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Embedding Signature Fonts
If you regularly share documents or files containing font information with users of other computers, you've probably come across a common frustration of the fonts being changed when you (or the receiver) open a document created on a different computer. Usually this happens when fonts are substituted because the document was created using fonts that are not present on the viewer's computer. Some programs include font substitution features that choose the closest possible match if the specified font is not installed. The best solutions, however, is called "font embedding."
Many popular programs, such as Microsoft products and Corel's WordPerfect Suite, now support TrueType "font embedding" technology. This technology lets you "embed" (or "save") fonts you've used within the document file itself so that they travel with the document. This guarantees that the document will be viewed as the author intended it, regardless of the computer that is used to view it.
There are four different levels of embedding which can be applied to your signature font. When ordering, you may choose which level of embedding you would like your signature font to have.
- Restricted license embedding
No embedding allowed; the font can not be embedded in any document even if the "embed fonts" option is checked in your program. This means that your signature font will not be viewable on a computer that doesn't have the font installed and a default font will be used in its place.
- Print and Preview embedding
The font may be embedded in documents, but will only be embedded temporarily on the remote system. Documents can only be opened read-only.
This means that although your signature font will be "embedded" in a document enabling it to be seen on a recipients computer, the recipient isn't able to reproduce it in another document or cut-and-paste your signature. Also, they can only print and view the document; they can't edit it. If your signature font has the Print/Preview Embedding feature, you can turn the embedding off by not selecting the "embed fonts" option in your program when saving the file (see more on this below).
- Editable embedding
Fonts may be embedded in documents, but will only be embedded temporarily on the remote system. This level of embedding is similar to Print/Preview Embedding except that it allows editing of the document. Recipients still are not able to utilize your signature fonts and can't reproduce or cut-and-paste from its use in the document.
- Installable embedding
Fonts may be embedded in documents and permanently installed on the remote system. This level of embedding provides the most flexibility since the recipient of your document will actually have your font permanently installed on their computer. They will have access to your font to use in whatever way they wish. Again, you can turn the embedding off by not selecting the "embed fonts" option in your program.
Click here to view a table of the 4 levels of embedding and to help determine the level which suits you best.
Enabling Font Embedding
Although several programs support font embedding, and although your signature font may be embeddable, you still need to enable this feature within the program you are working in. Consult your user manuals or help files for details. The following instructions are for embedding your signature font in Microsoft Word documents.
To save a Word document with a signature font embedded, select 'Save As...' from Word's 'File' menu, then select 'Options...' to access the Save Options dialog box (shown below). Put a check in the "Embed True Type fonts" checkbox.
Quick Tip: If you choose to have your signature font created to be embeddable but wish to not embed them in a particular document, simply remove the check from the "Embed True Type fonts" checkbox.
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