Outline Fonts
Also known as: Convert text to paths
What Does It Mean to Outline Fonts?
Outlining fonts means converting every letter in a file into a vector shape, so the file no longer needs the font to print. The text looks and prints the same anywhere, but it can no longer be edited, searched, or read aloud by a screen reader. Printers ask for it because a file whose font they don’t have gets another font substituted, and the layout reflows.
On the web and server, CE.SDK’s PDF exports carry the shapes of the letters for web fonts rather than the font files, and the text stays searchable. For CE.SDK, outlined text matters most in the files you import, such as SVG logos.
Should You Outline Fonts or Embed Them?
Embed fonts for anything long or still changing, and outline logos, short pieces, and files for printers that ask for it. Embedding puts a copy of the font in the PDF, while outlining replaces the text with shapes, so both print the same and differ in what you can still do with the file.
| Embedded fonts | Outlined text | |
|---|---|---|
| Fix a typo | Yes | No |
| Search and copy text | Yes | No |
| Screen readers | Yes, if tagged | No |
| Sharp at any size | Yes | Yes |
Outline for
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Logos and display type
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Business cards and short pieces
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Files for printers that ask for it
Embed for
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Long, text-heavy documents
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Files still in proof
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PDFs that must stay accessible
How to Outline Fonts for Print
Save a copy, convert its text to shapes, check the font list, and export from the copy. The commands differ from one design tool to the next, but the steps are the same.
Save an editable copy
Outlining can’t be undone once the file is saved, so keep the working file with live text and outline a copy.
Convert all the text to shapes
Select every text object in the copy and convert it to outlines, which turns each letter into a closed vector path.
Check that no fonts are left
Look at the list of fonts the file uses. It should be empty, and trying to edit a headline should no longer work.
Export the print PDF from the copy
Send the outlined version to the printer and keep the editable file for the next change.
How Does CE.SDK Handle Fonts in Print Files?
On the web and server, PDF exports carry glyph outlines for web fonts, a missing font stops the export, and SVG or EPS text needs outlining before import.
PDFs carry the letter shapes
On the web and server, PDF exports embed the glyph outlines of WOFF2, WOFF, and variable fonts instead of the font file; since v1.82 the bundled typefaces are WOFF2 too. The text still searches, but a PDF editor can’t restyle it.
A missing font stops the export
If a text block’s font can’t be loaded, the block shows no text, and the export stops with an error rather than producing a page with a gap. The error names the font file that failed.
Imported SVG and EPS files need outlined text
SVG files are imported without their text, so convert text to paths before you bring an SVG in. The EPS importer can substitute missing fonts, so embed or outline them when the exact typeface matters.
Outlined Text in Storefront Templates and Logo Uploads
Brand fonts on business cards
A storefront offers business cards in the customer’s brand font. The PDF export holds the letter shapes rather than the font file, and the text stays searchable for proofing.
Customer logo uploads
A customer uploads an SVG logo with live text, and the text doesn’t come through. The upload guide asks for logos with text converted to paths.
FAQs
No. Templates, variable data, and anything customers personalize need live text until the final file, so outline a copy at the end instead.
No. Outlined and embedded text both stay sharp at any size and print the same on the plate. Outlining only changes whether the file needs the font.
Yes. Some font licenses forbid embedding, and a font that isn't embedded gets substituted at the printer. Check the license before you send the file.
Links
Documentation and references for this concept.
Related Terms
PDF/X
An ISO-standardized subset of PDF designed for reliable, predictable reproduction in professional print production, enfo…
EPS File
A vector format for logos and artwork that brands, sign makers, and print suppliers use to share files. CE.SDK's EPS imp…
Export
The process of rendering one or more pages of a CE.SDK scene to a distribution-ready file, supporting PNG, JPEG, TGA (ra…