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February 13, 2026
Question

Adobe Acrobat Distiller fails to properly recreate /Shading information from PostScript (2025.001.21184)

  • February 13, 2026
  • 0 replies
  • 32 views

We tried to convert a PostScript file containing /Shading with Domain of [0 100.00128] and the same function Domain to PDF file using Adobe Acrobat Distiller (find minimal samples `test.ps` and sample job options `min_joboptions_shading.txt` attached).

 

The resulting PDF file (ex. `test.pdf` attached) fails to properly render on Adobe Acrobat (version tested 2025.001.21184). Scrolling through pages containing the Shading throws an error “A drawing error occurred”.

 

Upon closer investigation, Distiller seems to have “truncated” or rounded Function Domain float value from 100.00128 to 100.0 (`screenshot_domains_after_distill.png`). It is likely a problem in itself (as the Function Domain should be a superset of Shading Domain), but we are not sure this is exactly what causes Acrobat drawing error on the page. Some other PDF readers we tried managed to open and render this PDF.

 

Expected behavior: Distiller maintains PS /Shading info. PDF produced with Distiller is properly displayed using Adobe Acrobat.

 

Additional information: PostScript file was generated using `texlive` system and `tikz` package.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.