PostScript error: invalidfont
A PostScript error Invalidfont can show up for a number of reasons but such errors are obviously always font related.
- Invalidfont errors can occur when a file contains an invalid font name or dictionary or a corrupted or improperly formed font dictionary.
- When a file containing recent types of fonts (like OpenType fonts) are send to older RIPs, this can also lead to ‘invalidfont’ errors.
Solutions
If you are printing from Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, install the 10.6.7 update. It resolves ‘invalidfont’ errors when printing to PostScript printers.
To avoid problems with corrupted fonts, replace or reinstall the font on the RIP and/or computer.
Older versions of Harlequin’s ScriptWorks software as well as a few Adobe PostScript-based RIPs that were not properly configured by Adobe’s OEMs cannot handle PDF files that contain Type1-based OpenType fonts (Type 1 fonts with CID double-byte encoding). Such encodings will cause an “invalidfont” error on the RIP. Besides not using such fonts, there are two possible solutions for this problem:
- Upgrade the RIP.
- Try creating the printfile or PDF file in another fashion. For Indesign for example, you should use Acrobat Distiller instead of exporting to PDF from within InDesign itself.
For a PostScript error invalidfont offending command findfont: check the page on the findfont operator.
For a PostScript error invalidfont offending command awidthshow: check the page on the awidthshow operator.
If you change your PostScript Output configuration from the default “speed” to “portability” the problem will go away.
I tried this solution, it did not work
This solution works to me
I found this error trying to print PDF’s on a Mac using Preview, the fix was use Adobe Reader instead
Daguy,
thank you very much – that fixex it for me. Would you recommend making Adobe the default instead of Preview?
Had this error with Illustrator and “Save a Copy” > Adobe PDF. And then printing the document with Mac’s “Preview” application
Two ways to fix it:
A) When saving the PDF, untick “Optimize for Fast Web View”
or
B) Print the (buggy) PDF document with Adobe Acrobat
I have now a problem with a ps file on a Xerox mono printer.
It shows fine with HP Laser jet, but with Xerox mono it gives :
%%[Error: invalidfont; OffendingCommand:definefont.
I mention that the ps file contains cff fonts. Should I blame the printer for not supporting cff fonts, or am I missing something?
I get the error when attempting to save (print) webpages as PDF using Acrobat Pro 9. Got around the problem by
- First printing the webpage into a Microsoft XPS file, then
- Print the XPS file into a PDF. (I send these webpage images to a variety of folks and XPS is not always recognized… but PDF is).
Hope this helps somebody.