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Inspiring
May 28, 2024
Answered

vector lines displaying inconsistently

  • May 28, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 1562 views

Hi

I'm drawing a simple grid in Illustrator. I've copied one simple line multiple times like a step-and-repeat, so I end up with a simple grid.

When I import to InDesign and then export a PDF for client viewing, it seems like the result is lines of different strenght, thicknesses?

When I open the illustration, take a screen shot and use this in my InDesign doc, it seems fine! But obviously I prefer to use the vector.

Please see screenshot for clarification.

Any advice appreciated, thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ton Frederiks

Thanks for reply... here are my preferences for what I think you're referring to. It seems I do have that preference checked.

Thanks for any help.


Yes, if you uncheck it it should solve the problem.

2 replies

Community Expert
May 28, 2024

Are the lines getting rasterized (converted to pixels) at any point before the grid is exported in PDF format from InDesign? If the grid lines are being converted into a pixel-based image the lines may not be falling on the pixel grid precisely.

 

Another possible issue: any kinds of rectangular shapes (including some letters) may be turned into stroked open line paths within the exported PDF. This might apply if the line strokes of your grid were expanded into thin rectangular shapes. The results can make on-screen previews of such objects in PDF files look irregular (often too bold) unless the preview is zoomed in tight. Turning off the "compress text and line art" setting when exporting the PDF can fix that problem.

Inspiring
May 29, 2024

Removing 'compress text and line art' unfortunately didn't work - however when I view the PDFs using Mac default pdf 'Preview' application, the lines display perfectly well!? So this might be something peculiar to Acrobat? Pity my client is viewing in Acrobat!

Workaround is for me to make a raster version and supply this for screen viewing and another version for print using the vectors.

 

Thanks for your suggestions.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 29, 2024
quote

So this might be something peculiar to Acrobat? Pity my client is viewing in Acrobat!

By @KieranBrennanDublin

See my answer above about Acrobat Preferences

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2024

Could the Acrobat preferences be causing this?

Page Display > Enhance Tin Lines