Pixels To Print: Convert Type To Outlines
June 20, 2019
You may have asked been to submit your print file with the text outlined before and you wonder to yourself, “why do they want me to add a stroke around my letters?” In actuality, the printer is looking for a document with your live, editable type converted to vector shapes. This removes the need for the printer to have the same font installed on their system. Converting to outlines also avoids any issues or errors with fonts all together.
The important thing is to remember to save a non-outlined
version first so you can go back and make text edits down the road if needed.
Once you outline your type, you can no longer make text changes.
The best method is to send a packaged file with links and
fonts included. This removes the need to outline fonts since they’ll be
included in the document’s assets. Otherwise you can convert your text to outlines
in both Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign.
How to convert text to outlines in Adobe
Illustrator:
Using the Selection Tool, select the text you would like to
convert. Right click and select “Create Outlines” or go to Type > Create
Outlines. Personally, I like to use the keyboard commands Control + A to select
everything and then use the Create Outlines command Shift + Control + O and
everything in the document will be converted.
How to save a packaged file in Adobe
Illustrator:
Go to File > Package. Then select the destination and be
sure “Copy Fonts” is selected. If you’re using a typeface from Adobe Fonts the
font file will not be included, but since NorthPoint has a subscription to
Adobe Creative Cloud we can instantly activate the font.
How to convert text to outlines in Adobe
InDesign:
Using the Selection Tool, select the text you would like to
convert. Right click and select “Create Outlines.” Personally, I like to use
the keyboard commands Control + A to select everything and then use the Create
Outlines command Shift + Control + O and everything on the spread or page will
be converted.
How to save a packaged file in Adobe InDesign:
Go to File > Package. Under the Fonts tab, you can see
all the fonts used in the document. If you’re using a typeface from Adobe Fonts
the font file will not be included, but since NorthPoint has a subscription to
Adobe Creative Cloud we can instantly activate the font.
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