Sending Fonts to
Your Service Bureau
Include the right fonts with your files
Service bureaus cite the number one problem when
outputting files is the fonts. The receive files with missing
fonts, corrupt fonts, or the wrong fonts. If you want to avoid
delays and errors on your next project, take the extra steps to
ensure that you send the right fonts with your file.
If you don't supply your own fonts the service bureau may substitute
their own version. This might work. Or not. It often results
in subtle or obvious differences in your document including
text reflow.
Avoid these common errors when sending your fonts:
- Missing
fonts
Even if you only used a single character from a certain font,
you'll have to send that font along with all the others. Don't
forget to include the bold, italic, and other versions of
the font as well if you used them.
Not all fonts are text. Did you use a dingbat
symbol for bullets or end-markers on articles? Include those
fonts too.
- Missing fonts in EPS graphics
If you have embedded EPS files that include text be sure to
send the fonts for those images as well. Generally it is best
to convert the text to curves but sometimes this can alter
the image in unwanted ways. If that's the case, you must send
the font files for that text.
- Missing screen or printer fonts
Type 1 (PostScript) fonts have two files you must send --
both a screen and a printer font. When you send only the screen
font the file may look fine on screen but when printed you'll
see font substitutions. Be sure to include both screen (bitmap
or .pfm) and printer (postscript outline or .pfb) files for
each Type 1 font.
- Wrong version
While many service bureaus prefer Type 1 fonts many can and
will use TrueType as well. Some designers who use TrueType
fonts in their designs may mistakenly send the Type 1 version
thinking that's all the SB can use. TrueType and Type 1 differ
in how they handle kerning and other spacing matters. Sending
the wrong version of the font can result in differences in
text flow and alter the appearance of kerned headlines.
If you have both TrueType and Type 1 versions of the same
font installed (which is not a good idea) you may inadvertently
use one in your file then send the other version for printing.
Avoid this by only installing and using one version of the
font.
Automated font collection
One way to insure that you include all the fonts used in your
project is to use the utilities of your page layout program
or third-party utilities that gather all the files needed for
output or provide lists of the fonts used in a particular document.
Adobe PageMaker's Prepare for Service Bureau
feature gathers the fonts used in your document and tells you
whether they are TrueType or Type 1 fonts. The Collect for Output
utility in QuarkXPress creates a list telling you which fonts
were used so that you can insure all the fonts needed are included
with your file. See the sidebar for more software and tips for
font collection.
Manual font collection
Whether or not you use helper software, it's still a good idea
to know how to manually locate the files for each of your fonts.
The next page includes steps to help you locate your Windows
or Macintosh TrueType and Type 1 fonts and troubleshoot other
font problems. |
