In this article, you will learn
- which checks are available in Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates regarding Text and Fonts, and
- which solutions are provided to fix the detected issues.
1. Introduction
When print files are uploaded to the Workflow, the documents are checked using Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates to identify potential errors or warnings early in the production process. These errors and warnings can be displayed on the corresponding page within the Workflow and provided to the customer as a PDF report for further clarification.
The Preflight check (preflighted) of the print file is performed based on the activated checks and the severity levels assigned to each individual check Error, Warning, or Info.
2. Available Checks for Text and Font
To take full advantage of a Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template, the templates must first be created. A template essentially consists of Checks and Fixups. Currently, more than 58 Checks are available in the Workflow. To maintain clarity, the individual checks have been divided into different categories.
This article provides a detailed description of all checks assigned to the category Text and Font.
2.1. Effective Text x-height is below
Category: Text
Description: This check verifies whether the x-height (the height of lowercase letters) of all text within the TrimBox falls below the specified height. Please note that this check is only performed on text and not to text that has been converted to Strokes.
Solution: If the defined threshold is not met and the check is triggered, a new print file must be requested from the data provider.
Figure 1: The activated Check Effective Text x-height is below
2.2. Glyphs missing in an Embedded Font
Category: Object, Font, PDF/X-4
Description: This Check verifies whether glyphs used in the PDF file are missing from the embedded fonts. Missing embedded glyphs can cause characters to be displayed incorrectly or replaced with placeholders. In addition, PDF-based ISO standards such as PDF/X require that all used glyphs be embedded in the corresponding fonts.
Solution: To fix this issue, the Fixup «Embed missing Fonts» can be applied – provided that the missing glyphs are available in the system. However, note that font embedding is not always reliable due to complex encodings and will only succeed if the encoding of the individual glyphs matches exactly.
Figure 2: The activated Check Glyphs missing in an embedded Font
2.3. Font is syntactically incorrect
Category: Font, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Check verifies whether the fonts used in the print file are syntactically correct. It helps identify fonts that could affect text processing or the rendering of glyphs.
Solution: To fix this issue, a new print file must be requested from the data provider. If this is not possible, special attention should be paid during output to visually verify that all glyphs are available and correctly positioned.
Figure 3: The activated Check Font is syntactically incorrect
2.4. Font is not embedded
Category: Font, PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-6
Description: This Check verifies whether all fonts used for text within the selected Page Box are embedded. Missing fonts will be replaced during rendering – potentially with a fallback font such as Courier.
Solution: Missing fonts can be embedded afterward using the Fixup «Embed Missing Fonts». The Fixup «Embed Missing Fonts» can also be applied as part of a Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template to resolve the issue automatically. However, due to complex encodings, font embedding is not always reliable and will only succeed if the encoding of the individual glyphs matches exactly. Additionally, missing fonts are not permitted in any PDF/X-based Workflows, which are typically used in professional prepress environments.
Figure 4: The activated Check Font is not embedded
Ignore objects outside
When working with print files that include a TrimBox and BleedBox during production, you can use the option «Ignore objects outside» and select the entry «TrimBox» as the reference. This ensures that only text passages located within the visible area of the print file are identified.
2.5. Text is smaller than
Category: Text
Description: This Check verifies whether text objects in the print file use a font size smaller than the specified minimum size. Objects located outside the selected Page Box are ignored. Additionally, the check can be restricted to specific text colors – such as black text, rich black text, or white text. This check is useful for validating product-specific minimum font sizes based on substrates, print resolutions, or the inks used.
Solution: Font sizes cannot be modified using a Fixup in the Workflow. To make such changes, a text editing tool for PDF files, such as the PDF Editor, can be used.
Figure 5: The activated Fixup Text is smaller than
2.6. Text is overprinting
Category: Text
Description: This check verifies whether text is overprinting, which may cause background objects to show through. The Check can be limited to text larger than a specified minimum size or restricted to black text only. If text is overprinting, underlying objects may show through in the final print, potentially causing unwanted visual effects.
Solution: Overprinting black text can be corrected using the Fixup «Set Black Objects to Knockout». Alternatively, text can be converted to Rich Black using the Fixup «Redye CMYK Objects».
Figure 6: The activated Fixup Text is overprinting
Artikel update: Workflow 1.20.1 – 05/2025