How to Fix Black Streaks When Printing PDFs with Embedded Fonts
Question details
Users need to resolve an issue where printing a PDF with specific embedded fonts results in black streaks on the physical paper.
- Product
- PDF Readers
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document that was originally exported from Microsoft Word containing embedded custom fonts, such as Oswald.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF file displays perfectly on the computer screen, but when sent to specific printers, it prints out with black streaks or corrupted text blocks.
Ensure your printer is properly connected, has adequate ink or toner, and try printing a plain text document first to rule out any hardware-specific cartridge or drum issues.
Print the PDF as an Image
This bypasses font rendering issues by sending the document to the printer as a rasterized image, guaranteeing it prints exactly as it looks on the screen.
When a printer's memory or driver struggles to interpret complex embedded fonts, it often outputs black blocks or streaks. Forcing the PDF reader to send the document as an image eliminates the need for the printer to process the font data entirely.
Open your PDF document in your PDF reader and navigate to 'File' > 'Print' to open the print settings window.
Locate and click on the 'Advanced' button, typically found near the top or bottom of the Print dialog box.
Check the box next to 'Print as Image'. Click 'OK' to close the advanced settings, then click 'Print' to process the document.
Enable the Use of Local Fonts
Forces the PDF application to rely on system fonts instead of the potentially corrupted embedded fonts during the rendering process.
Update Your Printer Drivers
Outdated or incompatible printer drivers can misinterpret embedded font data and cause printing artifacts like black streaks.
Print and Manage PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a robust, built-in PDF editor that handles embedded fonts flawlessly, ensuring your printed documents match what you see on the screen without unexpected streaks or font glitches.
- 1. Open Your PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the problematic PDF document.
- 2. Access Print Settings: Click on the 'Print' icon on the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P to open the comprehensive Print dialog.
- 3. Configure Print as Image: Select your target printer. If you suspect font issues, look for the 'Print as Image' option within the advanced print settings and check the box.
- 4. Execute the Print Job: Click 'Print' to send the document to your printer for a flawless, streak-free physical copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do embedded fonts cause black streaks when printing?
Sometimes, printer drivers or the PDF software's rendering engine struggle to interpret custom or complex embedded fonts (like Oswald). When the printer receives data it cannot process correctly, it defaults to printing solid black blocks or streaks instead of the intended vector text.
Does 'Print as Image' reduce the quality of the printed document?
Printing as an image might result in a slightly lower resolution compared to vector-based text rendering, depending on your printer's DPI settings. However, it guarantees the document will print exactly as it looks on the screen without any font distortion or black streaks.
How can I prevent font rendering issues when creating PDFs in Word?
When exporting or saving a Word document as a PDF, ensure you are using standard, widely supported system fonts. If you must use custom fonts, check the PDF export options in your word processor and select 'Bitmap text when fonts may not be embedded' if the option is available.
