Inspect the exported PDF's font information and compare representative passages with the source layout. Look for substituted letterforms, missing symbols, changed line breaks, and inconsistent emphasis. Correct the source or export settings, then generate a fresh PDF. A familiar-looking page can still contain a consequential font problem.
Choose passages that expose differences
Select a body paragraph, a heading, italic and bold text, numbers, punctuation, and any unusual characters used in the book. Include tables or captions if they use another typeface. A single sample of ordinary body text will not reveal every substitution.
A language workbook, for example, may look normal until an accented character or phonetic symbol appears. A technical guide may depend on a symbol that resembles another character in a fallback font. Make a specimen page or a short list of locations containing these high-risk examples.
Compare the source and exported file
Open the source and PDF at comparable sizes. Check letter shapes, spacing, line endings, and the number of lines in the sample paragraph. Unexpected reflow can indicate that font metrics changed, although other layout settings can also cause it.
Do not rely solely on the typeface name shown in the authoring application. The exported file is the production artifact. Use your PDF viewer's available font information to see what the file contains, and compare that information with the fonts you intended to use in this edition.
Check embedding and usage permissions
Review the current export requirements and the font's license. A font being installed on your computer does not by itself establish that every intended use or embedding option is permitted. Keep the relevant license or purchase record with the project.
If a font cannot be used in the required output, select an appropriate replacement in the source document and review the resulting layout. Avoid an improvised last-minute conversion that makes text harder to inspect or maintain. The correct remedy depends on the authoring tool, file requirements, and font permissions.
Inspect more than the page count
A substituted font can change emphasis or readability without changing the total number of pages. Check whether italics remain distinct, headings fit, table labels remain legible, and punctuation appears correctly. Pay attention to characters that may silently become empty boxes.
Record any expected differences so another reviewer does not mistake an intentional change for a new error.
- Compare normal, bold, and italic text.
- Inspect every special character set used.
- Review headings, captions, and table labels.
- Check for changed line and page breaks.
- Confirm the exported font information.
Re-export and approve a specific version
Make corrections in the source, export again, and repeat the specimen checks. If the replacement changes pagination, revisit contents entries, chapter openings, margins, and the cover specification. A font correction can have consequences beyond the original problem page.
Keep the approved PDF and its source together with a revision identifier. Use the relevant KDP preview workflow and review a proof when appropriate for the project. Approval should refer to a specific file, not a general statement that the fonts were checked at some point during production.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for this publishing decision.
Can a PDF look correct without the intended font?
Yes. A substitute may look similar in ordinary text while changing special characters, spacing, or emphasis. Inspect representative examples and file information.
Should I check every typeface?
Check every font and style used in the exported book, including those in captions, tables, and decorative elements that carry meaningful text.
Will replacing a font change my cover?
It can if the interior reflows and the final page count changes. Update the cover handoff whenever its production inputs change.
What must I check, disclose, and verify myself when AI helped produce the book?
Review facts, rights, and source material yourself, record which parts were AI-assisted or AI-generated so you can answer Amazon’s disclosure question accurately, and treat every automated check as a starting point rather than a verdict.
See what the compliance checks cover