The Whitley Printing Company

Designing for Print

Fonts

Font usage is one of the most common reasons for output problems. Proper font usage will ensure the output process goes smoothly.

There are several types of fonts used on both Macintosh and PC platforms: PostScript (or Type 1) fonts, Open Type, and True Type fonts. We don’t recommend using PostScript and True Type fonts together, especially if you use both versions of the same font. Because the spacing between letters may differ causing line break changes

PostScript fonts have two components, the screen font (information that displays the font on the computer screen) and the printer font (outlines used by the printer to image the font). Both are necessary for imaging, so include both in your submitted files. As shown here, both types use the single-A icon. Unlike PostScript fonts, True Type fonts include screen and printer functions in one font. These fonts have a triple-A icon. If True Type, you need only submit the one version.

It’s easy to overlook the fonts contained in EPS files. Failing to list EPS fonts can cause problems with output. If you don’t note these fonts’ names or don’t provide them on your disk, these font characters may default to Courier at output. We suggest that, if your EPS file contains fonts, you convert them to outline characters whenever possible. The letter characters then become a graphic element and don’t require the font to be downloaded to the output device.

Submitting Fonts

Whitley requires that all screen and printer fonts used in your graphic (EPS files, etc.) and document files be included with the files you submit for output. Exact output can’t be guaranteed without having the same fonts used in your files.

When sending fonts, it’s important that you send both the screen and printer fonts as described above.

Choose the correct typestyle from the fonts in your font menu. For example, if you want to use a bold typeface, choose the bold version from the font menu. Do not choose “bold” from the typestyle menu or palette—what you see on the screen or laser printer may look fine, but it may not when output by the printer.

Open Type fonts are supported. We require that these fonts be included with your files submitted for output.

To improve readability, avoid creating reversed text that is too small or delicate. Use 8pt type or larger and limit the use of reverse type to block (bold), gothic, and sans serif styles.

Do not rename or renumber fonts. Renaming fonts often results in font conflicts. The font’s manufacturer has given it a particular name and assigned it a PostScript number. Renaming or renumbering fonts in your files can cause conflicts with one or more installed fonts.