Ghostscript PDF Options (font embedding policy)

[karluv]

I need suggestions/help about some advanced options of Ghostscript.

There are different approaches for font embedding policy in pdf creation.

Some argue that PDF by definition is Portable Document Format, so all fonts should be embedded in the document. This will be a platform-independent solution. The problem is, document sizes will be big and there might be license uncertainties about fonts.

Another approach is to use the basic fonts when creating pdf docs and rely on built-in system fonts when rendering the document. Newer versions of Adobe Reader does not include classical Type 1 fonts, but rather rely on built-in Windows system truetype fonts for rendering pdf documents. Nevertheless, it does include a few last-resort fonts to replace any fonts that might not exist in Windows.

Assuming that the target is win32 users mainly using Adobe Reader, this is a practical solution.

That's what I have in mind: Completely remove fonts directory (base-14 type 1 fonts distributed with GS releases) of Ghostscript and arrange it so that it uses built-in win32 truetype fonts when creating PDF documents. Ghostscript is capable of doing this.

But the problem is, as soon as GS starts using Windows truetype fonts for distilling to pdf, all truetype fonts are being embedded inside the pdf.

Acrobat Distiller Parameters manual suggests the following options:

-c "<< /NeverEmbed [/Times-Roman /Times-Italic /Times-Bold] >> setdistillerparams"

These options are compatible with Ghostscript, but it works only when GS uses type 1 fonts for distilling. When GS relies on win32 truetype fonts directory, whatever font policy you define, nothing changes: All fonts (truetype) are embedded.

Does anyone know a way to use GS with win32 truetype fonts for distilling without embedding any fonts inside the document.