Why Fonts Need To Be Outlined In Printing Industry?

Fonts need to be outlined in the printing industry primarily to ensure consistency and reliability in the appearance of text. Here are the key reasons why outlining fonts is often preferred:

Maintaining Typeface Integrity:

When a font is outlined, it is converted into a vector graphic where the characters are defined by mathematical curves rather than by the original font file. This ensures that the text will appear exactly as intended, regardless of whether the recipient has the specific font installed on their system.

Avoiding Font Substitution Issues:

If a document is printed or shared digitally and the recipient does not have the exact fonts used in the document, their system might substitute the font with a similar one. This can lead to unintended changes in spacing, line breaks, or even the overall look of the text. Outlining fonts prevents this issue because the text is no longer reliant on font files.

Design Consistency:

Designers often spend a lot of time selecting the perfect typeface for a project. Outlining fonts ensures that their design choices remain intact during the printing process, maintaining the integrity of the overall visual identity.

Printer Compatibility:

Some printers or software might not support or correctly interpret embedded font files. Outlining fonts eliminates this potential problem by converting the text into a format that is universally recognized and printable.

File Size and Transfer:

Outlined fonts can reduce file size in some cases because they eliminate the need to embed font data. This can be particularly beneficial when sending files electronically, as it speeds up transfer times and reduces the risk of file corruption.

In essence, outlining fonts is a precautionary measure to guarantee that the visual aspects of a design are preserved accurately throughout the production and distribution process, regardless of the technical capabilities or software configurations of the recipients.