Embedded font support for PDFs is lacking; response to: Fonts packaging guidelines change status

[R P Herrold]

Subject: Fonts packaging guidelines change status

On Sat, 7 Mar 2020, Nicolas Mailhot wrote:

>  WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT
>  
>  On 2020-02-13, FPC approved a rewrite of our fonts packaging
>  guidelines. 
and again that was published on the 14th removing some top 
matter through the Section mark: NEW PACKAGES STILL PENDING 
REVIEW, and advancing PR status on a couple of fonts

But this question in the fonts-list was not addressed (see 
the bottom of this resend to include the devel list):

	Is a formal 'bug' needed to track this ?


Background:

That re-write draft as included does not address PDF 
portability

The Fedora most recent prior approach on fonts neglected 
explicitly supporting the need of Latex chain created 
documents for type 1 fonts to be embedded in PDFs.  

From raising this issue previously, it is my understanding 
that Type 1 fonts are felt to not screen render as well as 
some later alternatives, but when it comes to generating a 
Portable Document to reliably render 'the same', one HAS to 
carry and prefer embedded fonts when present


Detection of the issue, and Problem summarized:

When one is missing fonts, and runs something like:

	dvips -t letter -Ppdf -G0 -j0 mypaper.dvi \
		-o mypaper.ps

one will get a 'missfont.log' as to an inability to embed a 
required font, 'required' for completeness for portability 
purposes 


See the discussion at:
	https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/pdf-fonts.html

and its practical implication is discussed at:
	https://blogs.adobe.com/acrolaw/2007/11/pdf_creation_and_font_embedding/


The TL;DR takeaway is:

	The USPTO requires that PDF must be:

		Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3) or higher
		(See note at end of article)
		No larger than 8.5? by 11? or A4 page size
		Have all fonts embedded and subset


It is not JUST preparation of documents for filing there, but 
also for submitting 'camera ready PDF copy' to Lulu print on 
demand.  Lulu is a child of Robert Young [a serial 
entrepreneur who is best known for founding Red Hat Inc]

	https://connect.lulu.com/en/discussion/33148

	https://connect.lulu.com/en/discussion/33681/pdf-creation-settings-how-ca...

		pull requirement: All fonts should be converted 
		to outlines and embedded 


Way forward:

There is a collection of 13 fonts provided under a freely 
reproducible license from Adobe, known as the Base 13 fonts

- Courier, Courier-Bold, Courier-Oblique & Courier-BoldOblique
- Times-Roman , Times-Bold , Times-Italic & Times-BoldItalic
- Helvetica, Helvetica-Bold, Helvetica-Oblique & 
	Helvetica-BoldOblique
- Symbol

[ but not: - ZapfDingbats ]


I understand that they were removed from Fedora, as the Base 
13 are Type 1 fonts .... but dang it, at least for purposes of 
completeness to be able to generate legal documents, and to 
permit me to continue to use FOSS tools to publish for 
fulfillment at Lulu, can we get these Type 1 fonts back, 
regardless of slight risk of aesthetic discontent ?


Is a formal 'bug' needed to track this ?

Thank you

-- Russ herrold