Bold font properly rendered but not exported in pdf

[vitopepito]

I am using a Skia font that I have used in other projects and programs (so the font should work). However, in Affinity Publisher, it does not properly export to pdf (even though it displays without problems in the UI). 

Steps:

• Choose Skia font in bold variant
• Export as pdf

It has not been a problem with other fonts. So it might still be an issue with this specific font?

Attached is one UI Screenshot and the exported pdf. 

Cheers and thanks for the help

Skia-normal-fett.pdf Skia-normal-fett.afpub

[Alfred]

Welcome to the Serif Affinity Forums, @vitopepito.

Skia uses variable font technology which is not currently supported by the Affinity apps.

 

[Pšenda]

8 hours ago, Alfred said:

variable font technology which is not currently supported by the Affinity apps.

Wouldn't it be good if the app pointed out this fact? For example, in the Preflight report? 

[Alfred]

34 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

Wouldn't it be good if the app pointed out this fact? For example, in the Preflight report? 

Yes, it would!

[Pšenda]

30 minutes ago, Alfred said:

Yes, it would!

 

[derkolarsky]

Hey everyone,

very interesting topic, and I'm facing the same problem but… I use the Google font "Quicksilver" and my font manager – Typeface – downloaded all Google fonts to my local drive, so it's a bit easier to work with these fonts.

It seems that there are two versions of the font:
a) the variable version but also
b) a "regular" version

Now I disabled the variable and activated the regular version, updated all font styles and exported a PDF. The result stays the same. No differentiation between Regular and Medium.

What am I doing wrong? Anyone a solid workaround except converting the font to curves on the output?

Thanks in advance
Ralf

[Hangman]

Hi @derkolarsky and welcome to the forums,

I can't be 100% certain but I've found with Font Book on macOS that you physically need to delete (not just disable) the variable font version to avoid conflicts so it may be worth giving that a try to see if it makes any difference.

If it doesn't, are you able to upload a sample Affinity document where you're experiencing the issue so we can take a look to see if we can diagnose what is causing the problem with PDF exports for you?

[derkolarsky]

Hi @Hangman… That was the final info I needed. Just removed the variant font from my font manager, restarted Publisher and now I finally get what I want it to be. Thanks for your quick response.

Kind regards
Ralf

[Hangman]

Hi @derkolarsky,

That's really good to hear and absolutely no problem at all... I'm glad you've now managed to sort the issue and that everything is working as expected for you...

[koolcyprien]

So I have read about the problem with variable fonts. I have just switched from Adobe to Affinity. Right now I am using Publisher and for a personal document, I needed to use a variable font from Google Font.
I have read the answers advising to uninstall the variable font and install the static font, that is what I did. But in the export, the typo still looks bolder as you can see in the screenshots in the body text. I did deletthe variable format to download the full static font but still, it does not look right. All the text should be the same size and width. If someone knows about the problem, I am all hear.

[Hangman]

Hi @koolcyprien and welcome to the forums,

Could you upload a sample Publisher document so we can take a look at what is happening...

[koolcyprien]

Hi @Hangman, of course. It is not a sample, it is my work file but here you go.

Guide.afpub

[Alfred]

37 minutes ago, koolcyprien said:

So I have read about the problem with variable fonts. I have just switched from Adobe to Affinity. Right now I am using Publisher and for a personal document, I needed to use a variable font from Google Font.

You’ve posted to a thread from nearly a year ago, when the Affinity apps didn’t support variable fonts. As of version 2.5 you should be able to use the variable fonts that you were unable to use then, but please make sure to uninstall the static versions first (and preferably reboot your system, although strictly speaking that shouldn’t be necessary).

[koolcyprien]

19 minutes ago, Alfred said:

You’ve posted to a thread from nearly a year ago, when the Affinity apps didn’t support variable fonts. As of version 2.5 you should be able to use the variable fonts that you were unable to use then, but please make sure to uninstall the static versions first (and preferably reboot your system, although strictly speaking that shouldn’t be necessary).

Yep, I have seen that. Only problem is that the problem is reoccurring with both versions (static and variable.) And this topic was the closest thing near to an answer

[Hangman]

Hi @koolcyprien,

Many thanks for your file...

