top ribbon and click on the Compress button.
- 3. Choose Compression Level: Select your desired compression level (HD, Normal, or Common) based on your file size and visual quality requirements.
- 4. Compress and Save: Click Compress to reduce the file size instantly without compromising your font integrity, then save the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do fonts change when I reduce a PDF file size?
Fonts typically change during PDF compression if the optimization tool is configured to 'unembed' fonts to save space. When a font is unembedded, the PDF reader substitutes it with a default system font, altering the document's appearance.
How do I know if my fonts are embedded in a PDF?
You can check font embedding in Adobe Acrobat by going to File > Properties and selecting the Fonts tab. It will list all fonts used in the document and indicate whether they are 'Embedded' or 'Embedded Subset'.
Is it better to compress PDFs in InDesign or Acrobat?
It is generally better to optimize the PDF directly during the export process in InDesign by adjusting image compression and resolution settings. This prevents the aggressive post-processing in Acrobat that often leads to unintended font substitutions.
