Overview
Variable fonts are an OpenType extension that allows multiple font styles to be combined in a single font file. Instead of installing many separate font files, a single variable font can describe a full design range (such as weight, width, or slant) and allow intermediate styles to be generated on the fly.
Variable fonts are an OpenType extension that allows multiple font styles to be combined in a single font file. Instead of installing many separate font files, a single variable font can describe a full design range (such as weight, width, or slant) and allow intermediate styles to be generated on the fly.
Problem in Harlequin 14.0 (and earlier)
Harlequin 14.0 did not include support for variable fonts. Files containing them could fail to render correctly, substitute fonts, or produce unusable output. This issue was most visible in PDFs generated by Adobe Creative Cloud applications and other modern design tools that rely on variable fonts.
Resolution in Harlequin 14.0r2 and Later
From Harlequin 14.0r2 onward, variable fonts are supported in line with the OpenType 1.8 specification. This includes:
From Harlequin 14.0r2 onward, variable fonts are supported in line with the OpenType 1.8 specification. This includes:
- Correct interpretation of variation axes such as weight (
wght), width (wdth), and slant (slnt). - Accurate rendering of PDFs containing variable fonts without fallback or substitution.
Impact for Users
If you are running Harlequin 14.0 and encounter problems with PDFs that use variable fonts, upgrading to 14.0r2 or later will resolve these issues. No additional configuration is required; support is built in. As of this writing (September 3, 2025), the version shipping in Navigator and in K2 is 14.0r3.
If you are running Harlequin 14.0 and encounter problems with PDFs that use variable fonts, upgrading to 14.0r2 or later will resolve these issues. No additional configuration is required; support is built in. As of this writing (September 3, 2025), the version shipping in Navigator and in K2 is 14.0r3.