diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index c463d988..afdd13e3 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -655,6 +655,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "cadcraft-doc",
  "cadcraft-dwg",
  "cadcraft-dxf",
+ "cadcraft-fonts",
  "cadcraft-geom",
  "cadcraft-render",
  "miniz_oxide 0.8.9",
diff --git a/crates/fonts/src/lib.rs b/crates/fonts/src/lib.rs
index 1a5961bf..0217fa96 100644
--- a/crates/fonts/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/fonts/src/lib.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ pub mod bidi;
 mod complex;
 mod mtext;
 mod stroke;
+pub mod subset;
 pub mod ttf;
 
 use cadcraft_geom::{Bounds2, Vec2};
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ pub fn shape_stroke(s: &str, height: f64, width_factor: f64, oblique: f64) -> Sh
                 Some(g) => {
                     let contours = ttf::place_glyph(&g, x, h, wf, shear);
                     if !contours.is_empty() {
-                        out.glyphs.push(contours);
+                        out.push_glyph(contours, ttf::text_glyph(&g, c, x, h, wf, shear));
                     }
                     adv = g.advance * h / g.cap * wf;
                 }
@@ -242,16 +243,53 @@ impl TextFont {
 
 /// Shaped text in local or world coordinates: open strokes (stroke-font glyphs, underlines,
 /// fraction bars) and closed glyph outlines grouped per glyph (fill each group even-odd).
+/// Outline glyphs also come as [`TextGlyph`]s, for output that keeps text as text (PDF).
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Shaped {
     pub strokes: Vec<Vec<Vec2>>,
     pub glyphs: Vec<Vec<Vec<Vec2>>>,
     pub width: f64,
+    /// The outline glyphs as font glyphs: which face and glyph each of [`Shaped::glyphs`] is,
+    /// and where it sits.
+    pub text: Vec<TextGlyph>,
+}
+
+/// A glyph of an installed outline font, placed: its outline is `Shaped::glyphs[outline]`.
+/// Point `(u, v)` of the glyph in em units (1000 font units per em, as PDF glyph space) lands
+/// at `origin + x * u / 1000 + y * v / 1000`.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub struct TextGlyph {
+    pub face: ttf::Face,
+    /// Glyph id in the face.
+    pub gid: u16,
+    /// The character it shows.
+    pub ch: char,
+    /// Index of its outline in [`Shaped::glyphs`].
+    pub outline: usize,
+    /// The glyph origin (on the baseline).
+    pub origin: Vec2,
+    /// One em along the baseline (width factor applied).
+    pub x: Vec2,
+    /// One em up (obliquing applied).
+    pub y: Vec2,
 }
 
 impl Shaped {
-    /// Apply a point transform to every vertex.
+    /// Add a glyph outline and, when it is a font glyph, its [`TextGlyph`].
+    pub(crate) fn push_glyph(&mut self, contours: Vec<Vec<Vec2>>, text: Option<TextGlyph>) {
+        if let Some(t) = text {
+            self.text.push(TextGlyph { outline: self.glyphs.len(), ..t });
+        }
+        self.glyphs.push(contours);
+    }
+    /// Apply a point transform to every vertex (an affine map: text glyphs keep their axes).
     pub fn map(&mut self, f: impl Fn(Vec2) -> Vec2) {
+        for t in &mut self.text {
+            let o = f(t.origin);
+            t.x = f(t.origin + t.x) - o;
+            t.y = f(t.origin + t.y) - o;
+            t.origin = o;
+        }
         for s in &mut self.strokes {
             for p in s.iter_mut() {
                 *p = f(*p);
@@ -267,6 +305,8 @@ impl Shaped {
     }
     /// Append another shaped piece (already in the same coordinates).
     pub fn extend(&mut self, other: Shaped) {
+        let base = self.glyphs.len();
+        self.text.extend(other.text.into_iter().map(|t| TextGlyph { outline: t.outline + base, ..t }));
         self.strokes.extend(other.strokes);
         self.glyphs.extend(other.glyphs);
     }
diff --git a/crates/fonts/src/subset.rs b/crates/fonts/src/subset.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b494c3c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/fonts/src/subset.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,340 @@
+//! TrueType subsets for embedding fonts in exported files (PDF): only the glyphs a document
+//! uses, plus the composite-glyph components they need. Glyph ids are kept (unused glyphs
+//! become empty), so text written with the original ids shows the same glyphs.
+//!
+//! Embedding follows the font's licence bits (OS/2 `fsType`): fonts marked "restricted
+//! licence", "no subsetting" or "bitmap only" are never embedded; callers draw their text as
+//! outlines instead. Fonts without TrueType outlines (CFF-flavoured OpenType) aren't subset
+//! here either.
+
+use std::collections::BTreeSet;
+
+use skrifa::instance::{LocationRef, Size};
+use skrifa::raw::types::Tag;
+use skrifa::{FontRef, MetadataProvider};
+
+use crate::ttf::Face;
+
+/// Largest subset written (bytes).
+pub const MAX_SUBSET_BYTES: usize = 32 << 20;
+/// Most components followed in one composite glyph, and most glyphs a subset may reach.
+const MAX_COMPONENTS: usize = 256;
+
+/// Whether a face may be embedded as a subset.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Embedding {
+    /// Installable, editable or preview & print embedding (or no OS/2 table).
+    Allowed,
+    /// `fsType` restricted licence: no embedding.
+    Restricted,
+    /// `fsType` bit 8: the font may only be embedded whole.
+    NoSubsetting,
+    /// `fsType` bit 9: only bitmaps may be embedded.
+    BitmapOnly,
+    /// No TrueType outlines (`glyf` / `loca`), or the font doesn't parse.
+    NotTrueType,
+}
+
+/// Why a subset couldn't be made.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum SubsetError {
+    /// The font may not be embedded as a subset.
+    NotAllowed(Embedding),
+    /// A table is missing or malformed.
+    Malformed(&'static str),
+    /// The subset would be larger than [`MAX_SUBSET_BYTES`].
+    TooLarge,
+}
+
+fn font(face: &Face) -> Option<FontRef<'_>> {
+    FontRef::from_index(&face.bytes, face.index).ok()
+}
+
+fn tag(t: &[u8; 4]) -> Tag {
+    Tag::new(t)
+}
+
+fn table<'a>(f: &FontRef<'a>, t: &[u8; 4]) -> Option<&'a [u8]> {
+    f.table_data(tag(t)).map(|d| d.as_bytes())
+}
+
+fn u16_at(b: &[u8], i: usize) -> Option<u16> {
+    Some(u16::from_be_bytes([*b.get(i)?, *b.get(i + 1)?]))
+}
+
+fn u32_at(b: &[u8], i: usize) -> Option<u32> {
+    Some(u32::from_be_bytes([*b.get(i)?, *b.get(i + 1)?, *b.get(i + 2)?, *b.get(i + 3)?]))
+}
+
+/// The embedding permission of a face.
+pub fn embedding(face: &Face) -> Embedding {
+    let Some(f) = font(face) else { return Embedding::NotTrueType };
+    if table(&f, b"glyf").is_none() || table(&f, b"loca").is_none() || table(&f, b"head").is_none() {
+        return Embedding::NotTrueType;
+    }
+    let Some(fs_type) = table(&f, b"OS/2").and_then(|o| u16_at(o, 8)) else { return Embedding::Allowed };
+    if fs_type & 0x0200 != 0 {
+        Embedding::BitmapOnly
+    } else if fs_type & 0x000F == 0x0002 {
+        Embedding::Restricted
+    } else if fs_type & 0x0100 != 0 {
+        Embedding::NoSubsetting
+    } else {
+        Embedding::Allowed
+    }
+}
+
+/// Font-wide metrics for a font descriptor, in units of 1/1000 em.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub struct FontInfo {
+    /// PostScript name: letters, digits and hyphens only (never empty).
+    pub postscript_name: String,
+    /// Glyph bounding box: x min, y min, x max, y max.
+    pub bbox: [f64; 4],
+    pub ascent: f64,
+    pub descent: f64,
+    pub cap_height: f64,
+    /// Degrees, counter-clockwise from vertical.
+    pub italic_angle: f64,
+}
+
+/// A finite value or 0.
+fn fin(v: f32) -> f64 {
+    let v = f64::from(v);
+    if v.is_finite() { v } else { 0.0 }
+}
+
+/// The descriptor metrics of a face.