I'm not seeing any real difference between the static and variable versions, i.e., the static version doesn't look any bolder to me... There is a slight variation in the word spacing but overall they are pretty similar...

1. Which PDF Reader are you using to view the files exported files?
2. If Acrobat Reader which smooth text rendering option do you have selected under the Page Display Rendering Settings?
3. Are you viewing the exported files on Mac or Windows?

Static Left | Variable Right

[koolcyprien]

22 minutes ago, Hangman said:

Hi @koolcyprien,

Many thanks for your file...

I'm not seeing any real difference between the static and variable versions, i.e., the static version doesn't look any bolder to me... There is a slight variation in the word spacing but overall they are pretty similar...

1. Which PDF Reader are you using to view the files exported files?
2. If Acrobat Reader which smooth text rendering option do you have selected under the Page Display Rendering Settings?
3. Are you viewing the exported files on Mac or Windows?

Static Left | Variable Right

Hello, thanks a lot for your amazing answer! I appreciate the time and effort you spent on my problem.
I don't see any difference between variable and static, the only thing is that on the .fpub everything looks fine and perfect but once exported in a web pdf, the texts start to get bolder.
As you can see (I hope) in the pdf, is the text "Moi, c’est Cyprien, j’ai 23 ans ..." looks lighter than the text "De nos jours, il est ...".

As the PDF reader it is on built-on mac "Preview" (I think it is called) in french it is "Aperçu".
But I have tried on Chrome too.

And I am on Mac Sonoma 14.6.1.

 

Thank you for your help

Guide.7.pdf

[Pšenda]

25 minutes ago, koolcyprien said:

As you can see (I hope) in the pdf, is the text "Moi, c’est Cyprien, j’ai 23 ans ..." looks lighter than the text "De nos jours, il est ...".

Yes - the first text is definitely lighter. After loading the PDF file back into APublisher, it is evident that this text/font is somewhat "scrappy".

The second text is already completely fine - so it looks darker.

 

This layer is responsible for the "damage" of the first text:

 

After turning it off, everything is fine.

 

If the layer is selected but turned off, it can be seen that it is some kind of text outline, but with a different font.

[koolcyprien]

1 minute ago, Pšenda said:

Yes - the first text is definitely lighter. After loading the PDF file back into APublisher, it is evident that this text/font is somewhat "scrappy".

The second text is already completely fine - so it looks darker.

Do you know whqt's causing that ?

[Hangman]

1 minute ago, Pšenda said:

Yes - the first text is definitely lighter. After loading the PDF file back into APublisher, it is evident that this text/font is somewhat "scrappy".

This is because there is a mask layer based on Helvetica covering the text underlying variable font...

3 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

The second text is already completely fine - so it looks darker.

This is Helvetica and not Bricolas Grotesque...

[Hangman]

3 minutes ago, koolcyprien said:

Do you know whqt's causing that ?

I think you are mixing and matching the static and variable versions of the font, are you sure you've fully uninstalled one of the other before exporting your file to PDF?

[koolcyprien]

2 minutes ago, Hangman said:

This is because there is a mask layer based on Helvetica covering the text underlying variable font...

This is Helvetica and not Bricolas Grotesque...

And it should not be Helvetica

 

[koolcyprien]

1 minute ago, Hangman said:

I think you are mixing and matching the static and variable versions of the font, are you sure you've fully uninstalled one of the other before exporting your file to PDF?

Yes, I have deleted the variable from my PC and then exported. I'll go look on my doc

[koolcyprien]

9 minutes ago, Pšenda said:

Yes - the first text is definitely lighter. After loading the PDF file back into APublisher, it is evident that this text/font is somewhat "scrappy".

The second text is already completely fine - so it looks darker.

 

This layer is responsible for the "damage" of the first text:

 

After turning it off, everything is fine.

How come I don't see it in my workfile? I mean there is no mask, no Helvetica, I have checked in Designer Persona and Photo Persona and I don't have this group of layers

 

[koolcyprien]

@Hangman @Pšenda No worries, I have found what caused the trouble. It was a simple empty layer that was underneath the text.
Thank you lot for your incredible help.

[Pšenda]

9 minutes ago, koolcyprien said:

How come I don't see it in my workfile?

There is some Pixel layer in your workfile for this Text frame - try turning it off as it doesn't do anything visually.