Participating Frequently

P: Photoshop on Windows ARM saves pdf with wrong dimension

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
February 20, 2026
61 replies
551 views

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for help with a recurring issue when saving scanned PNG images as PDF files in Photoshop (27.3.1). Recently, the PDFs generated are partially corrupted or misread by Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and Photoshop.

The Problem: When I open these PDFs in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, I get the following error:

"The dimensions of this page are out-of-range - Page content might be truncated."

The page size appears as 1x1 mm, making the content cropped and pixeled.

What I’ve discovered so far:

Third-party viewers: If I open the same PDF with PDF-XChange, it displays perfectly with the correct dimensions.
Re-opening in Photoshop: If I open the "corrupt" PDF back in Photoshop, it also shows the wrong 1x1mm size.
The "Workaround": If I check the box "Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities" when saving, Photoshop is able to reopen the file correctly, but Acrobat still struggles with it.

Has anyone encountered this "out-of-range" dimension issue recently? Is there a specific setting in the PDF export (PDF/X standard, downsampling, etc.) that might be causing this conflict between Photoshop and Acrobat?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

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hopeful_Ripple2cb7

Participating Frequently

hey, cheers for getting back to me so quick. When i try the above even opening the PSD it comes up with a message saying 'this action can't be performed'. not sure why that is?!? did you have to change anything in photshop prior to saving? the TIFF work around does work after an update so all else files at least I can get by.

H

hopeful_Ripple2cb7

Participating Frequently

just saved it as a TIFF, I didn't change any settings because I don't know what they are. I've had Photoshop on my old computer for about 14 years and never once had an issue saving anything. what settinf should I choose? thanks for your help

N

novattoi98195528

Known Participant

Before we talk .tiff settings. Try something Jane E. suggested that worked for me. Open your Acrobat program. Go to Menu > Open, making sure All Files (*.*) is selected.

Navigate to one of your .psd files that you know has a few layers. Click on it and Adobe Acrobat should open it. If the Scan Page Alert box pops up, I have been clicking “No”.

Now, go to Menu> Save As, and navigate to where you want to save the art, making sure the Adobe PDF files (*.pdf) is Save as type.

This worked for me and is quicker than the .tiff solution. Let me know if this works. If it still opens as a mono, let me know. It could be a setting in Acrobat that got switched somehow.

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hopeful_Ripple2cb7

Participating Frequently

the 'TIFF WORKAROUND' just seems to compress the file to mono when opened in acrobat. ive followed instructions with save settings but still doesn't change anything. anyone got any idea why?

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novattoi98195528

Known Participant

Hi, how was the .tiff saved in Photoshop?

jane-e

Community Expert

If anyone comes across this thread and has the same issue, please post to the Primary thread where staff is tracking it.

https://community.adobe.com/bug-reports-711/p-photoshop-on-windows-arm-saves-pdf-with-wrong-dimension-1550813

Jane

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novattoi98195528

Known Participant

This is a glitch. “Active compatibility bug unique to the ARM64/Snapdragon version of Photoshop. The ARM-native version of Photoshop on Snapdragon processors (which I have and until there was an update, I had no issue) has a glitch where it fails to correctly compile the MediaBox boundary tags when exporting standard PDFs. Instead of saving the 8.5" x 11" instructions, the ARM version accidentally outputs microscopic 1x1 mm structural metadata into the file container. Because Adobe Acrobat recently updated its security and validation engines to strictly read these boxes, Acrobat clamps down on the file, assumes it is truncated, and displays a pixelated micro-dot.”

So I guess until Adobe patches the ARM64 Photoshop compilation code, there is a workaround I found without losing resolution. Here is my solution: In Photoshop, go to File > Save a Copy. Change the format dropdown to TIFF. (TIFF is a lossless, uncompressed format that perfectly locks your 300 DPI pixels without dropping quality). Open the Adobe Acrobat application. In Acrobat, click File > Create > PDF from File and select your saved TIFF. Acrobat automatically builds clean, standard 8.5" x 11" page boundaries around the high-resolution file. Too many steps, but it is what it is. This completely bypasses Photoshop's broken ARM metadata engine, giving a crisp, full-scale PDF.

And of course you can always just go from the .psd file > Print> and select Printer as an Adobe PDF.

jane-e

Community Expert

@novattoi98195528

I was going to suggest that you start in Acrobat, but see you’ve already found that.

