[DocPit]

I've noticed that t-shirt printing companies ask that text be converted to shapes. (Example from Printful Printful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWMv6DCsc2s ). They also ask that we flatten the image.

The issue, as they explain it, is that if we send a file with a font they don't have, the file will not open properly. This is what puzzles me: If I create a Photoshop file which includes an image plus text, and I then flatten that file (which the print vendors require me to do), then the text is no longer editable. It's just part of a single rasterized image. No different from any other component of that image.

In Photoshop, converting text to shapes is a simple task, I'm just trying to make sense of it. Does anyone understand why the text needs to be converted to shapes? Is it just idiot-proofing in case someone sends a file with embedded fonts that has not been flattened?

 

[Ripcord]

When a company asks you to do this, they are talking about vector artwork. In the case of vector art a font not converted will default to a font the person who opens the file has installed on his system. An exception is in the case of a PDF you can embed the font in a file but this still can potentially cause discrepancies. Converting the font to curves (outlines, shapes) insures that it will look the same when the file is opened on the other end. (Well, hopefully. It's still a good idea to include a low res jpeg for reference...)

In the case of raster artwork such as you are creating in Photoshop, when you flatten your design to a single raster image it is uneditable as you said and the text becomes just another component of the image.

 

[into the T]

there is also the risk of embedded malware in the embedded font

 

[bwmccall]

As a printer, more time is spent (wasted) trying to fix other people's art problems than anything else. To make money printing, you have to import the art and send it to production quickly and efficiently. Every job that has to go to the "something wrong with it" pile to be fixed costs time and money.

 

[Ripcord]

I agree with Ben, your profit is made by printing, not messing around, but I look at it a little differently than some do. If a customer orders shirts and sends me something I can vector trace, I'll do that in less time than it would take for me (or one of my competitors...) to explain why we can't use it.

I'll take what they send me, turn it into usable artwork, and get the job on press so I can finish it up and invoice them for it. An added benefit is after I create the artwork I own it and then it's that much more difficult for the customer to shop around for a lower price.

 

[PatWibble]

It guards against the recipients computer not having the same fonts installed.
If text is converted to shapes/paths/outlines/curves the integrity of the original design is maintained. If a design is sent via pdf unconverted fonts may be substituted or kerning, alignment and line spacing my become corrupted.