How to embed fonts in affinity photo on mac?

[Katebrunsk]

Hi there!

 

I am illustrating a children's book and currently in the process of preparing a test image to submit (as a print ready PDF) to the printers, with their specifications. I am doing all my drawing in Procreate (ipad) and then sending, as a PSD with all layers intact, to my mac (through drop box) to change to CYMK, hopefully to embed the fonts (a must for the printers) and then to save as a PDF.

 

I am following the steps below. When I come to try and open my PDF in acrobat it says "could not open, either an unsupported file or because the file has been damaged (for example, it was sent as an email attachment and wasn't correctly decoded)"

 

Here are the steps I am taking:

 

1.  Drawing the image in Procreate. Saving this as a PSD with all layers still. Adding to my dropbox.

2.  Opening this file in affinity photo on my Mac.

3.  Saving under a new name to make sure I don't lose the PSD.

4. Using the text tool (I have been advised to use the frame text setting) to write my text in a new layer.

5.  Going to file export – PDF for print preset then clicking "more".

6. Choosing raster DPI 300. Choosing colour space – CYMK. Un-selecting JPEG compression and saving.

7.  This is when I go to check in Acrobat that the fonts are embedded, the colour is correct and the image is clear at 100% but it will not let me open the file.

 

Any idea where I am going wrong? I am under time constraints so any help or advise would be greatly appreciated. I am a bit of a newby to affinity so any directions would be great.

 

I am also anxious to make sure the black turns out black as I know when converting RGB to CYMK there can be some issues with this so any advise there would be great too. 

 

Thank you, Kate

[Fixx]

Font embedding should not be a problem, all modern apps do it by default (in AP you can modify that in "More" settings but it is ON by default).

There is something weird happening as your workflow is typical enough. Maybe you can share a link to a problem AP file? Have you used the fonts before and know they do not create problems?

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, Fixx said:

Font embedding should not be a problem, all modern apps do it by default (in AP you can modify that in "More" settings but it is ON by default).

??? Where do you see any mention of support for embedded fonts in Affinity Photo or a setting in the "More" export window to turn that on or off?

[Katebrunsk]

Thank you for getting back to me :). Yes the 'embed fonts' is automatically selected in 'more' as I save to PDF. (R C- R, you go to export, save to whatever file you like then there is an option for more at the bottom of the pop up).

 

I have managed to embed the font by ticking allow JPEG compression (and making this 100% quality) but this loses quality and a strange thin white line appears around a spade I've drawn! So if I am able to embed fonts without using JPEG compression that would be much better.

 

I will attach 2 files :). The first is a PSD with the text created in Affinity. The 2nd is a PDF created from the previous file, with colour changed to CYMK- profile-U.S Web coated (SWOP) v2. (is this a good profile to use?) and unselected JPEG compression. This is the one that will not open in adobe reader. 

 

Thank you again for your help! Kate

Pg_13_TEST.8.25.psd

Pg_13_test_for_affinity_forum.afphoto

[R C-R]

1 hour ago, Katebrunsk said:

 (R C- R, you go to export, save to whatever file you like then there is an option for more at the bottom of the pop up).

I should have been clearer about what I found puzzling in Fixx's comment: I thought he was talking about files in general, not specifically about PDF exports. I see now that I was wrong about that. Sorry for any confusion that might have caused. 

 

EDIT: Unrelated, but I just noticed your second attachment is an afphoto file, not a PDF created from it. It might be be more helpful to include the PDF that Adobe Reader can't open ....

Edited July 26, 2017 by R C-R

[Katebrunsk]

Ah you are right, thanks for pointing that out. I'll try and add the PDF now. 

 

So, as I've said above, although I have managed to embed the fonts I am anxious to get the best quality file for print and I'm worried that allowing JPEG compression will diminish the quality a little. I especially want to make sure the colours are deep and rich and don't lose quality. I will also now include the PDF I made in photoshop. I was unable to embed the font here but using this as a comparison I feel the PDF I've made in affinity is a little dimmer in colour (compare to bottom part of image as top part opacity might be different in each image as I was messing around with it). Thanks again for your time. Any more understanding of what I am doing that will or wil not effect quality/clarity/colour would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

Note about white line; I've had advise that white lines and dots sometimes show up in acrobat but do not in print. This is the case here. I have printed at home and the white line is gone. The colour is a little dim but this might just be my home printer?

 

Kate

Pg 13 Ingram TEST. Jpeg compression.pdf

Pg 13 TEST PHOTOSHOP font not embeded.pdf

[Fixx]

I tried opening both PDFs with Preview and Acrobat X. Both looked fine but actually uncompressed version had text as bitmap, font not embedded. This may be a real bug in AP. Acrobat X was also very slow in displaying/rendering the text. Preview showed JPEG version text slightly bolder.

 

Generally JPEG 100% PDF is what all prepress industry uses and there is no real reason to keep printed images uncompressed. (Possibly some people who do super fine quality printed matter can disagree here.)

 

White lines should not be visible in print (old issue, I thought it did not happen anymore).

[Fixx]

I downloaded the original AP file and tried to export with uncompressed settings. As I do not have your font (Coffee-Tea?) I replaced it with Moments. It exported fine, no problems. So I would think it is you font that is causing problems. You can try changing problem text to curves (Layer>Convert to curves) as there seems not to be so much of it. 

Attached PDF with Moments.

Pg_13_test_for_affinity_forum2.pdf

[Katebrunsk]

Thank you, that looks great. The coffee and tea font I am using at the moment is a demo. We are buying it properly this week. Do you think this may repair any issues? Having the full font?

 

Thank you for confirming the I'm not losing noticeable quality with JPEG compression. I will keep saving to PDF with that switched on now. I have just learnt about the "soft proof adjustment layer" which is proving very useful to ensure my colours are going to turn out how I want them and close to how they are in RGB. I am wondering if there are any designer tricks of the trade to compensate for back lighting. I'm unsure how, until I receive the proof, I will be able to tell how bright my colours will look in print when not backlit. The soft proofing helps but obviously is still back lit as I am viewing it on screen.

 

Thank you again! You have really helped me out.

 

Kate

[Katebrunsk]

Could I ask another question sorry. I have left the "overprint black" ticked. There are some layers of black in my images with other, more transparent, layers on top (to create a nice effect). Will this affect how these layers behave in print? I.e I don't want the black to come to the top.

 

I have taken a screenshot of the settings I'm using if you could have a look? Also on the previous page I have set it to rasterise at 400. Any feedback on this would be great. 

 

Thank you, I'm nearly there!

 

Kate

[Fixx]

Overprint black refers only to black vector or text shapes (I think). It is customary that they are printed on the top of other element without making holes in the elements below them (thus preventing registration problems). How the 4 colours are printed is actually up to printer shop and it is usual that black is last (uppermost). In practice of course printer print what is in file, transparent effects are rendered as they look.

Now if you use transparent pixel art elements on the top of text (or other vector shapes) this creates a problem and text is converted to pixel art (as in your original uncompressed PDF).

Personally I have no idea how backlighted print work is done. Probably there are severe differences in tonal values, i.e. you should use different look for normal print and backlighted ad prints.

[Katebrunsk]

Thanks for your replies, they have really helped. I have talked to a book layout specialist and it looks like my files are coming out well (phew!). Depending on our budget they may be readying the PDF's for me or just doing the layout but it's nice to know that I'll have a professional eye over it before it goes to print :). Thanks again, Kate