CID (Character Identifier) is a font format specification developed by Adobe Systems. Unlike traditional fonts (Type 1 or TrueType), which map single-byte characters (0-255), CID fonts are designed for large character sets:
Instead of a "encoding vector," CID fonts use a CID key (a number) to identify each glyph. The CID-keyed font architecture separates the character collection (the set of glyphs) from the CMap (how to map character codes to CID numbers).
A client sends an editable PDF but all text appears as "F1", "F2" in Adobe Illustrator. You don’t have their original Asian fonts. Repacking converts the CID subsets to outlines (while preserving the text as invisible metadata for searchability) or merges the subset into a usable temporary font.
If you are seeing text like "CIDFont+F1" in your PDF or design software, it means the original font is or was not properly embedded
. The software is using these placeholder names as a fallback.
Here is how you can "repack" or fix this to get useful, readable text again: 1. The Quickest Fix: "Print to PDF"
If the text looks fine on your screen but turns into gibberish when you copy it or open it elsewhere, try "re-printing" the file: Open the PDF in a web browser (Chrome or Edge). File > Print Save as PDF Microsoft Print to PDF
This often "flattens" the fonts and creates a more compatible file. 2. Identifying the Missing Fonts
Adobe Acrobat uses these codes as shorthand for common styles. If you need to replace them manually, they often correspond to: Arial Bold or Times New Roman Bold. Arial Regular or Times New Roman Regular. Usually Italics or other weights in the same font family. 3. Repairing the File in Adobe Acrobat If you have Adobe Acrobat Pro , you can use the tool to fix the font mapping: Tools > Print Production > Preflight Select single fixups (wrench icon). Search for "font" and look for Embed fonts Convert to CID fonts Run the fix and save the document. 4. For Designers (Illustrator/Affinity) If you are opening a PDF in Adobe Illustrator Affinity Designer and see these errors: Replace the Font:
Select the text with the error and manually change the font to a standard one like Flatten Transparency:
If you only need the visual and don't need to edit the text, place the PDF into a new document and use Object > Flatten Transparency Convert All Text to Outlines Why this happens Impossible fonts to be found / Fontes impossíveis de achar
Demystifying the "CIDFont+F1" Mystery: Why Your PDF Fonts Are Missing
Have you ever opened a PDF only to be greeted by a cryptic error message like "CIDFont+F1 cannot be created or found" cid font f1 f2 f3 f4 repack
, or seen your text replaced by a series of dots? If you're seeing generic names like F1, F2, F3, or F4
in your font list, you’ve encountered one of the most common—and frustrating—PDF export glitches. What are CIDFont F1, F2, F3, and F4? Despite their official-sounding names, CIDFont+F1
and its numbered siblings are not real fonts you can download from the internet. Instead, they are generic placeholders created by software when a font isn't properly embedded during the PDF export process.
The "F" numbers typically refer to different weights or styles within the document: Often maps to a regular weight (like Arial Regular). Often maps to a bold version (like Arial Bold). Additional variations used by the original application. Why Is This Happening?
This issue usually stems from a "repack" or export error where the PDF generator—often third-party software like SAP or online converters—fails to include the actual font data. Because the original font name is lost, the PDF viewer assigns these "F" aliases. Since your computer doesn't recognize "F1" as a standard font, it fails to render the text correctly. How to Fix the "Missing Font" Error
If you're stuck with a file full of dots or uneditable text, try these community-tested workarounds: The "Preview" Trick (Mac Users): Open the problematic PDF in the macOS app, then go to File > Export as PDF
. This simple "re-cooking" of the file often forces the fonts to embed or substitute correctly, making it readable in Adobe Acrobat again. Manual Font Substitution: If you're using professional tools like Adobe Illustrator Affinity Designer "Find Font"
feature to replace the missing "F1/F2" entries with common system fonts like Times New Roman Flatten to Outlines:
If you only need to view or print the file and don't need to edit the text, use the Transparency Flattener (in Illustrator) or
tools (in Acrobat Pro) to convert the text into vector shapes (outlines). This bypasses the need for the font entirely. Print to PDF:
Sometimes "printing" the document to a virtual PDF printer (like Microsoft Print to PDF) can strip the faulty CID encoding and replace it with standard, viewable text. If you are the one
these PDFs, always ensure "Embed all fonts" is checked in your export settings to prevent your recipients from seeing the dreaded F1 error. Are you still seeing dots instead of letters CID (Character Identifier) is a font format specification
after trying these steps? Let me know which software you're using so we can find a more specific fix! Impossible fonts to be found / Fontes impossíveis de achar
CID (Character ID) encoding is a technology designed to support large and complex character sets—such as Japanese, Chinese, or Arabic—that exceed the limits of standard Western encodings.
