Outlining Fonts in Indesign CS2

[Mob33]

Hello all!

first let me apologise if this has been covered before but I couldn't find any thread relating to this. We have a customer who requires Indesign files with live fonts, the same file outlined and an outlined pdf. The problem I'm having is that outlining the font sometimes moves certain text elements and always removes any underlines and outlines on text boxes. Are there any settings I have overlooked or does anyone have an efficient work-around to resolve this issue.

Cheers

[Sparky]

The only way I know is to make a copy of the type (once all the formatting is done and set) and place it on a lower layer. Make all the text "Paper" color and (if not done before) go to the paragraph rule dialog (opt+cmnd+J) and make the rule the desired color, for "Underlined" text go to the pulldown menu in the Character Pallet and select "Underline Options" and again make the underline whatever color you need.
The one draw back is that now the outline type will be on top of the rules.
As far as I could research with Adobe there is no way to maintain the "type" attributes once you convert to outlines.
Crude, but unless theres another way, hope it works for you.

[Mob33]

Thanks very much for that, I'll give it a try. it seems like the only way to keep consistency between the files.

[Sparky]

OK, hold the phone. I was just playing with some text and came up with a possible solution.

Bare with me on this.

Once you change type to outlines, the result is a grouped set of frames, yes? yes. So click on any one of the letters with the text tool and it is now a grouped set of text frames, or just one large text frame that looks like a bunch of type.
now once you see the cursor flashing in this new text frame, hit the space bar once (or this won't work), now go to the paragraph rules dialog (option+cmnd+J) and select rule below (or above, works either way) now here's the issue. All the settings that before made logical sense as to offset are out the window. Turn on the "Preview" button in the lower left and play with the numbers for the settings, you will see that an offset big enough will force the rule below the type but will only go as far as the desenders. This is where using negative numbers in the left and right column offset will bring back the rule to stretch the full length of the type.

It may take some playing, but what you will end up with is an anchored rule that will stay with the outlined text no matter where you move it .

whew! 8O

[Mob33]

Thanks Very Much. Don't know how you found that but it works. Saves a lot of messing as the text is a pain to format in the first place. Once again thanks.