Adobe Reader says: 'Cannot extract the embedded font'

[Brother_Gabriel-Mari (Brother Gabriel-Marie)]

We figured this out!

So, I am using LaTeX to create a pdf using a particular font.
The pdf opens just fine.
But when I PLACE that pdf in InDesign and export it as a pdf, I get this error:

I sent the font to a friend, and they adjusted the em space.
THIS FIXED IT!

Now, look here at the Font Properties.
The original font is on the left/top. The fixed one is on the right/bottom.


NOW - my question is: how can I make a fix like this in FontCreator?
I can’t just change the values there in the Font Properties panel - If I adjust the units-per-em, it resizes every glyph in the entire font.

Here are the metrics:
Again, original on the left or top, fixed one on the right or bottom:


What did they do?
How can I fix it myself to do the same thing?

[ErwinDenissen]

@Brother Gabriel-Marie

We figured this out!

So, I am using LaTeX to create a pdf using a particular font.
The pdf opens just fine.
But when I PLACE that pdf in InDesign and export it as a pdf, I get this error:
I sent the font to a friend, and they adjusted the em space.
THIS FIXED IT!

I suspect there is a bug in LaTeX or InDesign or both, and your friend found a way around it.

For fonts with TrueType based outlines the value should be a power of 2. Nowadays 2048 units per em value is the best value for all fonts of any size including large Latin or non-Latin script fonts.

For fonts with CFF (Postscript) outlines the recommended value is 1000, but other values should work.

I don’t think this is related, but a couple of months ago a posted this:
Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) PDF Bug Affects OpenType CFF

@Brother Gabriel-Marie

What did they do?
How can I fix it myself to do the same thing?

The Glyph Transformer can help rescale your glyphs, but I would recommend the following:

Do follow these steps:

1. Select all glyphs in the overview window, and copy them to the clipboard (CTRL-C)
2. Then go to the Font Properties dialog, and change the units per em
3. Select the first glyph, and paste from the clipboard (CTRL-P)
4. Go back to the Font Properties dialog to adjust the metrics values. Most groups have a Calculate button.

[Bhikkhu_Pesala]

A refinement to Erwin’s suggestion.

1. Select only the simple glyphs
2. Copy them to the clipboard, leaving them selected
3. Change the units per em
4. Paste the clipboard contents back into the same glyphs
5. Recalculate the metrics in Font Properties. The Maximum value is more appropriate than the Default value as far as I know. (I don’t understand why the Default radio box is enabled by default, or even why it is needed).
6. Make sure that the Export Settings are set on Autohinting or None, not Keep Original. The original hinting will not longer be correct for the new funit/em value

[ErwinDenissen]

@Bhikkhu Pesala

A refinement to Erwin’s suggestion.

It is good to know how others would do it

@Bhikkhu Pesala

1. Select only the simple glyphs
2. Copy them to the clipboard, leaving them selected
3. Change the units per em
4. Paste the clipboard contents back into the same glyphs

I’m not sure if the glyph component positions will remain correct, but this might work as well.

@Bhikkhu Pesala

5. Recalculate the metrics in Font Properties. The Maximum value is more appropriate than the Default value as far as I know. (I don’t understand why the Default radio box is enabled by default, or even why it is needed).

I also always use Maximum, so maybe that should become the one that is selected by default

@Bhikkhu Pesala

6. Make sure that the Export Settings are set on Autohinting or None, not Keep Original. The original hinting will not longer be correct for the new funit/em value

Almost correct:
I think it is wise to set the hinting to Auto Hinting, as the original hinting will be lost after making changes to a glyph’s outline.

[Bhikkhu_Pesala]

@Erwin Denissen

I’m not sure if the glyph component positions will remain correct, but this might work as well.

We should add a few more steps to fix the composites:

1. Select all composites
2. Tag them as ToDo
3. Select all ToDo glyphs
4. Make Simple
5. Complete Composites

The original hinting is not lost by the copy/paste action, but it is no longer correct. If export is done without hinting or autohinting the hinting will be removed or replaced. Otherwise not.

[Brother_Gabriel-Mari (Brother Gabriel-Marie)]

Okay, the cut and paste trick worked well for resizing the em spacing. The general and metrics settings look about the same now in my font as they do in the one my friend edited in FontForge.

However, my font still won’t embed properly - it keeps giving the error.
But my friend’s font works just fine.

Can I send someone the two fonts to inspect?
I simply cannot discover the difference.

[ErwinDenissen]

Sure, do send them over to me. You know my email address, otherwise send me a pm.

[Dick_Pape]

It has been my experience, long time fonters consider 2048 wrong and only allow 1000 and only accept otf extension.

[Brother_Gabriel-Mari (Brother Gabriel-Marie)]

Okay, well, I finally fixed the font (thank you, Mr. Denissen, for your help).
I did change the em-size to 1000 using the procedures you all posted above.

But what really fixed the problem was exporting the font with CFF outlines instead of TrueType outlines.

[ErwinDenissen]

I still think the process that makes the PDF is the problem, but I don’t know anything about Latex.