+pub fn info(face: &Face) -> Option<FontInfo> {
+    let f = font(face)?;
+    let m = f.metrics(Size::new(1000.0), LocationRef::default());
+    let bbox = m.bounds.map(|b| [fin(b.x_min), fin(b.y_min), fin(b.x_max), fin(b.y_max)]).unwrap_or([0.0, -250.0, 1000.0, 1000.0]);
+    let name: String = f
+        .localized_strings(skrifa::string::StringId::POSTSCRIPT_NAME)
+        .english_or_first()
+        .map(|s| s.to_string())
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .chars()
+        .filter(|c| c.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || *c == '-')
+        .take(63)
+        .collect();
+    Some(FontInfo {
+        postscript_name: if name.is_empty() { "Font".into() } else { name },
+        bbox,
+        ascent: fin(m.ascent),
+        descent: fin(m.descent),
+        cap_height: m.cap_height.map(fin).unwrap_or(fin(m.ascent) * 0.72),
+        italic_angle: fin(m.italic_angle),
+    })
+}
+
+/// The advance width of glyph `gid` in units of 1/1000 em.
+pub fn advance(face: &Face, gid: u16) -> f64 {
+    font(face)
+        .and_then(|f| f.glyph_metrics(Size::new(1000.0), LocationRef::default()).advance_width(skrifa::GlyphId::new(u32::from(gid))))
+        .map(fin)
+        .unwrap_or(0.0)
+}
+
+/// Glyph data offsets from `loca`: `n + 1` entries, checked against the `glyf` length.
+fn loca_offsets(loca: &[u8], long: bool, n: usize, glyf_len: usize) -> Option<Vec<usize>> {
+    let mut v = Vec::with_capacity(n + 1);
+    for i in 0..=n {
+        let o = if long { u32_at(loca, i * 4)? as usize } else { usize::from(u16_at(loca, i * 2)?) * 2 };
+        v.push(o.min(glyf_len));
+    }
+    Some(v)
+}
+
+/// The data of glyph `g` (empty when its range is bad).
+fn glyph_data<'a>(glyf: &'a [u8], offsets: &[usize], g: usize) -> &'a [u8] {
+    match (offsets.get(g), offsets.get(g + 1)) {
+        (Some(a), Some(b)) if a < b => glyf.get(*a..*b).unwrap_or(&[]),
+        _ => &[],
+    }
+}
+
+/// The glyph ids a composite glyph is built from.
+fn components(data: &[u8]) -> Vec<u16> {
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    // numberOfContours < 0: a composite.
+    if u16_at(data, 0).is_none_or(|n| (n as i16) >= 0) {
+        return out;
+    }
+    let mut pos = 10;
+    while out.len() < MAX_COMPONENTS {
+        let (Some(flags), Some(gid)) = (u16_at(data, pos), u16_at(data, pos + 2)) else { break };
+        out.push(gid);
+        pos += 4 + if flags & 0x0001 != 0 { 4 } else { 2 };
+        pos += if flags & 0x0008 != 0 {
+            2
+        } else if flags & 0x0040 != 0 {
+            4
+        } else if flags & 0x0080 != 0 {
+            8
+        } else {
+            0
+        };
+        if flags & 0x0020 == 0 {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+/// The sum of a table's big-endian 32-bit words (zero-padded).
+fn checksum(data: &[u8]) -> u32 {
+    data.chunks(4).fold(0u32, |sum, c| {
+        let mut w = [0u8; 4];
+        for (d, s) in w.iter_mut().zip(c) {
+            *d = *s;
+        }
+        sum.wrapping_add(u32::from_be_bytes(w))
+    })
+}
+
+/// A subset of `face` with the glyphs `gids` (and `.notdef` and the components they use). The
+/// other glyphs keep their ids but have no outline.
+pub fn subset(face: &Face, gids: &BTreeSet<u16>) -> Result<Vec<u8>, SubsetError> {
+    let allowed = embedding(face);
+    if allowed != Embedding::Allowed {
+        return Err(SubsetError::NotAllowed(allowed));
+    }
+    let f = font(face).ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("font"))?;
+    let head = table(&f, b"head").filter(|h| h.len() >= 54).ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("head"))?;
+    let maxp = table(&f, b"maxp").ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("maxp"))?;
+    let glyf = table(&f, b"glyf").ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("glyf"))?;
+    let loca = table(&f, b"loca").ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("loca"))?;
+    let n = usize::from(u16_at(maxp, 4).ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("maxp"))?);
+    let long = u16_at(head, 50).ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("head"))? != 0;
+    let offsets = loca_offsets(loca, long, n, glyf.len()).ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("loca"))?;
+    // The glyphs to keep: asked for, .notdef, and composite components (transitively).
+    let mut keep: BTreeSet<u16> = BTreeSet::new();
+    let mut todo: Vec<u16> = std::iter::once(0).chain(gids.iter().copied()).filter(|g| usize::from(*g) < n).collect();
+    while let Some(g) = todo.pop() {
+        if !keep.insert(g) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        for c in components(glyph_data(glyf, &offsets, usize::from(g))) {
+            if usize::from(c) < n && !keep.contains(&c) {
+                todo.push(c);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    let mut new_glyf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
+    let mut new_loca: Vec<u8> = Vec::with_capacity((n + 1) * 4);
+    for g in 0..n {
+        new_loca.extend_from_slice(&u32::try_from(new_glyf.len()).map_err(|_| SubsetError::TooLarge)?.to_be_bytes());
+        if u16::try_from(g).is_ok_and(|g| keep.contains(&g)) {
+            new_glyf.extend_from_slice(glyph_data(glyf, &offsets, g));
+            while !new_glyf.len().is_multiple_of(4) {
+                new_glyf.push(0);
+            }
+        }
+        if new_glyf.len() > MAX_SUBSET_BYTES {
+            return Err(SubsetError::TooLarge);
+        }
+    }
+    new_loca.extend_from_slice(&u32::try_from(new_glyf.len()).map_err(|_| SubsetError::TooLarge)?.to_be_bytes());
+    let mut new_head = head.to_vec();
+    // checkSumAdjustment is set once the file is complete; offsets are long now.
+    new_head.get_mut(8..12).ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("head"))?.copy_from_slice(&[0; 4]);
+    new_head.get_mut(50..52).ok_or(SubsetError::Malformed("head"))?.copy_from_slice(&1u16.to_be_bytes());
+    let mut tables: Vec<([u8; 4], Vec<u8>)> = vec![(*b"glyf", new_glyf), (*b"head", new_head), (*b"loca", new_loca), (*b"maxp", maxp.to_vec())];
+    for t in [b"cvt ", b"fpgm", b"hhea", b"hmtx", b"prep"] {
+        if let Some(d) = table(&f, t) {
+            tables.push((*t, d.to_vec()));
+        }
+    }
+    if !tables.iter().any(|(t, _)| t == b"hhea") || !tables.iter().any(|(t, _)| t == b"hmtx") {
+        return Err(SubsetError::Malformed("hhea/hmtx"));
+    }
+    tables.sort_by_key(|t| t.0);
+    let out = sfnt(&tables);
+    if out.len() > MAX_SUBSET_BYTES { Err(SubsetError::TooLarge) } else { Ok(out) }
+}
+
+/// Write a TrueType file from `(tag, data)` tables sorted by tag, with checksums and the
+/// `head` checksum adjustment.
+fn sfnt(tables: &[([u8; 4], Vec<u8>)]) -> Vec<u8> {
+    let count = tables.len() as u16;
+    let mut pow = 1u16;
+    let mut sel = 0u16;
+    while pow.saturating_mul(2) <= count {
+        pow = pow.saturating_mul(2);
+        sel += 1;
+    }
+    let range = pow.saturating_mul(16);
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    out.extend_from_slice(&0x0001_0000u32.to_be_bytes());
+    for v in [count, range, sel, count.saturating_mul(16).saturating_sub(range)] {
+        out.extend_from_slice(&v.to_be_bytes());
+    }
+    let mut offset = 12 + 16 * tables.len();
+    let mut head_at = None;
+    for (t, d) in tables {
+        out.extend_from_slice(t);
+        out.extend_from_slice(&checksum(d).to_be_bytes());
+        out.extend_from_slice(&(offset as u32).to_be_bytes());
+        out.extend_from_slice(&(d.len() as u32).to_be_bytes());
+        offset += d.len().div_ceil(4) * 4;
+    }
+    for (t, d) in tables {
+        if t == b"head" {
+            head_at = Some(out.len());
+        }
+        out.extend_from_slice(d);
+        while !out.len().is_multiple_of(4) {
+            out.push(0);
+        }
+    }
+    if let Some(h) = head_at {
+        let adj = 0xB1B0_AFBAu32.wrapping_sub(checksum(&out));
+        if let Some(slot) = out.get_mut(h + 8..h + 12) {
+            slot.copy_from_slice(&adj.to_be_bytes());
+        }
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn composite_components_are_followed_and_bounded() {
+        // numberOfContours = -1, then two components (word args, MORE_COMPONENTS on the first).
