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Shafi_MD
Shafi_MD
New Member
February 9, 2026
Question

Fix PDF Export: Support Font Embedding instead of Vector Outlining

  • February 9, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 224 views

The Problem: > Currently, Figma’s native PDF export converts all text layers into vector paths (SVG objects). This causes several major issues:

  • High File Size: Vectorizing every character creates unnecessarily large files.

  • No Accessibility: Text is not selectable, searchable, or readable by screen readers.

  • Professional Limitation: We cannot use Figma for brochures, data sheets, or documents that require copyable text.

Proposed Solution: > Implement Font Embedding (subsetting) in the PDF export engine. Retaining text as a "text layer" would make Figma a viable alternative to Illustrator or InDesign for document design.

Why it matters: > This would significantly improve workflow for designers creating marketing assets and technical documents within Figma, ensuring files remain lightweight and fully functional

    3 replies

    VLll
    VLll
    New Member
    June 6, 2026

    yes agree. I can’t use Figma for resume because a single page text pdf is 5mb. can you please fix this Figma. 

    Wonseok Jang
    Wonseok Jang
    New Member
    August 26, 2026

    I’m a developer, and I ran into this while exporting my own documents from Figma.

    Even fairly simple, text-heavy files were coming out surprisingly large. After looking into the exported PDFs, I found that a lot of the size came from how images are handled and how Figma converts text to outlines instead of embedding the actual fonts.

    I tried a few existing plugins, but most had paid plans, subscriptions, or limitations that didn’t quite work for me.

    So I ended up building my own.

    Featherweight embeds and subsets real fonts where possible, keeps text selectable and searchable, and compresses images along the way.

    It’s completely free and open source. No signup, no subscription.

    If you’re running into the same problem, feel free to give it a try:

    Featherweight – Compressed PDF Export with Real Fonts
    https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/1672509720278498323/featherweight-compressed-pdf-export-with-real-fonts

     

    BatchCraft
    BatchCraft
    New Participant
    August 27, 2026

    I agree that native font embedding would be the best long-term fix. For anyone blocked by this today, I built BatchPDF as a production-focused alternative for both Figma Design and Figma Buzz.

    Where the font license and source allow safe embedding, supported text can remain selectable and searchable. When it cannot, Smart fallback protects the visual result instead of pretending every font is safe to embed. The plugin also adds page review/reordering, compression controls and Acrobat viewing options.

    One important distinction: selectable/searchable text does not by itself make a PDF fully tagged or screen-reader accessible, so I would not claim that.

    The current free plan includes five successful exports, up to 100 pages each:
    https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/1662786572015744789/batchpdf-pdf-export-compression?utm_source=figma_forum&utm_medium=helpful_reply&utm_campaign=font_embedding_thread

    Disclosure: I built BatchPDF. I would genuinely value a test on the resume or brochure cases mentioned here.

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