. They are placeholder names generated by PDF-creating software when the original fonts are not properly embedded. What are CIDFont F1, F2, F3, and F4?
When a PDF is generated, especially for East Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) or complex documents, the font is often split into subsets. The "F1, F2..." notation signifies these subsets, often representing different weights or characters.
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If you are still seeing this error, it would be helpful to know: Which software did you use to create the PDF? cid font f1 f2 f3 f4 free download link
Here are the safest ways to get high-quality, professional CID-keyed fonts for free:
Vector programs like AutoCAD often use complex shorthand codes that standard PDF readers struggle to interpret. How to Get the "Free Download" for Missing CID Fonts
Once you know the original font, you can install it on your system if you have a license, or replace it with a similar one. When a PDF is generated, especially for East
Ensure you have the optional "Adobe Acrobat Asian Font Packs" installed. How to Fix the "Missing CID Font" Error
| Font Family | Source | Characteristics | |-------------|--------|-----------------| | / Noto Serif CJK | https://github.com/googlefonts/noto-cjk | Full Unicode CJK coverage, multiple weights (Regular, Medium, Bold, Black). | | Source Han Sans / Source Han Serif (Adobe) | https://github.com/adobe-fonts/source-han-sans | High‑quality, open‑source, many weights, widely used in design. | | IBM Plex Sans JP | https://github.com/IBM/plex | Modern sans‑serif, limited weights, good for UI. | | OpenType CJK (Open Foundry) | https://openfoundry.org/ | Various community‑contributed CJK fonts. |
In your print/export settings, check the box that says "Embed all fonts" or "Subset embedded fonts when percent of characters used is less than 100%." This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted
Your first task is to figure out which font is actually missing.
These cryptic placeholders——are not actual font names. They are CID (Character Identifier) keys used by Adobe's PostScript and PDF rendering engines. When a PDF cannot locate the original font (often due to licensing restrictions or missing system fonts), it substitutes a generic CID-keyed font and labels it as F1, F2, etc.
If you are missing these fonts, you are actually missing the original font family that was used to create the PDF (e.g., Adobe-Japan1, SimSun, or MingLiU). Where to Find the Genuine Fonts (Free & Legal)