+        let mut g = vec![0xFF, 0xFF, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0];
+        g.extend_from_slice(&[0x00, 0x21, 0x00, 0x05, 0, 0, 0, 0]);
+        g.extend_from_slice(&[0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x07, 0, 0]);
+        assert_eq!(components(&g), [5, 7]);
+        // Truncated and endless (always MORE_COMPONENTS) data stay bounded.
+        assert_eq!(components(&g[..14]), [5]);
+        let mut endless = vec![0xFF, 0xFF, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0];
+        for _ in 0..2000 {
+            endless.extend_from_slice(&[0x00, 0x20, 0x00, 0x01, 0, 0]);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(components(&endless).len(), MAX_COMPONENTS);
+        assert!(components(&[0, 1, 0]).is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn junk_fonts_are_not_embedded() {
+        let junk = Face { bytes: std::sync::Arc::new(b"not a font".to_vec()), index: 0 };
+        assert_eq!(embedding(&junk), Embedding::NotTrueType);
+        assert!(subset(&junk, &BTreeSet::from([1])).is_err());
+        assert!(info(&junk).is_none());
+        assert_eq!(advance(&junk, 3), 0.0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn sfnt_directory_and_checksums() {
+        let mut head = vec![0u8; 54];
+        head[12..16].copy_from_slice(&0x5F0F_3CF5u32.to_be_bytes());
+        let out = sfnt(&[(*b"head", head), (*b"maxp", vec![0, 0, 0x50, 0, 0, 1])]);
+        assert_eq!(u16_at(&out, 4), Some(2));
+        assert_eq!(out.len() % 4, 0);
+        // The whole file sums to the magic number once the adjustment is in.
+        assert_eq!(checksum(&out), 0xB1B0_AFBA);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/fonts/src/ttf.rs b/crates/fonts/src/ttf.rs
index acda00b8..de322d90 100644
--- a/crates/fonts/src/ttf.rs
+++ b/crates/fonts/src/ttf.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ pub struct Face {
     pub index: u32,
 }
 
+/// The same face of the same loaded file.
+impl PartialEq for Face {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Face) -> bool {
+        Arc::ptr_eq(&self.bytes, &other.bytes) && self.index == other.index
+    }
+}
+
 impl std::fmt::Debug for Face {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
         f.debug_struct("Face").field("len", &self.bytes.len()).field("index", &self.index).finish()
@@ -578,6 +585,9 @@ pub(crate) struct GlyphOutline {
     pub(crate) cap: f64,
     /// The font maps the character (false: the missing-glyph shape).
     mapped: bool,
+    /// Its glyph id and face, for output that keeps text as text ([`crate::TextGlyph`]).
+    gid: u32,
+    face: Option<Face>,
 }
 
 /// A glyph by character (through the face's character map) or by glyph id (shaper output).
@@ -698,7 +708,8 @@ fn outline(face: &Face, k: GlyphKey) -> Arc<GlyphOutline> {
         pen.flush();
     }
     let advance = f64::from(f.glyph_metrics(Size::new(UPEM), LocationRef::default()).advance_width(gid).unwrap_or(UPEM * 0.5));
-    let g = Arc::new(GlyphOutline { contours: pen.contours, advance, cap: cap_height(&f), mapped: mapped.is_some() });
+    let (cap, mapped, gid) = (cap_height(&f), mapped.is_some(), gid.to_u32());
+    let g = Arc::new(GlyphOutline { contours: pen.contours, advance, cap, mapped, gid, face: Some(face.clone()) });
     let mut cache = glyph_cache().lock().unwrap_or_else(PoisonError::into_inner);
     if cache.len() > MAX_CACHED_GLYPHS {
         cache.clear();
@@ -722,6 +733,24 @@ fn glyph_or_fallback(face: &Face, c: char) -> Arc<GlyphOutline> {
     fallback_glyph(c).unwrap_or(g)
 }
 
+/// The [`crate::TextGlyph`] of a glyph placed like [`place_glyph`] does (its outline index is
+/// set when it is added). `None` for the missing-glyph shape.
+pub(crate) fn text_glyph(g: &GlyphOutline, c: char, x: f64, h: f64, wf: f64, shear: f64) -> Option<crate::TextGlyph> {
+    let gid = u16::try_from(g.gid).ok().filter(|_| g.mapped)?;
+    let face = g.face.clone()?;
+    // Font units at 1000 per em scale by h / cap.
+    let em = 1000.0 * h / g.cap;
+    (em.is_finite() && em > 0.0).then(|| crate::TextGlyph {
+        face,
+        gid,
+        ch: c,
+        outline: 0,
+        origin: Vec2::new(x, 0.0),
+        x: Vec2::new(em * wf, 0.0),
+        y: Vec2::new(em * shear, em),
+    })
+}
+
 /// Contours of a glyph scaled so its font's cap height is `h`, at pen position `x`.
 pub(crate) fn place_glyph(g: &GlyphOutline, x: f64, h: f64, wf: f64, shear: f64) -> Vec<Vec<Vec2>> {
     let scale = h / g.cap;
@@ -762,7 +791,7 @@ pub fn shape(face: &Face, s: &str, height: f64, width_factor: f64, oblique: f64)
         if !c.is_whitespace() {
             let contours = place_glyph(&g, x, h, wf, shear);
             if !contours.is_empty() {
-                out.glyphs.push(contours);
+                out.push_glyph(contours, text_glyph(&g, c, x, h, wf, shear));
             }
         }
         let adv = g.advance * h / g.cap * wf;
diff --git a/crates/io/Cargo.toml b/crates/io/Cargo.toml
index 12113caa..55579c82 100644
--- a/crates/io/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/io/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ cadcraft-doc = { workspace = true }
 cadcraft-dxf = { workspace = true }
 cadcraft-dwg = { workspace = true }
 cadcraft-render = { workspace = true }
+cadcraft-fonts = { workspace = true }
 thiserror = { workspace = true }
 serde_json = { workspace = true }
 serde = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/io/src/pdf.rs b/crates/io/src/pdf.rs
index 10ad965a..d7efff77 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/pdf.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/pdf.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ use serde_json::Value;
 
 use crate::{IoError, Result};
 
+mod fonts;
+
 /// PDF points per millimetre.
 const PT_PER_MM: f64 = 72.0 / 25.4;
 /// Largest sheet side we accept, in millimetres (PDF viewers cap pages at 200 inches anyway).
@@ -64,6 +66,10 @@ pub struct PdfOptions {
     /// Hyperlinks: an entity's handle and its link target (a URL). The area the entity covers
     /// on the sheet becomes a link annotation.
     pub links: Vec<(Handle, String)>,
+    /// Write text in installed TrueType fonts as filled outlines instead of as text in an
+    /// embedded font subset (like AutoCAD's PDFSHX for its own fonts). Stroke-font text is
+    /// always geometry.
+    pub text_as_geometry: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for PdfOptions {
@@ -82,6 +88,7 @@ impl Default for PdfOptions {
             layers: true,
             include_off_layers: false,
             links: Vec::new(),
+            text_as_geometry: false,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -96,7 +103,9 @@ impl PdfOptions {
             _ => None,
         };
         PdfOptions {
-            // `layers?` (default on), `offLayers?`, `links?: [{handle, url}]`.
+            // `layers?` (default on), `offLayers?`, `links?: [{handle, url}]`, `text?: "text" |
+            // "geometry"`.
+            text_as_geometry: v.get("text").and_then(Value::as_str).is_some_and(|t| t.eq_ignore_ascii_case("geometry")),
             layers: v.get("layers").and_then(Value::as_bool).unwrap_or(true),
             include_off_layers: v.get("offLayers").and_then(Value::as_bool).unwrap_or(false),
             links: links_json(v.get("links")),
@@ -262,14 +271,18 @@ pub fn pdf_sheets(d: &Drawing, spaces: &[Space], o: &PdfOptions) -> Result<Vec<u
     };
     let pages = spaces.iter().map(|s| sheet(drawn, s, o)).collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
     let title = if o.title.is_empty() { pages.first().map(|p| p.label.clone()).unwrap_or_default() } else { o.title.clone() };
-    Ok(assemble(d, &pages, o, &title))
+    let fonts = if o.text_as_geometry { fonts::Fonts::default() } else { fonts::Fonts::collect(pages.iter().map(|p| &p.list)) };
+    Ok(assemble(d, &pages, &fonts, o, &title))
 }
 
 /// One plotted sheet, ready to be written as a page.
 struct SheetPage {
     /// Page size in points.
     media: Vec2,
-    content: String,
+    /// What it draws, the mapping to points and the plot area (points).
+    list: cadcraft_render::DisplayList,
+    map: Map,
+    clip_pt: Bounds2,
     /// The drawing layers (indices in the layer table) of the content's `/L<i>` marks.
     layers: Vec<u32>,
     /// Link annotations: rectangle in points and target.