You didn’t say what format your original file is in before you try to save it as a Photoshop PDF. If it’s a .psd, for example, you can skip the step of saving as a .tiff and jump straight to Acrobat.

Here is a list of all of the file formats that Acrobat supports:

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/desktop/create-documents/create-pdfs/pdf-conversion-supported-file-formats.html

Oddly, PSD is not in the “Image Files” category, so scroll a little further to find it in its own private category.

Also, since this worked before, consider posting this as a Bug Report and include your workaround. Also include your OS and PS versions. The Photoshop team will see it there and others can vote and comment if it happens to them.

Jane

N

novattoi98195528

Known Participant

Thank you, Jane. I did fail to say that my original file was created in Photoshop. And you are right; I used to be able to jump from the .psd to “Save a Copy” > Photoshop PDF as well as “Save As” > Photoshop PDF. Now, if I do that, once opened in Acrobat, the 'page content may be truncated' box pops up, and it is that 13x13 pixel blank square that hopeful_Ripple2cb7 mentioned. So back to the .tiff workaround for high res until Adobe patches the ARM64 Photoshop compilation code. And of course I can always just go from the .psd file > Print> and select Printer as an Adobe PDF.

Good suggestion; I will post this in a Bug Report.

jane-e

Community Expert

It does sound (to me) like a bug since it worked before. Your post is in a Primary thread with other comments, so Adobe is aware. I upvoted the original post.

Did you try using the PSD in Acrobat and skipping the step of saving as a TIFF?

Jane

H

hopeful_Ripple2cb7

Participating Frequently

I have had this exact same issue. doesn't show the 'page content may be truncated' box but when I open them in Photoshop it just shows a 13x13pixel blank square. Annoying as I bought this laptop because the processer would be perfect for PS. Hopefully they come up with a fix soon.

N

novattoi98195528

Known Participant

Update. This is a glitch. “Active compatibility bug unique to the ARM64/Snapdragon version of Photoshop. The ARM-native version of Photoshop on Snapdragon processors (which I have and until there was an update, I had no issue) has a glitch where it fails to correctly compile the MediaBox boundary tags when exporting standard PDFs. Instead of saving the 8.5" x 11" instructions, the ARM version accidentally outputs microscopic 1x1 mm structural metadata into the file container. Because Adobe Acrobat recently updated its security and validation engines to strictly read these boxes, Acrobat clamps down on the file, assumes it is truncated, and displays a pixelated micro-dot.” So I guess until Adobe patches the ARM64 Photoshop compilation code, I need to work around this without losing resolution. Here is my solution: In Photoshop, go to File > Save a Copy. Change the format dropdown to TIFF. (TIFF is a lossless, uncompressed format that perfectly locks your 300 DPI pixels without dropping quality). Open the Adobe Acrobat application. In Acrobat, click File > Create > PDF from File and select your saved TIFF. Acrobat automatically builds clean, standard 8.5" x 11" page boundaries around the high-resolution file. Too many steps, but it is what it is. This completely bypasses Photoshop's broken ARM metadata engine, giving a crisp, full-scale PDF.

H

hopeful_Ripple2cb7

Participating Frequently

Hey, I have an issue with Photoshop 27.9.1 where I'm saving an image and sens it to a client it cuts a lot of the image off. I think if its opened in photoshop it is ok, but I have sent the copy to a printers and they said they cns only see half the image. your advice hasn't fixed the problem. any ideas what else it could be? please see what I receive when emailing to myself

Srishti Bali

Community Manager

Hi @hopeful_Ripple2cb7 ,

Thanks for reaching out. Could you please confirm whether this issue is occurring with all images or only with specific ones?

If possible, please share a sample image where you're experiencing the issue. Also, please provide your device details, including the device model and operating system version.

Thanks, Srishti Bali | Community & Engagement Strategist, Digital Imaging | Adobe

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hopeful_Ripple2cb7

Participating Frequently

Hi Srishti,

I am using a asus zenbook A14 with Snapdragon X processer. it is a new laptop I had an issue with 3 different images. I'm struggling to figure out whats causing it.

any ideas? please see the the previous message to see what sends...whereas this is what I see in Photoshop, and the canvas size at the bottom of screen is correct.

creative explorer

Community Expert

@novattoi98195528 Instad of ‘Save a Copy > Photshop PDF’ have you thought of saving the file as ‘Save As - Photshop PDF’? I tried a a letter size with some color and saved it that way with no issues for a High Quality Print

m