How to Fix PDF Printing with Missing Text or Calibri Characters
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where text appears correctly on the screen but disappears or fails to print properly when the PDF is sent to a physical printer.
- Product
- PDF Virtual Printers and Viewers
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document that contains specific embedded TrueType fonts like Calibri or Century through standard PCL drivers.
- Observed behavior
- Text drops out or goes missing entirely on the physically printed page, even though the PDF document displays all characters flawlessly on the computer screen.
Before modifying advanced printer properties, ensure you have the latest drivers installed for your physical printer and verify that your PDF viewer is updated to its most recent version.
Change TrueType Font Download Setting to Outline
Modify your virtual PDF printer settings to download TrueType fonts as outlines, which prevents rendering errors when standard drivers struggle with specific fonts.
By converting TrueType fonts like Calibri into outlines during the PDF creation process, the text is treated as vector graphics rather than standard typography. This circumvents driver-based font dropouts.
Open your original document in Microsoft Word. Go to 'File' and select 'Print'.
Select your PDF virtual printer (e.g., Adobe PDF) from the printer list and click the 'Printer Properties' link below it.
Navigate to the 'Paper/Quality' tab within the properties window, then click on the 'Advanced' button.
Look under 'Document Options' and 'PostScript Options'. Change the 'TrueType Font Download Option' from 'Automatic' to 'Outline'.
Click 'OK' to save the new properties and proceed to print the document. The resulting PDF should now print to physical printers without losing text.
Use a PostScript Printer Driver
Switch from a standard PCL driver to a PostScript (PS) driver, which handles complex fonts and graphics with higher accuracy.
Use the Native Save as PDF Feature
Bypass virtual printer rendering completely by utilizing the built-in PDF export tools in your word processing software.
Create and Print Perfect PDFs with WPS Office
Stop struggling with disappearing text and driver conflicts. WPS Office features a robust built-in PDF generator and viewer that accurately embeds fonts like Calibri, ensuring your files print exactly as they look on your screen.
- 1. Open Document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office Writer and open your existing text document.
- 2. Export to PDF: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Export to PDF'.
- 3. Configure Export Settings: In the pop-up window, ensure the save path is correct and click the 'Export to PDF' button.
- 4. Open in WPS PDF: Open the newly created PDF file using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 5. Print Without Errors: Click the 'Print' icon or press Ctrl+P to securely print your document with all fonts perfectly preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Calibri and Century fonts disappear when printing to PDF?
Certain font rendering engines, especially older PCL drivers, fail to interpret specific TrueType font instructions properly during the print spooling process. This causes the printer to simply drop the text, resulting in blank spaces on the printed page.
What is the difference between PCL and PostScript printer drivers?
PCL (Printer Command Language) is built for everyday text and shapes, relying heavily on the printer's internal hardware to render fonts. PostScript is a complex page description language that renders everything as vector outlines or precise bitmaps, making it much more reliable for printing PDFs with specialized or embedded fonts.
How can I check if my PDF has its fonts embedded properly?
Open the document in your PDF viewer, navigate to 'File', and select 'Properties' (or 'Document Properties'). Click on the 'Fonts' tab. You will see a list of all fonts used; ensure that it says '(Embedded)' or '(Embedded Subset)' next to problematic fonts like Calibri.
