Fix PDF Fonts Changing When Printing in Older Acrobat Versions
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where subset-embedded fonts change or experience spacing shifts when printing PDFs using older software versions.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI / 2015
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing PDF documents that contain subset-embedded fonts through older PDF viewers.
- Observed behavior
- Fonts substitute unexpectedly, spacing shifts during the print job, and PostScript errors (such as OffendingCommand) occur when attempting to print to file or generate a new PDF from a PRN file.
Verify your exact printer model and check whether your printer settings are using a PostScript (PS) or PCL driver, as non-PostScript drivers can heavily modify font output during the printing process.
Diagnose and Update Printer Drivers
Since non-PostScript printer drivers can alter output and cause font substitutions, switching to a PostScript driver is the most effective way to ensure correct font rendering.
Older versions of Acrobat might not fully compensate for PCL printer driver quirks. Using a native PostScript driver ensures that embedded fonts are sent to the printer exactly as they appear on screen.
Navigate to 'Devices and Printers' (or Printers & Scanners in your system settings), right-click your active printer, and select 'Printer properties'.
Go to the 'Advanced' tab to see the name of your current driver. Look for 'PS' or 'PostScript' in the driver name.
If you are using a PCL driver, visit your printer manufacturer's official support website, download the PostScript (PS) driver for your specific printer model, and install it.
Select the newly installed PostScript printer from your print dialog in Acrobat and print the PDF again to see if the fonts render correctly.
Print PDF as Image
If updating drivers is not an option or PostScript errors persist, printing the document as an image forces the software to bypass font rendering entirely.
Isolate the Issue with a Modern PDF Reader
Testing the file in a more recent application helps determine if the issue is strictly limited to the legacy Acrobat 2015/XI engine.
Print PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
Avoid legacy font substitution bugs and PostScript print errors by using WPS Office. Its modern PDF engine ensures your subset-embedded fonts and document spacing remain exactly as designed upon printing.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office Free on your computer.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your problematic PDF document.
- 3. Access Print Menu: Click the 'Print' icon on the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P.
- 4. Configure Settings: Select your printer and adjust any necessary layout settings in the print preview window.
- 5. Print the Document: Click 'Print' to safely output your document with perfectly preserved fonts and formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do subset-embedded fonts change when printing?
When a font is subset-embedded, only the specific characters used in the document are saved within the file. Older printer drivers or legacy PDF viewers may fail to interpret these subsets correctly during the spooling process, causing them to substitute the missing data with default system fonts.
What does the PostScript error 'OffendingCommand' mean when printing to file?
This error indicates that the printer or the PDF generation engine encountered a PostScript command it could not understand. This is often caused by complex font encodings, corrupted font data in the document, or using an outdated printer driver.
How can I stop my printer from substituting fonts?
You can force the printer to use the document's native fonts by navigating to your printer properties and unchecking 'Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts'. Alternatively, selecting 'Print as Image' in your PDF software's advanced print settings will bypass font rendering entirely.
Does upgrading my PDF software fix font spacing issues?
Yes. While older versions like Acrobat 2015 may lack patches for specific printer hardware, newer applications like WPS Office PDF or Acrobat DC contain modern rendering engines and bug fixes that typically resolve localized font and spacing anomalies during printing.
