How to Embed a Font in an Adobe PDF File

Embed Fonts

Embedding a font in an Adobe PDF file is a useful technique that helps authors control the appearance of documents to ensure that readers have a consistent experience. The embedded font does increase the overall size of the PDF file, but for many authors the trade-off is well worth the small size increase. The process is also relatively simple as long as the user has the appropriate software.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Word 2003 or later Acrobat Distiller 7 or later

Embed fonts

1. Image 1: Reveal available printers

   Press CTRL+P on the keyboard to initiate the print function from within Microsoft Word, and click the drop-down arrow to reveal the available printers as in Image 1.

2. Image 2: Select Adobe PDF

   Select Adobe PDF with the mouse and click the "Properties" button directly to the right of the printer as in Image 2. This will bring up a new Dialogue Box.

3. Image 3: Uncheck "Rely on system fonts ..."

   Uncheck the box titled "Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts" as in Image 3.

4. Image 4: Change the printer settings

   Click the "Edit" button to the right of the Default Settings selection field as in Image 4. This will bring up a new Dialogue Box.

5. Image 5: Embed all fonts

   Select the Fonts folder on the left side of the Dialogue Box as in Image 5. Locate the check box near the top of the Dialogue Box next to the phrase "Embed all fonts," and make sure it is checked.

6. Click OK at the bottom of the Dialogue Box. NOTE: The computer may display a prompt asking the user to save the settings. If so, type in a descriptive name such as "Include Fonts" and Save.

7. Click OK at the bottom of the PDF Document Properties Dialogue Box to return to the main Print Dialogue Box. Click OK to create the PDF document and save it to the desired location.

Tips & Warnings

• Users can embed a subset of the font to help keep file sizes down. This will include only the characters of the font that are used in the document.

Resources

• Adobe Acrobat information, help and resources