If you’ve ever been greeted by the Missing Fonts dialog upon opening a QuarkXPress document and been unable to find where the missing fonts are used, this tip is for you.
Along with the obvious places XPress looks for fonts are three not so obvious places: EPS files, PDF files, and style sheets.
Both Encapulated PostScript (EPS) and Portable Document Format (PDF) files can contain non-outlined type. When that’s the case, both can carry the required fonts–or subsets of those fonts–embedded within the file. For instance, if a PDF file uses Chaparral Pro Light Capt, the Chaparral Pro Light Capt font itself may be embedded into the PDF. This allows systems without Chaparral Pro Light Capt installed to view the PDF as designed. EPS files have the same functionality.
However, if the creator of a PDF or EPS did not embed the fonts used, either by choice or because of font licensing restrictions, the files will still require those fonts, but not carry them embedded internally. In-use fonts will need to be to installed on systems that view the PDF or EPS. If a PDF or EPS file requiring a specific font but not carrying it embedded is used within a QuarkXPress document, the XPress document, too, becomes dependent on the presence of the font. If the font isn’t installed when the XPress document is opened, a missing fonts error appears.
Another place XPress notes the presence of fonts is in style sheets. Even if a style sheet is not actually applied to text in the document, XPress registers and requires the presence of the font defined in the style sheet.
Next time you receive a phantom Missing Fonts warning, check your PDFs, EPSes, and scrutinize your styles.