BUG

Characters in text strings display on top of each other or in reverse italics when exported to PDF, EPS or AI

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Description

Text strings from inserted EMF pictures in maps exported to PDF, EPS or AI display the characters garbled, on top of each other, incorrect kerning and/or with reverse italics.

Text looks like the following on screen in ArcMap:

[O-Image] Example of stretched and transformed text when viewed in ArcMap

Text looks like the following when exported to PDF, EPS or AI:

[O-Image] Example of stretched and transformed text when exported

Cause

This is a known issue.

These text strings are a part of inserted EMF pictures that were originally created in 3rd party graphics applications such as Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator.

They have had either manual text stretching and/or a text transformation applied.

Workaround

Convert these types of text strings to vectors in the original graphics application before generating the EMF. For example, in Adobe Illustrator CS2:

  1. Select the text string.
  2. Navigate to Type > Create Outlines.

Article ID:000008879

Software:
  • ArcMap

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