Adobe Fonts Embed as Type 3 Instead of TrueType

Curtis Chau

Updated: July 21, 2026

Download IronPDF

• NuGet Download
• DLL Download
• Windows Installer

• ---

• Start Free Trial

Copy for LLMs

• Copy for LLMs

  Copy page as Markdown for LLMs
  # Adobe Fonts Embed as Type 3 Instead of TrueType When you render HTML with **Adobe Fonts** (formerly Typekit), the font type properties of the generated PDF can show **Type 3** instead of **TrueType**, even when the source is a `.ttf` file. The font still renders correctly on screen, but the embedded type differs from what most viewers expect. IronPDF runs on a Chromium-based rendering engine, so it embeds web fonts straight from your HTML: system fonts, Google Fonts, and self-hosted `.ttf` files all flow into the output PDF. Google Fonts and most `.ttf` files embed as **TrueType**, and you can tune render timing with `RenderDelay` and related settings. Adobe Fonts are the exception, because their `.ttf` files carry PostScript outlines that Chromium embeds as **Type 3**. ## Solution ### 1. Repackage the font with FontForge Regenerate the Adobe font with [FontForge](https://fontforge.org/), an open-source font editor, to strip the PostScript outlines that trigger Type 3 embedding. - Open the Adobe Fonts `.ttf` file in FontForge. - Run **Generate Fonts**. - Save it back as `.ttf`, stripping out PostScript outlines if prompted. ### 2. Render with the regenerated font Point your web or HTML template at the regenerated `.ttf`, then render as usual. The output PDF now embeds the font as **TrueType**, clearing the viewer compatibility issue.  [[t:(A native toggle to override Chromium's default embedding for PostScript-outline fonts is under evaluation, which would let Adobe Fonts embed as TrueType on request without FontForge.)]]

• ---

• Open in ChatGPT

  Ask ChatGPT about this page
• Open in Gemini

  Ask Gemini about this page
• Open in Grok

  Ask Grok about this page
• Open in Perplexity

  Ask Perplexity about this page

Share

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X (Twitter)
• Share on LinkedIn

• ---

• Email article

When you render HTML with Adobe Fonts (formerly Typekit), the font type properties of the generated PDF can show Type 3 instead of TrueType, even when the source is a .ttf file. The font still renders correctly on screen, but the embedded type differs from what most viewers expect.

IronPDF runs on a Chromium-based rendering engine, so it embeds web fonts straight from your HTML: system fonts, Google Fonts, and self-hosted .ttf files all flow into the output PDF. Google Fonts and most .ttf files embed as TrueType, and you can tune render timing with RenderDelay and related settings. Adobe Fonts are the exception, because their .ttf files carry PostScript outlines that Chromium embeds as Type 3.

Solution

1. Repackage the font with FontForge

Regenerate the Adobe font with FontForge, an open-source font editor, to strip the PostScript outlines that trigger Type 3 embedding.

• Open the Adobe Fonts .ttf file in FontForge.
• Run Generate Fonts.
• Save it back as .ttf, stripping out PostScript outlines if prompted.

2. Render with the regenerated font

Point your web or HTML template at the regenerated .ttf, then render as usual. The output PDF now embeds the font as TrueType, clearing the viewer compatibility issue.

Curtis Chau

Chat with engineering team now

Technical Writer

Curtis Chau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Carleton University) and specializes in front-end development with expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, and React. Passionate about crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, Curtis enjoys working with modern frameworks and creating well-structured, visually appealing manuals.

...

Read More