In a PDF document, labels like are internal placeholders used to map a specific subset of characters to a font used by the creator. When you open a PDF in an editor like Adobe Illustrator and see these names, it means the software cannot identify the original font family (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica) and has substituted them with these generic "CID" tags. How to Fix Missing CID Fonts
Look for the font names next to "CIDFont+F1"—the software may list the actual font name that failed to embed. Use High-Quality Substitutes
CID Fonts (Types 9–11, 32) - Fonts & Encodings [Book] - O'Reilly
GitHub – adobe-fonts/source-han-serif Quality: ★★★★★ In a PDF document, labels like are internal
There are three primary reasons why your PDF reader is failing to display these fonts:
Search for the .
| CID Tag | Most Likely Actual Font (Adobe Collection) | Typical Use Case | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Heisei Kaku Gothic Gothic W5 / Adobe Ming Std L | Bold sans-serif or serif body text | | F2 | Heisei Mincho W3 / Ryumin Light-KL | Serif body text (newspapers, books) | | F3 | Kozuka Gothic Pro B / Kaku Gothic B | Bold headings | | F4 | Kozuka Mincho Pro R | Elegant serif for subtitles | | F5 | Ryumin Light-KL / Adobe Heisei Std | Traditional book printing | | F6 | Girouard Gothic / Midashi GB | Display headlines | | F7 | Variant of F1 or F2 (often bold italic) | Emphasis or sidebars | Use High-Quality Substitutes CID Fonts (Types 9–11, 32)
Once you have downloaded your high-quality CID fonts (like Noto CJK), here is how to fix your PDF or document error.
A collection of professional-grade, high-quality fonts that are free for personal and commercial use.
Windows/Mac caches font names.
Select , then choose Adobe PDF or Microsoft Print to PDF . Go to Properties > Adobe PDF Settings . Ensure that "Embed all fonts" is checked before saving.
If you saw a font in a PDF or a design that was identified as "F1" or "CID" in a properties list and you want that font:
Example LaTeX snippet (XeLaTeX/LuaLaTeX): Windows/Mac caches font names
F1-F7 fonts are a specific set of CID fonts that are widely used in various industries. These fonts are known for their clean and professional look, making them suitable for a range of applications, from headings to body text.