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Font Substitution issues in PDF Form - Knowledgebase / How-to Articles - CADTech Help Desk

Font Substitution issues in PDF Form

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Sometimes you might run into font substitution issues in a PDF form, usually when a font on one platform (ex: PC) is specified and is not present on another platform (ex: MacOS). Unsightly/illegible font substitutions may occur in the form fields as a result. Below is a quick fix to switch the typeface to something more suitable for cross-platform performance.  This online resource at Mailchimp has a nice list of current cross-platform fonts they recommend.

Open up the PDF in Acrobat DC.

  1. Click on the Prepare Form toolset icon in the right sidebar

  2. All of your form boxes should now have a small black bar with white text defining each box centered in them.

  3. Double-click on a box where the type is incorrect to open up the editing window.

  4. Click on the Appearance tab.

  5. Select a different font from the dropdown menu, perhaps Courier or Arial. Use a really common system font, then click Close.

  6. Repeat as necessary.

  7. Save the file.

Still having issues? File a Helpdesk ticket with us:   http://deskpro.cad.rit.edu

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