Participant

Question

A Photoshop file "Saved As" a PDF with Layers, no longer shows the layers in Acrobat

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
September 16, 2019
3 replies
5423 views

Tested on several Mac machines
some using High Sierra OS; some using Mojave

Photoshop versions from 18.1.6 to 20.0.6

Acrobat Build: 19.12.20040.345140

Save As Photoshop PDF is selected; Layers is checked; retain Photoshop editing capablities is checked.
Even a simple 2 layered file will not show up in Acrobat in the layers navigation pane. If the PDF is re-opened in Photoshop, the layers will be visible. If Exporting layers as files, they appear as a separate file for each layer.

When "Exporting" INDD files as a PDF in InDesign, the layers will display within Acrobat as expected.

test_layers.zip

This topic has been closed for replies.

Community Expert

Community Expert

kstohlmeyer1 wrote:

Acrobat does not interpret Photoshop layers into Acrobat layers. Its the same way with Adobe Illustrator.

InDesign is the only app that allows Acrobat layers to be honored.

Hi

Both InDesign and Illustrator will create Acrobat layers, while PS will not. Here is the Illustrator Save Adobe PDF dialog:

Here is the Layers panel in Acrobat with one layer turned off:

~ Jane

Kevin Stohlmeyer

Community Expert

Community Expert

Acrobat does not interpret Photoshop layers into Acrobat layers. Its the same way with Adobe Illustrator.

InDesign is the only app that allows Acrobat layers to be honored.

The option in Photoshop is for reading back into Photoshop - if you uncheck you remove editing capabilities. They go hand-in-hand.

sshultz2204Author

Participant

My mistake then. I thought I had used the Layers within a PDF from Photoshop before. Thanks for the quick response!

rakhibul hasanr38836464

Participant

I am facing the same issue. Did you find the solution?