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Layers and PDF exporting

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
December 29, 2021
4 replies
3829 views

After I export my layered file to PDF, the layers in Acrobat show up under a tree, under the indesign file's name. My die cutting software sees it as one layer. Is there a way to export so the layers aren't nested in a tree?

thanks

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Correct answer Gusgsm

Hi,

Maybe you might find of interest this JavaScript that unnests the layers in a PDF. I have just tried it with a PDF in Acrobat DC latest version (Windows 10) and it seems to work.

(link and explanation here: https://www.uvsar.com/projects/acrobat/indesignfixups/ )

All thanks to its creators.

Hope it helps

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Hi Steve,

one could also use "Import as layer" together with the function "Merge layers" in Acrobat in several steps to merge nested layers with new imported layers that have no contents one by one.

Required for that: a PDF with no contents and no layer exported from InDesign with the same page size.

This as suggestion if it is too time consuming for Jeff to recreate the artwork in Adobe Illustrator.

I wonder how many layers Jeff's PDFs must have to qualify for the workflow.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Steve Werner

Community Expert

Jeff hasn't given us a very good idea about what the artwork looks like in terms of complexity and length. It's rather hard to tell what the best solution might be.

J

Jeff22429185tkboAuthor

Participating Frequently

Steve,

It's a pocket folder, and I really only need 3 layers (cut, crease, and registration marks).

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Jeff said: "I cannot use InDesign to make my die lines? It has to be from Illustrator, in order to get the un-nested layers?"

Hi Jeff,

here is another idea.

Export PDFs from InDesign without the layers enabled.

Do that separately for every layer you like to see in the final PDF.

In Acrobat use the function "Import as Layer" to assemble your layers that will be not nested.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Steve Werner

Community Expert

I tried playing with that last night, Uwe, but it's very painful and confusing to use the Import as Layer method. Illustrator is a lot easier.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

I've done my die cuts as a spot color with the die line set to overprint. Would that possibly work for your software?

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

J

Jeff22429185tkboAuthor

Participating Frequently

I wish, David. I guess our software is picky. 🤷🏻‍♂
The technician says it has to be lines on specifically named layers. One layer for the registration marks, one for the cut line, one for the crease lines, etc.

My issue is when I export the PDF (with layers), they show in Acrobat "nested" under the file name (like in Steve's example). The die cutter tech says they can't be nested, and need to be "separate", as in my photo example.

Thanks for your reply.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Since you are using a die cut, I'm assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that it's not a large page-count job. InDesign makes a nested layer group by default. Illustrator will create the layers without the nested document name. Would that work?

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Steve Werner

Community Expert

It all depends on the settings you make in the Export Adobe PDF dialog box.

If the PDF Preset you chose has Compatibility (circled) to Acrobat 6 or 7, you'll have the option to turn on Create Acrobat Layers (circed)

If this is checked, you'll see layers in Acrobat in the Layers panel (see below):

If it is unchecked, then there will be no sublayers:

J

Jeff22429185tkboAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thank you for the reply Steve.
My issue isn't how to export layers, it's how to not have the nested layers (in your example, the layers are nested in a tree, under "layers.indd, in the layers panel). How do I export to have them be separate and un-nested, as in this image:

The die cutter technician says the software is reading my layers as one layer, because they're nested like in your example.

Thanks

Steve Werner

Community Expert

I have no idea whether that's possible in an InDesign-created layered PDF. Here's the Acrobat Help file on editing layers, and I don't see that as an option:

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/pdf-layers.html#editing_layered_content

How was the layered PDF file which is NOT nested (that you show in the illustration) created?

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