Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

User avatar
Herbert123
Mitglied
Posts: 2277
Joined: Sat 12 May 2012 21:38

Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

Post by Herbert123 »

Currently PhotoLine opens PDF files, but when it encounters missing fonts, it will ask for a font replacement.

It would be great if a PDF import option were available to tell PhotoLine to import such troublesome PDFs with automatic conversion to font outlines, working around the issue of missing fonts.

Often I just need to place a PDF file "as is" without the need for any editing, and I work around the issue by converting the PDF file to a bitmap version in PDF viewer, but this of course renders the text to a low-quality pixel version. It is far preferable to retain all the text as vector outlines.

I thought that by placing a PDF in an external placeholder layer the fonts would be rendered correctly, but alas, PhotoLine silently replaced the fonts anyway.
/*---------------------------------------------*/
System: Win10 64bit - i7 920@3.6Ghz, p6t Deluxe v1, 48gb (6x8gb RipjawsX), Nvidia GTX1080 8GB, Revodrive X2 240gb, e-mu 1820, 2XSamsung SA850 (2560*1440) and 1XHP2408H 1920*1200 portrait
User avatar
Gerhard Huber
Entwickler
Entwickler
Posts: 4176
Joined: Mon 18 Nov 2002 15:30
Location: Bad Gögging

Re: Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

Post by Gerhard Huber »

Install and use the Ghostscript import to convert text to vector.
User avatar
Herbert123
Mitglied
Posts: 2277
Joined: Sat 12 May 2012 21:38

Re: Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

Post by Herbert123 »

I actually never used that option before, and wasn't even aware of that! IT WORKS!

I've been dealing with this issue for quite some time now, and being able to open client PDF files with text formatting intact in spite of unavailable fonts is absolute GOLD! You guys & PhotoLine keep surprising me. :D

Super, super handy. Thanks!
/*---------------------------------------------*/
System: Win10 64bit - i7 920@3.6Ghz, p6t Deluxe v1, 48gb (6x8gb RipjawsX), Nvidia GTX1080 8GB, Revodrive X2 240gb, e-mu 1820, 2XSamsung SA850 (2560*1440) and 1XHP2408H 1920*1200 portrait
User avatar
Herbert123
Mitglied
Posts: 2277
Joined: Sat 12 May 2012 21:38

Re: Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

Post by Herbert123 »

PS small language bug: in the English version the File-->Import-->GS Import dialog still uses the German text for the font outlines option:

Schriften in Pfade wandeln (Mindestens GS 9.15) --> Convert Fonts to Outlines (Requires GhostScript v9.15 or higher).
/*---------------------------------------------*/
System: Win10 64bit - i7 920@3.6Ghz, p6t Deluxe v1, 48gb (6x8gb RipjawsX), Nvidia GTX1080 8GB, Revodrive X2 240gb, e-mu 1820, 2XSamsung SA850 (2560*1440) and 1XHP2408H 1920*1200 portrait
PhilM
Mitglied
Posts: 187
Joined: Thu 28 May 2015 18:00
Location: Belgium

Re: Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

Post by PhilM »

Could you explain how you install Ghostscript and set it up so it shows as an option in the File/Import menu ?

Thanks.

Phil
Martin Huber
Entwickler
Entwickler
Posts: 4220
Joined: Tue 19 Nov 2002 15:49

Re: Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

Post by Martin Huber »

PhilM wrote: Thu 20 Sep 2018 18:32 Could you explain how you install Ghostscript and set it up so it shows as an option in the File/Import menu ?
On Windows Ghostscript has a DLL (Dynamic Link Library). If you place this DLL in the Hlp-directory of PhotoLine, PhotoLine will use it for importing. The 32-bit version of the DLL must be named “gsdll32.dll” and the 64-bit version “gsdll64.dll”.
On macOS there is the file “Ghostscript.framework”. You have to copy it to “/Library/Frameworks” in order to work correctly.

Martin
User avatar
Herbert123
Mitglied
Posts: 2277
Joined: Sat 12 May 2012 21:38

Re: Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

Post by Herbert123 »

To expand on Martin's answer, there is no need to install Ghostscript (at least, not for Windows): download the installation file, and use a unarchiver like 7-zip to open the archive. The gsdllXX.dll file is found in the bin folder.
/*---------------------------------------------*/
System: Win10 64bit - i7 920@3.6Ghz, p6t Deluxe v1, 48gb (6x8gb RipjawsX), Nvidia GTX1080 8GB, Revodrive X2 240gb, e-mu 1820, 2XSamsung SA850 (2560*1440) and 1XHP2408H 1920*1200 portrait
PhilM
Mitglied
Posts: 187
Joined: Thu 28 May 2015 18:00
Location: Belgium

Re: Opening PDF files with fonts as outlines

Post by PhilM »

Thanks Martin
Thanks Herbert

It works.

I still do not understand when it is useful. But it is there.

Photoline is a gem!

What else is hidden that we don't now ?

Best regards