@@ -326,9 +339,8 @@ fn sheet(d: &Drawing, space: &Space, o: &PdfOptions) -> Result<SheetPage> {
             }
         }
     }
-    let content = content_stream(&list, &map, &clip_pt, &layers);
     let links = links(&list, &map, &clip_pt, &o.links);
-    Ok(SheetPage { media, content, layers, links, label: sheet_name(space) })
+    Ok(SheetPage { media, list, map, clip_pt, layers, links, label: sheet_name(space) })
 }
 
 /// Link annotation rectangles: the area (in points) each linked entity covers on the sheet,
@@ -414,7 +426,16 @@ fn color(out: &mut String, c: Rgb, op: &str) {
 
 /// The page's marks; those of primitives on `layers` are marked as optional content
 /// (`/OC /L<layer> BDC` … `EMC`).
-fn content_stream(list: &cadcraft_render::DisplayList, map: &Map, clip_pt: &Bounds2, layers: &[u32]) -> String {
+///
+/// Primitives in `texts` (filled glyph outlines) are written as text instead: the glyph in its
+/// embedded font (`/F<font>`), placed by a text matrix.
+fn content_stream(
+    list: &cadcraft_render::DisplayList,
+    map: &Map,
+    clip_pt: &Bounds2,
+    layers: &[u32],
+    texts: &std::collections::HashMap<u32, (usize, &cadcraft_render::PlotText)>,
+) -> String {
     let marked: std::collections::HashSet<u32> = layers.iter().copied().collect();
     let white = Rgb(255, 255, 255);
     let mut c = String::new();
@@ -438,8 +459,15 @@ fn content_stream(list: &cadcraft_render::DisplayList, map: &Map, clip_pt: &Boun
     };
     // The PDF layer (optional content) the marks are in: `/OC /L<i> BDC` … `EMC`.
     let mut layer: Option<u32> = None;
+    // Inside a text object (`BT` … `ET`), with this font set.
+    let mut text_font: Option<Option<usize>> = None;
     for (i, p) in list.prims.iter().enumerate() {
         let want = list.prim_layers.get(i).copied().filter(|l| marked.contains(l));
+        let text = u32::try_from(i).ok().and_then(|i| texts.get(&i));
+        if text_font.is_some() && (text.is_none() || want != layer) {
+            c.push_str("ET\n");
+            text_font = None;
+        }
         if want != layer {
             flush(&mut c, &mut pending);
             if layer.is_some() {
@@ -502,6 +530,10 @@ fn content_stream(list: &cadcraft_render::DisplayList, map: &Map, clip_pt: &Boun
                     color(&mut c, rgb, "rg");
                     fill = Some(rgb);
                 }
+                if let Some((font, t)) = text {
+                    glyph(&mut c, &mut text_font, *font, t, map);
+                    continue;
+                }
                 let mut any = false;
                 for t in raw.as_chunks::<3>().0 {
                     for (i, q) in t.iter().enumerate() {
@@ -533,6 +565,9 @@ fn content_stream(list: &cadcraft_render::DisplayList, map: &Map, clip_pt: &Boun
         }
     }
     flush(&mut c, &mut pending);
+    if text_font.is_some() {
+        c.push_str("ET\n");
+    }
     if layer.is_some() {
         c.push_str("EMC\n");
     }
@@ -540,6 +575,27 @@ fn content_stream(list: &cadcraft_render::DisplayList, map: &Map, clip_pt: &Boun
     c
 }
 
+/// Write one glyph as text: opens a text object and sets the font when needed, then places the
+/// glyph with a text matrix (font size 1: the matrix axes are one em).
+fn glyph(c: &mut String, text_font: &mut Option<Option<usize>>, font: usize, t: &cadcraft_render::PlotText, map: &Map) {
+    if text_font.is_none() {
+        c.push_str("BT\n");
+        *text_font = Some(None);
+    }
+    if *text_font != Some(Some(font)) {
+        let _ = writeln!(c, "/F{font} 1 Tf");
+        *text_font = Some(Some(font));
+    }
+    let s = map.s * map.k;
+    let g = &t.glyph;
+    for v in [g.x.x * s, g.x.y * s, g.y.x * s, g.y.y * s] {
+        num(c, v);
+        c.push(' ');
+    }
+    pt(c, map.pt(g.origin));
+    let _ = writeln!(c, " Tm <{:04X}> Tj", g.gid);
+}
+
 /// A PDF text string: a literal with `(`, `)` and `\` escaped when it is printable ASCII,
 /// else UTF-16BE with a byte order mark (hex). At most 1000 characters.
 fn pdf_string(s: &str) -> String {
@@ -629,7 +685,7 @@ fn refs(ids: impl IntoIterator<Item = usize>) -> String {
 /// Assemble the file: catalog, page tree, pages with their content streams and link
 /// annotations, the PDF layers (one optional content group per drawing layer used, named
 /// like it), page labels, document information, cross-reference table and trailer.
-fn assemble(d: &Drawing, pages: &[SheetPage], o: &PdfOptions, title: &str) -> Vec<u8> {
+fn assemble(d: &Drawing, pages: &[SheetPage], fonts: &fonts::Fonts, o: &PdfOptions, title: &str) -> Vec<u8> {
     let mut objs = Objects::default();
     let catalog = objs.reserve();
     let tree = objs.reserve();
@@ -637,9 +693,15 @@ fn assemble(d: &Drawing, pages: &[SheetPage], o: &PdfOptions, title: &str) -> Ve
     let mut ocg_ids: std::collections::HashMap<u32, usize> = std::collections::HashMap::new();
     let mut ocgs: Vec<(u32, usize)> = Vec::new();
     let mut kids = Vec::new();
+    // Page dictionaries are completed once the fonts are written: (page, its fonts, the rest).
+    let mut page_dicts: Vec<(usize, Vec<usize>, String, String)> = Vec::new();
     for p in pages {
         let page = objs.reserve();
-        let content = objs.add(stream(p.content.as_bytes(), o.compress, ""));
+        let texts = fonts.texts(&p.list);
+        let content = objs.add(stream(content_stream(&p.list, &p.map, &p.clip_pt, &p.layers, &texts).as_bytes(), o.compress, ""));
+        let mut used: Vec<usize> = texts.values().map(|(f, _)| *f).collect();
+        used.sort_unstable();
+        used.dedup();
         let mut props = String::new();
         for l in &p.layers {
             let Some(layer) = d.layers.get(*l as usize) else { continue };
@@ -665,11 +727,22 @@ fn assemble(d: &Drawing, pages: &[SheetPage], o: &PdfOptions, title: &str) -> Ve
         }
         let mut mb = String::new();
         pt(&mut mb, p.media);
-        let resources = if props.is_empty() { "<< >>".to_string() } else { format!("<< /Properties <<{props} >> >>") };
         let annots = if annots.is_empty() { String::new() } else { format!(" /Annots [{}]", refs(annots)) };
-        objs.set(page, format!("<< /Type /Page /Parent {tree} 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 {mb}] /Resources {resources} /Contents {content} 0 R{annots} >>"));
+        page_dicts.push((page, used, props, format!("/MediaBox [0 0 {mb}] /Contents {content} 0 R{annots}")));
         kids.push(page);
     }
+    let font_ids = if fonts.is_empty() { Vec::new() } else { fonts.write(&mut objs, o.compress) };
+    for (page, used, props, rest) in page_dicts {
+        let mut res = String::new();
+        if !props.is_empty() {
+            let _ = write!(res, " /Properties <<{props} >>");
+        }
+        let f: Vec<String> = used.iter().filter_map(|i| Some(format!("/F{i} {} 0 R", font_ids.get(*i)?))).collect();
+        if !f.is_empty() {
+            let _ = write!(res, " /Font << {} >>", f.join(" "));
+        }
+        objs.set(page, format!("<< /Type /Page /Parent {tree} 0 R /Resources <<{res} >> {rest} >>"));
+    }
     objs.set(tree, format!("<< /Type /Pages /Kids [{}] /Count {} >>", refs(kids.iter().copied()), kids.len()));
     let mut cat = format!("<< /Type /Catalog /Pages {tree} 0 R");
     if !ocgs.is_empty() {
diff --git a/crates/io/src/pdf/fonts.rs b/crates/io/src/pdf/fonts.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..56b3d084
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/io/src/pdf/fonts.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+//! Real text in PDF plots: the outline-font glyphs a plot draws ([`DisplayList::texts`]) are
+//! written as text in embedded TrueType subsets, so the text can be selected, searched and
+//! copied. Each font is a `Type0` font with `Identity-H` encoding over a `CIDFontType2`
+//! descendant whose CIDs are the glyph ids (`/CIDToGIDMap /Identity`), with a `ToUnicode`
+//! map for copying and searching.
+//!