The Identification System: Instead of using character names, CID fonts use a number system to identify glyphs.
Generic Mapping: In many cases, F1 maps to Arial Bold (or Times New Roman Bold) and F2 maps to Arial Regular (or Times New Roman Regular), depending on the software used to create the document. Common Issues
Missing Characters: If you try to open a PDF containing these "fonts" in software like Adobe Illustrator or Affinity Designer, you may get an error stating the font is missing, resulting in text appearing as dots or being uneditable.
Repacking Challenges: "Repacking" these fonts often refers to the need to re-embed or fix them so they display correctly across platforms. How to Fix or "Repack" CID Font Issues
If you are dealing with a document where these fonts are missing or broken, use the following methods to restore the text: Impossible fonts to be found / Fontes impossíveis de achar
In technical design and prepress contexts, CIDFont F1, F2, F3, and F4 are not typically standalone fonts you buy, but rather generic substitute names
generated by software when a PDF is exported without properly embedding its original fonts Review of CIDFont F1–F4
These serve as placeholders or "substitute" fonts created by PDF export engines (like those in older web tools or specific CAD programs) to handle character sets without losing layout information. Usability: While they allow a PDF to be viewed and printed, they are difficult to edit
. If you open a file containing these in professional software like Adobe Illustrator Affinity Designer
, you will often see error messages stating the font is "missing" or text appearing as dots. Identification: Instead of a "encoding vector," CID fonts use
The "F" numbers usually correspond to specific weights or styles. For example, in many common exports: Often mapped to Arial Bold Times New Roman Regular Often mapped to Arial Regular Times New Roman Bold Recommended "Repack" Solutions
If you are trying to "repack" or fix a document with these fonts, community members and experts suggest these workarounds: The "Preview" Trick: Open the PDF in Mac Preview and use File > Export as PDF
. This often flattens the font data into a more usable format for other readers. Transparency Flattening: In Illustrator, instead of opening the file directly, it into a new document. Then go to Object > Flatten Transparency Outline Text
. This converts the "impossible to find" fonts into vector shapes you can at least move and scale. Manual Mapping:
If you must edit the text, manually replace the missing CIDFont layers with standard families like Times New Roman
, which closely match the generic mapping used during the original export. Are you currently seeing an error message in a specific design program, or are you trying to these fonts from a file? CIDFont+F1 issue - Adobe Community
pdffonts broken_catalog.pdf
Output example:
name type encoding emb sub uni object ID
----------------- ------------ ---------- --- --- --- ---------
F1 CID Type0C Identity-H yes yes yes 4 0
F2 CID Type0C Identity-H yes yes yes 5 0
F3 CID TrueType Identity-H yes yes yes 6 0
F4 CID Type0C Identity-H yes yes yes 7 0
All fonts are embedded subsets but anonymized as F1–F4.
Q: Is repacking the same as flattening?
A: No. Flattening merges transparent objects; repacking fixes font structures. They are complementary.
Q: Will a repack remove text-searchability?
A: No—if done correctly, repacking preserves or even improves text extraction.
Q: Can I repack a PDF on a mobile device?
A: Yes, using online services like iLovePDF or PDF2Go, but be cautious with sensitive documents.
Q: Why do I see F5, F6, F7 sometimes?
A: The naming extends as needed. F1 to F4 is common, but any digit is possible.
Q: Does repacking violate font licensing?
A: Usually no, because you are re-embedding glyphs already present. However, converting to outlines may strip embedding rights; check your EULA.