Fix PDF Printing Error Caused by a Bad Embedded Font Bounding Box
Question details
The user is unable to print specific PDF files on a laptop due to an error indicating that an embedded font contains a bad bounding box.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a PDF document that works on some computers but throws a specific font bounding box error on another.
- Observed behavior
- The print job fails, and the application reports that an embedded font contains a bad bounding box (/BBox).
Verify whether the printing error happens with all PDF documents or just specific files, and ensure your printer drivers are fully up to date.
Print the PDF as an Image
Bypass the font rendering issue entirely by sending the document to the printer as a flattened image.
When a PDF contains a corrupted font bounding box, the printer driver struggles to process the font data. By choosing to print the document as an image, your PDF software will rasterize the pages first. This ignores the problematic font data and sends a simple picture of the page to the printer, successfully bypassing the error.
Open the problematic PDF in your preferred PDF reader and click on 'File' > 'Print'.
In the Print window, look for an 'Advanced' button or 'More Settings' option and click on it.
Check the box next to 'Print as Image' (or similar wording depending on your software), click 'OK', and then proceed to print the document.
Recreate the PDF from the Source File
Generate a new PDF to fix the underlying font corruption that occurred during the initial export.
Manage and Print PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a built-in, robust PDF editor designed to handle complex files and prevent rendering errors. With its advanced printing capabilities, you can easily bypass font issues and ensure your documents look perfect on paper.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your corrupted PDF file using the WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Open Print Settings: Click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner and select 'Print', or use the shortcut Ctrl+P.
- 3. Enable Print as Image: In the Print dialog box, check the 'Print as Image' option to ignore any embedded font bounding box errors.
- 4. Execute Print: Click the 'Print' button to send the rasterized document to your printer successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'bad bounding box' mean in a PDF?
A bounding box (/BBox) defines the spatial coordinates or dimensions of a specific element, such as a font character. When it is 'bad', it means the numerical coordinates are corrupted, missing, or mathematically impossible, causing the software or printer driver to fail when trying to render the text.
Why does the PDF print fine on one computer but fail on another?
Different computers may use different printer drivers, software versions, or local font caches. One system might have an updated driver that can ignore the corrupted bounding box, while another strictly enforces structural rules and throws an error.
Can I fix the corrupted font directly within the PDF file?
Editing embedded fonts directly inside a PDF is technically difficult and often requires advanced preflight tools. The most practical and reliable method for most users is to return to the original source document, ensure the fonts are installed correctly, and export a new PDF.