+//! Fonts whose licence bits forbid embedding a subset, fonts without TrueType outlines, and
+//! anything past the caps on fonts and font data stay as filled outlines.
+
+use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet, HashMap};
+use std::fmt::Write as _;
+
+use cadcraft_fonts::subset::{self, FontInfo};
+use cadcraft_fonts::ttf::Face;
+use cadcraft_render::{DisplayList, PlotText};
+
+use super::{Objects, num, refs, stream};
+
+/// Most embedded fonts in one file.
+const MAX_FONTS: usize = 64;
+/// Most embedded font data in one file (uncompressed bytes).
+const MAX_FONT_BYTES: usize = 64 << 20;
+
+/// A face's identity: its loaded file and face index.
+type FaceKey = (usize, usize, u32);
+
+fn key(f: &Face) -> FaceKey {
+    (f.bytes.as_ptr() as usize, f.bytes.len(), f.index)
+}
+
+/// An embedded font.
+struct Font {
+    face: Face,
+    /// Glyphs used, and the character each shows.
+    chars: BTreeMap<u16, char>,
+    /// The subset file.
+    data: Vec<u8>,
+    info: FontInfo,
+}
+
+/// The fonts of a document: those that can be embedded, by face.
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub(super) struct Fonts {
+    fonts: Vec<Font>,
+    by_face: HashMap<FaceKey, Option<usize>>,
+}
+
+impl Fonts {
+    /// Collect the glyphs of every plotted text glyph and subset their fonts.
+    pub(super) fn collect<'a>(lists: impl IntoIterator<Item = &'a DisplayList>) -> Fonts {
+        let mut used: Vec<(Face, BTreeMap<u16, char>)> = Vec::new();
+        let mut index: HashMap<FaceKey, usize> = HashMap::new();
+        for list in lists {
+            for t in usable(list) {
+                let k = key(&t.glyph.face);
+                let i = match index.get(&k) {
+                    Some(i) => *i,
+                    None => {
+                        index.insert(k, used.len());
+                        used.push((t.glyph.face.clone(), BTreeMap::new()));
+                        used.len() - 1
+                    }
+                };
+                if let Some((_, chars)) = used.get_mut(i) {
+                    chars.entry(t.glyph.gid).or_insert(t.glyph.ch);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        let mut out = Fonts::default();
+        let mut total = 0usize;
+        for (face, chars) in used {
+            let k = key(&face);
+            let font = (out.fonts.len() < MAX_FONTS)
+                .then(|| subset::subset(&face, &chars.keys().copied().collect::<BTreeSet<u16>>()).ok())
+                .flatten()
+                .filter(|data| total.saturating_add(data.len()) <= MAX_FONT_BYTES)
+                .and_then(|data| Some(Font { info: subset::info(&face)?, face, chars, data }));
+            match font {
+                Some(f) => {
+                    total = total.saturating_add(f.data.len());
+                    out.by_face.insert(k, Some(out.fonts.len()));
+                    out.fonts.push(f);
+                }
+                None => {
+                    out.by_face.insert(k, None);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        out
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.fonts.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    /// The embedded font (index) a glyph is written in; `None`: draw its outline.
+    fn font_of(&self, t: &PlotText) -> Option<usize> {
+        self.by_face.get(&key(&t.glyph.face)).copied().flatten()
+    }
+
+    /// The plotted glyphs of `list` written as text: outline primitive → (font, glyph).
+    pub(super) fn texts<'a>(&self, list: &'a DisplayList) -> HashMap<u32, (usize, &'a PlotText)> {
+        usable(list).filter_map(|t| Some((t.prim, (self.font_of(t)?, t)))).collect()
+    }
+
+    /// Write the font objects; returns each font's `Type0` object, by font index.
+    pub(super) fn write(&self, objs: &mut Objects, compress: bool) -> Vec<usize> {
+        self.fonts.iter().map(|f| write_font(objs, f, compress)).collect()
+    }
+}
+
+/// The text glyphs of a list that stand for a primitive of it.
+fn usable(list: &DisplayList) -> impl Iterator<Item = &PlotText> {
+    list.texts.iter().filter(|t| (t.prim as usize) < list.prims.len() && t.glyph.gid != 0)
+}
+
+/// Six capital letters naming a subset (PDF subset fonts are `ABCDEF+Name`), from its glyphs.
+fn subset_tag(f: &Font) -> String {
+    let mut h: u64 = 0xCBF2_9CE4_8422_2325;
+    for b in f.info.postscript_name.bytes().chain(f.chars.keys().flat_map(|g| g.to_be_bytes())) {
+        h = (h ^ u64::from(b)).wrapping_mul(0x0100_0000_01B3);
+    }
+    (0..6).map(|i| char::from(b'A' + ((h >> (i * 8)) % 26) as u8)).collect()
+}
+
+fn write_font(objs: &mut Objects, f: &Font, compress: bool) -> usize {
+    let name = format!("{}+{}", subset_tag(f), f.info.postscript_name);
+    let file = objs.add(stream(&f.data, compress, &format!(" /Length1 {}", f.data.len())));
+    let mut bbox = String::new();
+    for (i, v) in f.info.bbox.iter().enumerate() {
+        if i > 0 {
+            bbox.push(' ');
+        }
+        num(&mut bbox, v.round());
+    }
+    let mut metrics = String::new();
+    for (k, v) in [("Ascent", f.info.ascent), ("Descent", f.info.descent), ("CapHeight", f.info.cap_height), ("ItalicAngle", f.info.italic_angle)] {
+        let _ = write!(metrics, " /{k} ");
+        num(&mut metrics, v.round());
+    }
+    let descriptor =
+        objs.add(format!("<< /Type /FontDescriptor /FontName /{name} /Flags 4 /FontBBox [{bbox}]{metrics} /StemV 80 /FontFile2 {file} 0 R >>"));
+    let mut widths = String::new();
+    for g in f.chars.keys() {
+        let _ = write!(widths, "{g} [");
+        num(&mut widths, subset::advance(&f.face, *g).round());
+        widths.push_str("] ");
+    }
+    let cid = objs.add(format!(
+        "<< /Type /Font /Subtype /CIDFontType2 /BaseFont /{name} /CIDSystemInfo << /Registry (Adobe) /Ordering (Identity) /Supplement 0 >> /FontDescriptor {descriptor} 0 R /CIDToGIDMap /Identity /DW 1000 /W [{}] >>",
+        widths.trim_end()
+    ));
+    let to_unicode = objs.add(stream(to_unicode(&f.chars).as_bytes(), compress, ""));
+    objs.add(format!(
+        "<< /Type /Font /Subtype /Type0 /BaseFont /{name} /Encoding /Identity-H /DescendantFonts [{}] /ToUnicode {to_unicode} 0 R >>",
+        refs([cid])
+    ))
+}
+
+/// A `ToUnicode` CMap from glyph ids (2-byte codes) to the characters they show.
+fn to_unicode(chars: &BTreeMap<u16, char>) -> String {
+    let mut s = String::from(
+        "/CIDInit /ProcSet findresource begin\n12 dict begin\nbegincmap\n/CIDSystemInfo << /Registry (Adobe) /Ordering (UCS) /Supplement 0 >> def\n/CMapName /Adobe-Identity-UCS def\n/CMapType 2 def\n1 begincodespacerange\n<0000> <FFFF>\nendcodespacerange\n",
+    );
+    let entries: Vec<(&u16, &char)> = chars.iter().collect();
+    // At most 100 entries per block.
+    for block in entries.chunks(100) {
+        let _ = writeln!(s, "{} beginbfchar", block.len());
+        for (g, c) in block {
+            let _ = write!(s, "<{g:04X}> <");
+            for u in c.encode_utf16(&mut [0; 2]) {
+                let _ = write!(s, "{u:04X}");
+            }
+            s.push_str(">\n");
+        }
+        s.push_str("endbfchar\n");
+    }
+    s.push_str("endcmap\nCMapName currentdict /CMap defineresource pop\nend\nend\n");
+    s
+}
diff --git a/crates/io/tests/pdf_text.rs b/crates/io/tests/pdf_text.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4863ee62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/io/tests/pdf_text.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,372 @@
+//! Real text in PDF plots (issue #560): text in TrueType fonts is written as text in an
+//! embedded font subset (selectable and searchable through a ToUnicode map), placed with its
+//! rotation, width factor and obliquing; fonts whose licence bits forbid embedding, the stroke
+//! font and the `text: "geometry"` option keep filled outlines.
+//!
+//! The fonts are tiny synthetic TrueType files built here (no font files in the repository).
+
+use cadcraft_doc::{Common, Drawing, EntityKind, Space, Text, TextStyle, Viewport};
+use cadcraft_geom::{Vec2, Vec3};
+use cadcraft_io::plot;
+use serde_json::json;
+
+// ---------- a minimal TrueType font: .notdef, "A" (triangle), "B" (square) ----------
+
+fn be16(v: &mut Vec<u8>, x: u16) {
+    v.extend_from_slice(&x.to_be_bytes());
+}
+fn be32(v: &mut Vec<u8>, x: u32) {
+    v.extend_from_slice(&x.to_be_bytes());
+}
+
+/// A simple glyph: one closed contour of on-curve points.
+fn simple_glyph(pts: &[(i16, i16)]) -> Vec<u8> {
+    let mut g = Vec::new();
+    let xs: Vec<i16> = pts.iter().map(|p| p.0).collect();
+    let ys: Vec<i16> = pts.iter().map(|p| p.1).collect();
+    be16(&mut g, 1);
+    for v in [*xs.iter().min().unwrap(), *ys.iter().min().unwrap(), *xs.iter().max().unwrap(), *ys.iter().max().unwrap()] {
+        be16(&mut g, v as u16);
+    }
+    be16(&mut g, pts.len() as u16 - 1);
+    be16(&mut g, 0);
+    g.extend(std::iter::repeat_n(1u8, pts.len()));
+    let (mut px, mut py) = (0i16, 0i16);
+    for (x, _) in pts {
+        be16(&mut g, (x - px) as u16);
+        px = *x;
+    }
+    for (_, y) in pts {
+        be16(&mut g, (y - py) as u16);
+        py = *y;
+    }
+    while g.len() % 4 != 0 {
+        g.push(0);
+    }
+    g
+}
+
+/// A TrueType font with glyphs .notdef (empty), A and B, and OS/2 `fsType`.
+fn test_font(fs_type: u16) -> Vec<u8> {
+    let glyphs = [Vec::new(), simple_glyph(&[(50, 0), (550, 0), (300, 700)]), simple_glyph(&[(50, 0), (550, 0), (550, 700), (50, 700)])];
+    let mut glyf = Vec::new();
+    let mut loca = Vec::new();
+    for g in &glyphs {
+        be32(&mut loca, glyf.len() as u32);
+        glyf.extend_from_slice(g);
+    }
+    be32(&mut loca, glyf.len() as u32);
+    let mut head = Vec::new();
+    be32(&mut head, 0x0001_0000);
+    be32(&mut head, 0x0001_0000);
+    be32(&mut head, 0);
+    be32(&mut head, 0x5F0F_3CF5);
+    be16(&mut head, 0);
+    be16(&mut head, 1000);
+    head.extend_from_slice(&[0; 16]);
+    for v in [0i16, 0, 600, 700] {
+        be16(&mut head, v as u16);
+    }
+    for v in [0u16, 8, 2, 1, 0] {
+        be16(&mut head, v);
+    }
+    let mut hhea = Vec::new();
+    be32(&mut hhea, 0x0001_0000);
+    for v in [800i16, -200, 0, 600, 0, 0, 600, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0] {
+        be16(&mut hhea, v as u16);
+    }
+    be16(&mut hhea, 3);
+    let mut maxp = Vec::new();
+    be32(&mut maxp, 0x0001_0000);
+    for v in [3u16, 4, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0] {
+        be16(&mut maxp, v);
+    }
+    let mut hmtx = Vec::new();
+    for _ in 0..3 {
+        be16(&mut hmtx, 600);
+        be16(&mut hmtx, 50);
+    }
+    // cmap: format 4, 'A'..'B' → 1..2.
+    let mut sub = Vec::new();
+    let segs: [(u16, u16, u16); 2] = [(0x41, 0x42, 1u16.wrapping_sub(0x41)), (0xFFFF, 0xFFFF, 1)];
+    be16(&mut sub, 4);
+    be16(&mut sub, (16 + segs.len() * 8) as u16);
+    be16(&mut sub, 0);
+    be16(&mut sub, (segs.len() * 2) as u16);
+    for v in [4u16, 1, 0] {
+        be16(&mut sub, v);
+    }
+    for s in segs {
+        be16(&mut sub, s.1);
+    }
+    be16(&mut sub, 0);
+    for s in segs {
+        be16(&mut sub, s.0);
+    }
+    for s in segs {
+        be16(&mut sub, s.2);
+    }
+    for _ in segs {
+        be16(&mut sub, 0);
+    }
+    let mut cmap = Vec::new();
+    for v in [0u16, 1, 3, 1] {
+        be16(&mut cmap, v);
+    }
+    be32(&mut cmap, 12);
+    cmap.extend_from_slice(&sub);
+    let mut os2 = vec![0u8; 78];
+    os2[8..10].copy_from_slice(&fs_type.to_be_bytes());
+    let mut tables: Vec<(&[u8; 4], Vec<u8>)> =
+        vec![(b"OS/2", os2), (b"cmap", cmap), (b"glyf", glyf), (b"head", head), (b"hhea", hhea), (b"hmtx", hmtx), (b"loca", loca), (b"maxp", maxp)];
+    tables.sort_by_key(|t| *t.0);
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    be32(&mut out, 0x0001_0000);
+    for v in [tables.len() as u16, 128, 3, tables.len() as u16 * 16 - 128] {
+        be16(&mut out, v);
+    }
+    let mut off = 12 + 16 * tables.len();
+    for (t, d) in &tables {
+        out.extend_from_slice(*t);
+        be32(&mut out, 0);
+        be32(&mut out, off as u32);
+        be32(&mut out, d.len() as u32);
+        off += d.len().div_ceil(4) * 4;
+    }
+    for (_, d) in &tables {
+        out.extend_from_slice(d);
+        while out.len() % 4 != 0 {
+            out.push(0);
+        }
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+/// Register the test fonts once: an embeddable one and one with a restricted licence.
+fn fonts() {
+    static ONCE: std::sync::Once = std::sync::Once::new();
+    ONCE.call_once(|| {
+        cadcraft_fonts::ttf::register("cadcraft-pdf-test.ttf", test_font(0));
+        cadcraft_fonts::ttf::register("cadcraft-pdf-restricted.ttf", test_font(0x0002));
+    });
+}
+
+// ---------- drawings and PDF reading ----------
+
+fn style(d: &mut Drawing, name: &str, font: &str) {
+    d.text_styles.push(TextStyle { name: name.into(), font: font.into(), ..TextStyle::default() });
+}
+
+fn text(d: &mut Drawing, space: &Space, style: &str, at: (f64, f64), value: &str, rotation: f64, width_factor: f64, oblique: f64) {
+    let t = Text {
+        insert: Vec3::new(at.0, at.1, 0.0),
+        align_pt: None,
+        height: 10.0,
+        value: value.into(),
+        rotation,
+        width_factor,
+        oblique,
+        style: style.into(),
+        halign: Default::default(),
+        valign: Default::default(),
+    };
+    d.add(space, Common::default(), EntityKind::Text(t)).unwrap();
+}
+
+fn drawing() -> Drawing {
+    fonts();
+    let mut d = Drawing::new_metric();
+    style(&mut d, "Real", "cadcraft-pdf-test.ttf");
+    style(&mut d, "Locked", "cadcraft-pdf-restricted.ttf");
+    d
+}
+
+/// The uncompressed PDF as text (offsets kept: non-ASCII bytes become `?`).
+fn pdf(d: &Drawing, space: &Space, extra: serde_json::Value) -> String {
+    let mut o = json!({"compress": false});
+    if let (Some(m), Some(e)) = (o.as_object_mut(), extra.as_object()) {
+        m.extend(e.clone());
+    }
+    let bytes = plot(d, space, &o).unwrap();
+    check_xref(&bytes);
+    bytes.iter().map(|b| if b.is_ascii() { char::from(*b) } else { '?' }).collect()
+}
+
+/// The cross-reference table points at every object.
+fn check_xref(bytes: &[u8]) {
+    let text: String = bytes.iter().map(|b| if b.is_ascii() { char::from(*b) } else { '?' }).collect();
+    let sx = text.rfind("startxref\n").unwrap();
+    let xref: usize = text[sx + 10..].lines().next().unwrap().trim().parse().unwrap();
+    let mut lines = text[xref..].lines().skip(1);
+    let count: usize = lines.next().unwrap().split_whitespace().nth(1).unwrap().parse().unwrap();
+    for (i, e) in lines.take(count).enumerate().skip(1) {
+        let off: usize = e[..10].parse().unwrap();
+        assert!(text[off..].starts_with(&format!("{i} 0 obj\n")), "object {i}");
+    }
+}
+
+/// The text matrices (`a b c d e f Tm`) of the content, in order.
+fn matrices(pdf: &str) -> Vec<[f64; 6]> {
+    pdf.lines()
+        .filter(|l| l.ends_with(" Tj") && l.contains(" Tm "))
+        .map(|l| {
+            let v: Vec<f64> = l.split(" Tm ").next().unwrap().split_whitespace().map(|x| x.parse().unwrap()).collect();
+            [v[0], v[1], v[2], v[3], v[4], v[5]]
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
+/// The embedded font file (FontFile2 stream data).
+fn font_file(pdf: &str, bytes_of: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
+    let i = pdf.find("/Length1 ").expect("a FontFile2 stream");
+    let head = &pdf[..i];
+    let len_at = head.rfind("/Length ").unwrap() + 8;
+    let len: usize = pdf[len_at..].split(|c: char| !c.is_ascii_digit()).next().unwrap().parse().unwrap();
+    let start = pdf[i..].find("stream\n").unwrap() + i + 7;
+    bytes_of[start..start + len].to_vec()
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn truetype_text_is_embedded_as_text() {
+    let mut d = drawing();
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Real", (0.0, 0.0), "ABBA", 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+    let p = pdf(&d, &Space::Model, json!({}));
+    // A Type0 font over a CIDFontType2 subset with a ToUnicode map.
+    assert!(p.contains("/Subtype /Type0") && p.contains("/Encoding /Identity-H") && p.contains("/Subtype /CIDFontType2"), "{p}");
+    assert!(p.contains("/CIDToGIDMap /Identity") && p.contains("/FontFile2 ") && p.contains("/ToUnicode "));
+    let base = p.split("/BaseFont /").nth(1).unwrap().split_whitespace().next().unwrap();
+    assert!(base.len() == 11 && base.as_bytes()[6] == b'+' && base[..6].chars().all(|c| c.is_ascii_uppercase()), "{base}");
+    assert!(p.contains("<0001> <0041>") && p.contains("<0002> <0042>"), "ToUnicode maps glyphs to A and B");
+    assert!(p.contains("/W [1 [600] 2 [600]]"), "widths");
+    // The page uses the font; four glyphs written as text, in a text object.
+    assert!(p.contains("/Font << /F0 "));
+    let tj: Vec<&str> = p.lines().filter(|l| l.ends_with(" Tj")).map(|l| l.rsplit(' ').nth(1).unwrap()).collect();
+    assert_eq!(tj, ["<0001>", "<0002>", "<0002>", "<0001>"]);
+    assert!(p.contains("BT\n/F0 1 Tf\n") && p.contains("ET\n"));
+    assert_eq!(p.matches("BT\n").count(), p.matches("ET\n").count());
+    // No filled outlines left for them.
+    assert!(!p.contains("h\nf\n"), "glyph outlines are not drawn: {p}");
+    // The glyphs advance along the baseline by 600/1000 em, scaled like the outline would be.
+    let m = matrices(&p);
+    assert!(m.iter().all(|m| m[1].abs() < 1e-3 && m[2].abs() < 1e-3 && (m[0] - m[3]).abs() < 1e-3 && m[0] > 0.0));
+    let step = m[1][4] - m[0][4];
+    assert!((step - 0.6 * m[0][0]).abs() < 0.01, "advance {step} for em {}", m[0][0]);
+    assert!(m.windows(2).all(|w| (w[0][5] - w[1][5]).abs() < 1e-3), "one baseline");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn the_subset_is_a_valid_truetype_font() {
+    let mut d = drawing();
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Real", (0.0, 0.0), "A", 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+    let bytes = plot(&d, &Space::Model, &json!({"compress": false})).unwrap();
+    let p: String = bytes.iter().map(|b| if b.is_ascii() { char::from(*b) } else { '?' }).collect();
+    let file = font_file(&p, &bytes);
+    assert!(p.contains(&format!("/Length1 {}", file.len())));
+    let face = cadcraft_fonts::ttf::Face::new(std::sync::Arc::new(file.clone()), 0).expect("the subset parses");
+    assert_eq!(cadcraft_fonts::subset::embedding(&face), cadcraft_fonts::subset::Embedding::Allowed);
+    // Glyph A kept, B (unused) emptied: the subset is smaller than the font.
+    assert!(file.len() < test_font(0).len());
+    // Whole-file checksum adjusted.
+    let sum = file.chunks(4).fold(0u32, |s, c| {
+        let mut w = [0u8; 4];
+        w[..c.len()].copy_from_slice(c);
+        s.wrapping_add(u32::from_be_bytes(w))
+    });
+    assert_eq!(sum, 0xB1B0_AFBA);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rotation_width_factor_and_obliquing_go_into_the_text_matrix() {
+    let mut d = drawing();
+    let quarter = std::f64::consts::FRAC_PI_2;
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Real", (0.0, 0.0), "A", quarter, 1.0, 0.0);
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Real", (0.0, 50.0), "A", 0.0, 2.0, 0.0);
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Real", (0.0, 100.0), "A", 0.0, 1.0, 15f64.to_radians());
+    let m = matrices(&pdf(&d, &Space::Model, json!({})));
+    assert_eq!(m.len(), 3);
+    // Rotated a quarter turn: the baseline points up, "up" points left.
+    let [a, b, c, dd, _, _] = m[0];
+    assert!(a.abs() < 1e-3 && b > 0.0 && c < 0.0 && dd.abs() < 1e-3, "{:?}", m[0]);
+    // Width factor 2: twice as wide as high.
+    assert!((m[1][0] - 2.0 * m[1][3]).abs() < 1e-2 && m[1][1].abs() < 1e-3, "{:?}", m[1]);
+    // Oblique 15°: the up axis leans right by tan 15°.
+    assert!((m[2][2] - m[2][3] * 15f64.to_radians().tan()).abs() < 1e-2, "{:?}", m[2]);
+    // The em is sized so the cap height (here 700/1000 em) is the text height: 10 / 0.7.
+    let em_pt = m[1][3];
+    let em_mm = em_pt * 25.4 / 72.0;
+    assert!(em_mm > 0.0);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn fonts_that_forbid_embedding_and_the_geometry_option_draw_outlines() {
+    let mut d = drawing();
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Locked", (0.0, 0.0), "AB", 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+    let p = pdf(&d, &Space::Model, json!({}));
+    assert!(!p.contains("/FontFile2") && !p.contains("BT\n") && p.contains("h\nf\n"), "restricted licence: outlines");
+    let mut d = drawing();
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Real", (0.0, 0.0), "AB", 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+    let p = pdf(&d, &Space::Model, json!({"text": "geometry"}));
+    assert!(!p.contains("/FontFile2") && !p.contains("BT\n") && p.contains("h\nf\n"), "text as geometry");
+    // The stroke font is always geometry.
+    let mut d = drawing();
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Standard", (0.0, 0.0), "AB", 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+    let p = pdf(&d, &Space::Model, json!({}));
+    assert!(!p.contains("BT\n") && p.contains(" S\n") || p.contains("\nS\n"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn text_seen_through_a_viewport_and_on_layers() {
+    let mut d = drawing();
+    let paper = Space::Paper("Layout1".into());
+    // Model: one word well inside the viewport, one cut by its right edge.
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Real", (0.0, 0.0), "AB", 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+    text(&mut d, &Space::Model, "Real", (88.0, 0.0), "BA", 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+    let vp = Viewport {
+        center: Vec3::new(150.0, 100.0, 0.0),
+        width: 100.0,
+        height: 100.0,
+        view_center: Vec2::new(50.0, 5.0),
+        view_height: 100.0,
+        id: 2,
+        locked: false,
+        frozen_layers: Vec::new(),
+        layer_colors: Vec::new(),
+        clip: None,
+        on: true,
+    };
+    d.add(&paper, Common::default(), EntityKind::Viewport(vp)).unwrap();
+    text(&mut d, &paper, "Real", (20.0, 20.0), "B", 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
+    let p = pdf(&d, &paper, json!({}));
+    let tj = p.lines().filter(|l| l.ends_with(" Tj")).count();
+    // "AB" inside, the paper-space "B", and the glyph of "BA" left of the edge: real text. The
+    // glyph the edge cuts stays a (clipped) outline.
+    assert_eq!(tj, 4, "{p}");
+    assert!(p.contains("h\nf\n"), "the cut glyph is an outline");
+    // Text sits in its layer's marked content.
+    let first_bt = p.find("BT\n").unwrap();
+    assert!(p[..first_bt].contains("/OC /L0 BDC"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn hostile_text_never_panics() {
+    let mut d = drawing();
+    for (v, h, r) in
+        [("A".repeat(5000), 10.0, 0.0), ("AB".into(), 1e300, 0.0), ("AB".into(), 1e-300, 1e300), ("\u{0}A\u{FFFF}B".into(), 5.0, f64::NAN)]
+    {
+        let t = Text {
+            insert: Vec3::new(0.0, 0.0, 0.0),
+            align_pt: None,
+            height: h,
+            value: v,
+            rotation: r,
+            width_factor: 1.0,
+            oblique: 0.0,
+            style: "Real".into(),
+            halign: Default::default(),
+            valign: Default::default(),
+        };
+        d.add(&Space::Model, Common::default(), EntityKind::Text(t)).unwrap();
+    }
+    pdf(&d, &Space::Model, json!({}));
+    pdf(&d, &Space::Model, json!({"compress": true}));
+}
diff --git a/crates/render/src/dim.rs b/crates/render/src/dim.rs
index 9bfa37e2..1c976733 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/dim.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/dim.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ pub struct DimGeometry {
     pub text: Vec<Vec<Vec2>>,
     /// Text glyph outlines (TrueType), grouped per glyph.
     pub text_glyphs: Vec<Vec<Vec<Vec2>>>,
+    /// The font glyphs of `text_glyphs` (outline indices into it).
+    pub text_runs: Vec<cadcraft_fonts::TextGlyph>,
     pub text_pos: Vec2,
     pub text_angle: f64,
     pub text_height: f64,
@@ -948,6 +950,8 @@ pub fn dimension_geometry_with(d: &Dimension, st: &DimStyle, dimscale: f64, font
     if !g.mtext.is_empty() {
         let l = cadcraft_fonts::layout_mtext_with(&g.mtext, &params(text_mid, text_angle));
         for p in l.pieces {
+            let base = g.text_glyphs.len();
+            g.text_runs.extend(p.shaped.text.into_iter().map(|t| cadcraft_fonts::TextGlyph { outline: t.outline + base, ..t }));
             g.text.extend(p.shaped.strokes);
             g.text_glyphs.extend(p.shaped.glyphs);
         }
diff --git a/crates/render/src/lib.rs b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
index 74fc553d..a380d611 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ pub struct DisplayList {
     /// it is drawn on (block contents on layer 0: the block reference's; [`NO_LAYER`] when the
     /// layer isn't in the table), for PDF layers. Empty for other lists.
     pub prim_layers: Vec<u32>,
+    /// Plots: outline-font glyphs that a plotter can write as text instead of drawing the
+    /// filled outline primitive they stand for ([`PlotText::prim`]), in drawing order.
+    pub texts: Vec<PlotText>,
     pub bounds: Bounds2,
     /// The paper sheet when the list was built for a layout (paper space); the UI draws the
     /// white sheet, its shadow and the printable-area outline from it.
@@ -91,6 +94,28 @@ pub struct DisplayList {
     pub pens: Vec<Pen>,
 }
 
+/// A glyph of plotted text: the font glyph and, in world coordinates, where it sits. It is
+/// drawn by primitive [`PlotText::prim`] (a filled outline in the primitive's colour); output
+/// with real text writes the glyph instead of that primitive.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub struct PlotText {
+    /// The filled outline primitive (index in [`DisplayList::prims`]); [`PlotText::NONE`] when
+    /// the glyph has none in the list (clipped by a viewport).
+    pub prim: u32,
+    /// Triangle vertices of the outline when it was drawn, and their bounding box (a clipped
+    /// outline has others).
+    pub verts: u32,
+    pub bounds: Bounds2,
+    /// The glyph; its origin and em axes are in world coordinates.
+    pub glyph: cadcraft_fonts::TextGlyph,
+}
+
+impl PlotText {
+    pub const NONE: u32 = u32::MAX;
+    /// [`PlotText::prim`] of a glyph cut by a viewport edge.
+    pub const CLIPPED: u32 = u32::MAX - 1;
+}
+
 impl DPrim {
     /// The colour to draw with on `background`.
     pub fn display_rgb(&self, background: Rgb) -> Rgb {
@@ -272,10 +297,23 @@ impl Builder<'_> {
             return;
         }
         let fill = self.opts.fill && ctx.d.header.i64("TEXTFILL", 1) != 0;
-        for g in &sh.glyphs {
+        // Plots note which filled outlines are font glyphs (see `DisplayList::texts`).
+        let mut text = if self.plotting && fill { sh.text.iter().peekable() } else { [].iter().peekable() };
+        for (i, g) in sh.glyphs.iter().enumerate() {
             if fill {
                 let tris = fill::triangulate_evenodd(g);
+                let at = self.list.prims.len();
                 self.tris(ctx, color, &tris);
+                while text.next_if(|t| t.outline < i).is_some() {}
+                if let Some(t) = text.next_if(|t| t.outline == i)
+                    && self.list.prims.len() > at
+                    && let (Ok(prim), Ok(verts)) = (u32::try_from(at), u32::try_from(tris.len()))
+                {
+                    let xf = &ctx.xf;
+                    let glyph = cadcraft_fonts::TextGlyph { origin: xf.apply(t.origin), x: xf.apply_vec(t.x), y: xf.apply_vec(t.y), ..t.clone() };
+                    let bounds = self.list.prims.get(at).map(|p| Bounds2::from_points(self.list.points(p).iter().copied())).unwrap_or(Bounds2::EMPTY);
+                    self.list.texts.push(PlotText { prim, verts, bounds, glyph });
+                }
             } else {
                 for c in g {
                     self.polyline(ctx, color, lw, c);
@@ -441,6 +479,17 @@ fn viewport(b: &mut Builder, d: &Drawing, e: &Entity, vp: &cadcraft_doc::Viewpor
             continue;
         }
         entity(&mut sub, &Ctx { lt_factor, ..top_ctx(d, xf, VIEWPORT_CONTENT, &vp.frozen_layers, &vp.layer_colors) }, me);
+        // Plotted text glyphs move to the layout's list; their outlines carry the glyph's
+        // index there in their handle's high half until clipped (see `take_viewport_layers`).
+        for t in std::mem::take(&mut sub.list.texts) {
+            let k = b.list.texts.len() as u64 + 1;
+            if let Some(p) = sub.list.prims.get_mut(t.prim as usize)
+                && k < u64::from(u32::MAX)
+            {
+                p.handle = Handle(p.handle.0 | (k << 32));
+                b.list.texts.push(PlotText { prim: PlotText::NONE, ..t });
+            }
+        }
     }
     // The contents are in paper units now: draw their pens before clipping.
     pen::apply(&mut sub.list, paper::paper_unit_mm(d));
@@ -570,11 +619,29 @@ fn entity_layer(ctx: &Ctx, e: &Entity) -> u32 {
 /// After a viewport is appended to a plot: the layers its contents carry in their handles
 /// (see [`entity`]) go to [`DisplayList::prim_layers`], and the handles back to
 /// [`VIEWPORT_CONTENT`]. The viewport's border was tagged when it was drawn.
+///
+/// Text glyphs seen through the viewport (marked in the handles' high half) keep their outline
+/// primitive when it came through the clip whole; a glyph cut by the viewport edge stays
+/// geometry.
 fn take_viewport_layers(list: &mut DisplayList) {
     let start = list.prim_layers.len();
-    for p in list.prims.iter_mut().skip(start) {
-        list.prim_layers.push(u32::try_from(p.handle.0).unwrap_or(NO_LAYER));
-        p.handle = VIEWPORT_CONTENT;
+    for i in start..list.prims.len() {
+        let Some(p) = list.prims.get(i).copied() else { break };
+        list.prim_layers.push(u32::try_from(p.handle.0 & 0xFFFF_FFFF).unwrap_or(NO_LAYER));
+        let bounds = Bounds2::from_points(list.points(&p).iter().copied());
+        if let Some(t) = (p.handle.0 >> 32).checked_sub(1).and_then(|k| list.texts.get_mut(k as usize)) {
+            let same = |a: Vec2, b: Vec2| a.dist(b) <= 1e-9 * (1.0 + a.len());
+            let whole = t.prim == PlotText::NONE
+                && p.kind == Kind::Tris
+                && p.len == t.verts
+                && same(bounds.min, t.bounds.min)
+                && same(bounds.max, t.bounds.max);
+            // A second piece (or a cut one) means the clip changed the glyph.
+            t.prim = if whole { u32::try_from(i).unwrap_or(PlotText::NONE) } else { PlotText::CLIPPED };
+        }
+        if let Some(p) = list.prims.get_mut(i) {
+            p.handle = VIEWPORT_CONTENT;
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -1044,7 +1111,7 @@ fn dimension(b: &mut Builder, ctx: &Ctx, e: &Entity, dm: &cadcraft_doc::Dimensio
         b.tris(ctx, dim_rgb, t);
     }
     if b.opts.text {
-        let sh = cadcraft_fonts::Shaped { strokes: g.text.clone(), glyphs: g.text_glyphs.clone(), width: 0.0 };
+        let sh = cadcraft_fonts::Shaped { strokes: g.text.clone(), glyphs: g.text_glyphs.clone(), width: 0.0, text: g.text_runs.clone() };
         b.shaped(ctx, txt_rgb, lw, &sh);
     }
 }