PDF print problems Preview Fails but Adobe Reader works?

Question

Level 1

6 points

PDF print problems Preview Fails but Adobe Reader works?

Hello All,

I'm having issues printing pdf documents, it appears to be a Font problem, that is when I print from Apple's Preview 7.0 the document prints, but the spacing of characters is wrong, some symbols are missing etc. When I print from Adobe Reader 11.0.07 the documents look normal.

More Details: All pdfs generated using Latex fail this way, so it might be an issue there. PDFs generated from iWork's Pages 5 print fine UNLESS I copy the Latex images into them then they print incorrectly again.

I suspect the issue is with Apple's Preview missing a font, although I'm not sure that's it nor how to fix it. Adobe prints without any issues at all.

I am using OS 10.9.4 on a 2009 iMac. I am printing to a HP Laserjet M4555 over Bonjour Service.

Thank you for reading,

DrD

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Sep 16, 2014 10:26 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Sep 16, 2014 11:29 AM in response to PhysicsProf

Open Applications/Font Book and validate all the fonts.

Font Book

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Answer 2

PhysicsProf Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 16, 2014 1:53 PM in response to Eric Root

Hello Eric,

Thank you for the quick response. I have done this and I have a few minor errors, proceed with caution statements. I am not sure how to proceed, do I delete the fonts?

Thanks

DrD

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Sep 17, 2014 7:57 AM in response to PhysicsProf

You are welcome.

See the same article and try disabling the fonts first. If your problem is then fixed, you can then delete the fonts if desired.

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Answer 4

PhysicsProf Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 17, 2014 2:36 PM in response to Eric Root

Hello Eric,

Unfortunately this has not solved the problem. I ended up disabling them all and ultimately deleting the duplicates. Adobe works so that is my work around for now, although I prefer Preview.

I appreciate your help,

DrD

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Sep 18, 2014 7:54 AM in response to PhysicsProf

You are welcome.

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Answer 6

May 16, 2016 9:12 AM in response to PhysicsProf

I have exactly the same problem, which arose quite suddenly for no apparent reason after years of problem free printing. All pdfs created by Latex show correctly in Preview but revert to Courier font when printed. Did anyone ever find a solution which works?

I am using OSX 10.8.5. It is not a printer problem-- printing from my MacBook Air there is no problem.

I can work around with Adobe; another way is to save file as a postscript then print from the resulting pdf, but printing from Preview direct is much more convenient.

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