Cidfontf1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 Updated !new! -
: Your PDF reader or browser cannot find the original font used by the creator, so it is defaulting to a generic system code [1, 2].
and cross-references it with a global font database to suggest the most likely original font (e.g., identifying that F1 is actually Arial Bold Arial Regular Vector Re-Rasterizer
Did you yourself, or download it from somewhere else?
| CIDFont tag | Typical meaning (old workflows) | Modern reality | |-------------|--------------------------------|----------------| | F1 | Primary font | Any font, first referenced | | F2 | Secondary / bold | Any font, second referenced | | F3 | Italic | Any font, third referenced | | F4 | Heading | Any font, fourth referenced | | F5 | Code/mono | Any font, fifth referenced | | F6 | Fallback | Any font, sixth referenced |
Here is an updated guide to understanding and fixing these pesky font errors. What are CIDFont+F1 through F6? cidfontf1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6 updated
the document under a new name and open it in your preferred editing software. Method 2: Flatten Transparency to Create Outlines
An CIDFont dictionary will have a higher supplement number (e.g., Supplement 6 instead of Supplement 2).
When a PDF is created, the software (like Adobe Acrobat, Nitro Pro, or online converters) attempts to embed the fonts used in the document. If the software cannot fully decode or embed the original font (such as Arial or Helvetica), it creates a "subset" or substitute and assigns it a generic identifier like CIDFont+F1 F1, F2, F3, etc.
Often assigned to the primary body text (e.g., Arial or Times New Roman). F3 & F4: Frequently used for bold or italicized variants. : Your PDF reader or browser cannot find
When exporting as PDF, ensure that all fonts are set to "Embed All" (or 100%).
The numbers F1 through F6 (and sometimes beyond) serve as a simple indexing system. When a PDF is created, the authoring software typically goes through a process of embedding all used fonts. However, if an error occurs during this process, or if the software deliberately chooses not to embed the font data, it creates a surrogate. This surrogate uses the format CIDFont+F1 , with the numeric suffix acting as a unique label for that particular missing font. For example, in one PDF, CIDFont+F1 might be a placeholder for the font "Tahoma," while CIDFont+F2 might be for "Arial Bold". The specific mapping is unique to each PDF document and is not standardized across different files.
When your PDF reader encounters these specific font codes, it means the software cannot properly interpret or render the text formatting embedded in the document. This guide explains why these errors happen and provides updated, practical solutions to fix them. What Are CIDFontF1 through F6?
Inside the object for cidfontf1 , you will find: What are CIDFont+F1 through F6
While CIDFont errors can be frustrating, understanding that they are placeholders allows you to efficiently use tools like the Transparency Flattener or re-embedding techniques to salvage your files.
Before opening in a design tool, try replacing the font in Adobe Acrobat Pro. Use Tools > Edit PDF > Edit .
If the above methods fail, you may need to identify the real font that the placeholder represents. Because of the earlier warning about non-specific mappings, this can be the most challenging step. However, there are clues: