Expert: Glen Demers - 9/25/2010

Question
QUESTION: I export InDesign documents to pdf for commercial publishing.  Documents that have "type on a path" text are a problem.  The text shows up in the pdf, but won't print out.  I need to link and embed this text first in the InDesign document, but I can't find how to do it.  Can you instruct me in this area?

Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Warren,

You can convert the type to outlines by selecting it with the text tool and going to Type>Create Outlines. This will convert all the selected text to shapes. If you hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (MacOS) as you choose Type>Create Outlines, it will make a copy of the text and convert that. You can move the text off page and save for future editing.

A few other fixes to try would be replacing the font to make sure it's not a font issue, making sure the object or layer is not set to non-printing, this is easily accomplished by going into preview mode, and trashing your preferences.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more InDesign tips please visit our help pages here: http://www.bestprintingonline.com/indesign.htm

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Glen,

Thanks very much.  I'm not familiar, however, with how to "trash" preferences.  Also, once I move the copy off the page, I still can't save it, so I can't place it and link/embed it.  How can I save the "type on path" text to a file (or picture), so I can place it?

Thanks again,

Bud

Answer
Hi Bud,

Once the text is converted to outlines, you can no longer edit it as text. That is why I had you make a copy of the text and save it. It may be easier to "Save as..." your final document under a different name, convert the text to outlines and then export to PDF. This way you'll have one file to print from and another file with the text as type which you can edit.

Preference files are easily corrupted and when deleted the application will create a new preference file the next time you launch it. This is usually one of the first things I do when a program starts acting funny. The fastest way to do this for InDesign or any other program in the Creative Suite is to quit the program, then hold down the Command-Option-Shift-Ctrl keys (on Windows, hold down Control-Alt-Shift) while you start the program up again. While the program starts up, keep the keys held down until the splash screen appears along with an alert saying “Delete InDesign Preferences File?”. Click "Yes" and you have a new preferences file.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more InDesign tips please visit our help pages here: http://www.bestprintingonline.com/indesign.htm