Printing fonts in Illustrator

[Bones]

I am designing my CP and have chosen a futuristic looking font I found on-line, one that is not included in Illustrator.

When I am finished and send the file off to be printed, will the font print OK? I have read that it may default to a courier style font when printed which is definitely not what I want.

I am using Illustrator 11.

Any help appreciated.

[Pixelhugger]

Before sending the file to the printer you should convert the type to outlines.

Make sure you select the type with the black arrow and NOT the type tool. You want it selected as an item, not highlighted to edit.

Under the type menu select > Create Outlines (on a Mac you can press cmd+shift+O) Just make sure you're done editing and adjusting it as type before you do so because you cannot convert it back.

This is always good practice unless the type needs to be modified at the printer. Essentially this converts it to artwork and it is no longer "type" that can be edited.

[pmc]

I've been wondering about that too. I had assumed that Illustrator somehow made that conversion internally and saved the file with the requisite paths. Or at least demanded that the TrueType or Postscript fonts be present on the printing end of the equation. I had assumed that because I imagine that it's commonplace for a designer to send their work out to be printed commerically and it's not obvious that the printer would require font code to print.

I'll remember to convert to outlines before I send my work out!

- pmc

[Bones]

Thanks for the tip Pixel.

[zorg]

I've been wondering about that too. I had assumed that Illustrator somehow made that conversion internally and saved the file with the requisite paths. Or at least demanded that the TrueType or Postscript fonts be present on the printing end of the equation. I had assumed that because I imagine that it's commonplace for a designer to send their work out to be printed commerically and it's not obvious that the printer would require font code to print.

font's are a real nightmare for professional printers.
they must have an huge collection of font's in order to be abble to print the submited work

I'll remember to convert to outlines before I send my work out!

also remember to convert the  fonts to outlines if you wish to upload any art to the library.
this way everybody can use the file in it's full glory.

[Bones]

I suppose it's possible to supply any specially used fonts to the printer if in doubt? Provided it's a freebie font anyway....