Help creating PDF files

Avoiding Font Problems

When you create PDF files for the SFI Working Papers Series, you need to embed the correct font information so we have high-quality PDF files for the web. Degraded font quality is our biggest problem. Most problem files are distilled from PostScript files that were created with software that uses Computer Modern fonts like TeX or LaTeX. The simple truth is that Adobe Acrobat doesn't handle Computer Modern fonts well; it prefers Outline fonts.

Important: you must be logged into a Linux machine on the SFI network to use the following command.

To create high-quality PDFs, begin by creating a separate PostScript file that uses Outline fonts. Use the following command:

dvips -Ppdf filename.dvi -o

Then distill the resulting PostScript file into a PDF:

ps2pdf filename.ps

While the PostScript with outline fonts makes a great PDF file, to produce a PostScript file that is compatible with PostScript viewers and printers, it is best to use the following command:

dvips filename.dvi -o

This means you need to create two PostScript files--one as a precursor for your PDF file and one for normal Postscript viewing and printing.

Please, take a moment to check your files before you send them to us--PDF in Acrobat Reader and PostScript in Ghostview or another PostScript viewer.