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Font problems after 10.6.7

I'm getting lots of strange behaviour relating to fonts since updating to 10.6.7. This is all in things that used to work perfectly.
PostScript output causes errors in Distiller (problems in font definitions); and manipulating PDF objects can cause embedded fonts to become .... unembedded.

As I understand it, there were lots of security fixes to font handling in the update, but it seems to have caused loads of trouble.

The developers for an app I use, Imposition Wizard, have confirmed that things aren't working as they are supposed to and have filed bug reports with Apple.

However, as I do a lot of work with PostScript and PDFs, I will have to reinstall the OS to 10.6.6.

iMac 2006 2Ghz, Mac OS X (10.6.7), MacBook 2008

Posted on Mar 22, 2011 3:07 PM

Reply
424 replies

Apr 25, 2011 1:13 PM in response to Michael John Kelly

Wouldn't the modified or created dates for the model in question show a date that coincides with the 10.6.7 update?

Not necessarily. You can update a file within a folder, and the folder's date won't change. An application package is essentially just a folder. So pieces within the package can be updated without affecting the date of the package itself.

Apr 25, 2011 1:18 PM in response to Michael John Kelly

While I've downloaded your fix, I'm hesitant to run it because I am not sure what it will do.


I don't know what it does but I know it fixes the problem. I've installed the fix and all problems disappeared. Either one has to "downgrade" to 10.6.6 which can be quite an amount of work or one waits for the update by Apple or one risks to apply the fix by KJ. I did the latter and I do not regret that fix. I regret that I installed Apple's 10.6.7 "bugdate"....

Apr 26, 2011 7:04 AM in response to etresoft

etresoft wrote:


Don't use Postscript fonts in 10.6.7! Just don't do it. I don't care how good Trajan Pro looks. Use a different #$%^#@# font.




Hey E tree,


Call it what you want but the above quote is just plain arrogant. I am a designer and we have tons of postscript fonts. Some are provided by clients in high pressure, fast turnaround situations. In fact *all* of my turnarounds are fast. Have you ever had to create a 25 page RFP in a few hours for major Brands?


All of which gets to a point. Your arrogant posts (and I have read enough of them) do not jibe with real-world logistics. From *our* point of view, Program X was working, we installed the usual "software update 10.6.7.." as we have for years, and suddenly program X is not working. Say what you want about Adobe, 20 year bugs etc, I don't care, because it was Apple's update that caused my workflow to STOP, and for me to suddenly scramble and DOWNgrade my OS over night on 3 machines, something I have not had to do in over 22 years (yes 22) of using macs.


For me the problem is Keynote, and using distiller to create the PDFS, because Keynote's default PDF creation is buggy and causes inconsistent color. I absolutely need distiller to work and it did not work on 3 machines the second I installed 10.6.7. And, as soon as I downgraded, it worked fine as before.


Making a statement like "dont use postscript fonts" to designers (who have never turned their back on Apple) who have thousands of fonts installed is silly. Get your head out of the clouds and come down to the real world trenches where the designers work — Designers who pay the salaries at Apple, even when Gil Amelio is the CEO.


Trajan Pro looks dope and I just used it last month.


FIX IT APPLE !!!!

Apr 26, 2011 7:33 AM in response to josephleebrown

hahah! Nice. But when you think about it, I am managing fonts with Apple's software, and using an Apple program (keynote) to generate a PS file...which suddenly won't distill, when it did before...


My biggest disappointment is just that this has never even come close to happening... that's why when I see "there are updates available" I just automatically hit INSTALL... Its like a reflex.


And, sadly, my clients do not understand "not delivering"


In the end, I think a little more testing might have brought this up before it was released... but hey we had to get the iPad 2 and Verizon iPhone out first!



FIX IT APPLE!!!

Apr 26, 2011 7:49 AM in response to josephleebrown

Acrobat Distiller Pro X.


For the record my problem was less font related as much as workflow related.


Thanks for the tips but I will sadly sit on the sidelines until I see an official bug fix from apple. The Adobe post regarding font rendering in Flash was enough for me to realize its not worth the hassle.


Everything works fine now, rocking on 10.6.6.. I just feel for those who dont know how to downgrade and re-install or are afraid to.


BTW what is the Apple conversion you speak of?

Apr 26, 2011 8:09 AM in response to C42D

C42D wrote:


My biggest disappointment is just that this has never even come close to happening... that's why when I see "there are updates available" I just automatically hit INSTALL... Its like a reflex.



A lot of folks lost that reflex earlier when they were burned by the font problems created by 10.6.0, e.g.


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2136944?threadID=2136944&start=0&tstart=0


and became more cautious, or at least started keeping clones of working OS versions so an update bug would not disrupt their work.

Apr 26, 2011 12:05 PM in response to C42D

This is a general post, I'm not replying directly to C42D.


It was suggested that we send feedback to Apple about the PDF issues raised in 10.6.7. (http://www.apple.com/feedback/)

Perhaps if Apple gets enough such feedback some action will be taken. Here is what I sent:


OS X 10.6.7 has caused incompatibility problems in PDF files generated by Mac Applications. In my case PDF files sent to my PC friends look okay on screen but will not print correctly. (In at least one case all characters were bumped up by one, i.e. "a" became "b", etc.) I've solved this by sending them PNG files instead so it is no big problem for me. BUT PLEASE LISTEN TO THE GRIEF THIS HAS CAUSED AMONG PROFESSIONAL DESIGNERS WHO USE MACS.


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2792142?answerId=13295716022#13295716022&messageID=13295716

Font problems after 10.6.7

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