Why do I lose my image when clicking OK with nothing by grey checkerboard in its place?

OK.

I prepare a 8.5" x11" color image using Adobe Illustrator CS3. I save the image as a pdf and it goes to my desktop.

I go to Photoshop Elements 12 and open the pdf image on my desktop.  It appears as a small thumbnail image on the field and tells me that it can be printed at the size and character that I want. I hit OK and expect the full image to appear, frequently with the checkerbiard as background (no problem,) Instead, after hundreds of these procedures with recent Christmas cards etc, the field is filled with nothing but the checkerboard and, when I put it back on the desktoip it is blank white.  I have inadvertently hit some setting not wanted but can't find which it is.

BOB

bobgatje@verizon.net but I can't figure out how to insert the checkerboard (usually occers with flattening of image)

Gookie wrote: I'm using Photoshop Elements as the only way to print images created in my old Illustrator CS3. It's been working fine for years and suddenly not. Bottom of left sidebar shows COLOR as black and white squares. Mac 10.12.2. Any suggestions or explanation? Thanks BOB

It would help if you were to provide a screen shot of what you see.

In the meantime, go to Image>mode and be sure that RGB color is checked.