PDF output issue - font?!

[SyTySyndicate]

Working on a IDCS file that has a PDF placed into the page.
The placed PDF was made using Normalizer from ApogeeX. All fonts used in the artwork was converted to outlines, etc etc.

When I open up the raw PDF in acrobat, all seems fine. When I place the PDF into the IDCS document, suddenly a small section of the text becomes cut off, and its only affecting the "L"s. This is just placing the file in IDCS and going no further. If I go ahead and export (using our IDCS presets for 1.4 X-1a) the "L"s still stay cut off. Same if I distill the file.

I played with the PDF and tried to distill it and export it from the original IDCS document it was made from and just make new PDFs to be sure. Still the same results of getting the L cut off.

I finally just stuck with the original IDCS from which the PDF was made and exported it from there with no issues.

What gives?!


Just to give more info.... the artwork used was vectored, converted to outlines, 300ppi, no overprints. When you look at the PDF in Pitstop in outlines, everything appears fine as well.

Heres some pics:



Acrobat Window




IDCS Window

[Kakuzo]

Originally Posted by SyTySyndicate

What gives?!

I've seen a similar issue with outlined text. In my case it was only a display issue, and the problem only occurred in Acrobat 6 (which it looks like you're using). I was trying to soft proof a client-supplied PDF exported directly from AI 10.

I found that Acrobat 6 seems to have some issues rendering outlined text (specifically "I" characters), particularly out of legacy formats. Acrobat 6 seems to accurately display CS1 and CS2 files, but this issue pops up on anything older. Acrobat 7 will display the same file without the issue. We printed the file below without any problems.

Where did your original PDF come from?

We could be talking apples and oranges (I never tried dropping my file in InDesign), but this could be a starting point. Perhaps InDesign is having a similar issue with an older file?

[SyTySyndicate]

Actually, im using 7.0 Pro with Pitstop.

The orig artwork to make the PDF was given to us by our in-house team. Built in Illustrator CS but opened with Illustrator CS2 (didnt have font or reflow issues). Did all of our normal preflight, made an .eps file, placed it into a IDCS document and sent to Normalizer to make the PDF.

I just dont understand why the PDF in acrobat is fine, but the minute it goes into IDCS, it does the cutoff.


Also, another issue is when you view the PDF (acrobat or high res preview in IDCS) all of the "L"s in the document appear very bold. When you zoom in close, the letters look normal.




I may go back and see what happens if I stay in Illustrator CS and do the preflight. Never had this issue before going from CS to CS2 in Illustrator before though...

[Joe]

Originally Posted by SyTySyndicate

Also, another issue is when you view the PDF (acrobat or high res preview in IDCS) all of the "L"s in the document appear very bold. When you zoom in close, the letters look normal.




I may go back and see what happens if I stay in Illustrator CS and do the preflight. Never had this issue before going from CS to CS2 in Illustrator before though...

I get that too in Acrobat 6.0 with text outlined by Nexus Edit. It outputs okay though.

[tequillajane]

try sending to a proofer (printer), and see if it's good.
I have seen this several times, and for some reason it's only a screen viewing problem... My output always is good to go!

[SyTySyndicate]

Yep, print output is good for the bold stuff, however the L being cut in a small sectionis still a prob that shows up in pitstop and print.

Looks like the same issues with 6.0 carry over to 7.0 as well (stopped using 6.0 a long while ago).

I have some time today, im going to try to do more testing in CS versions.

[David]

We've noticed the same issues with our PDFs coming out of our Esko workstations (all text to outlines). The letter "l" (and sometimes other characters) always looks bolded on screen but prints fine, people always complain about that, but there's nothing you can do about it, except don't outline the type, keep it live.

The cut off L thing is news to me, never seen it before. Does it happen to just that font? Try this, make a PDF from the ID file (with the letters cut off), and just for kicks, open that PDF up in Illy and see if the letters are really cut off or just not displaying/printing correctly (like it's in a mask or something).
You guys seem to have all the fun, funky PDFs doing weird crap.
Maybe solar flares? Lunar eclipse? Planet alignment? Did you piss off the Adobe gods or something?
LOL

[SyTySyndicate]

The same font is being used on the entire page, but the cutoff only is happening only on one block of text.

Heres the offending PDF in Illustrator CS2



Heres the same PDF in Acrobat 7.0 with Pitstop outlines turned on





I dont know if its cause gravity got heavier, atmospheric pressure unknowingly changed from 14.7psi, or quantum physics is playing a dirty trick on me.

[Rickyp_uk]

Isn't it because the l's are stroked whilst the rest is file. We have the previewing issue at certain magnification, but it always renders correctly when proofed/plated

[David]

man, you're starting to scare me! 8O
you got some weird sh*t going on there!
The wire-frame shot is bizarre, it looks like the letters didn't complete the outline process, and it's still a stroke.
Can you select the just half l in Acrobat (with the Pitstop tool) and check to see if it is still a font or a stroke or a fill.



I vote for the gravity thing, the letters are so heavy that they can't stand up completely...


Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!

Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.

Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.

Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!

Mr. Praline: The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead.

Owner: Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!.