Highlighted text created in Acrobat shows opaque when opened with Apple Preview

Forum|Forum|17 days ago
July 6, 2026
2 replies
31 views

Highlighted text created in Adobe Acrobat DC PDF.
Highlights display as opaque when opened in Apple Preview thus obscuring text underneath.
Reported to Apple who say it’s an Adobe issue….

OS: Tahoe 26.5.1

Correct answer Dave Creamer of IDEAS

@siliconmana Try using the rectangle commenting tool.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Works properly on my Mac (highlight in Acrobat and view in Preview).

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

siliconmanaAuthor

Known Participant

Ok well it’s not here.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Obviously. However, it seems to be isolated to your systems (at least between the three of us...).

What Acrobat version?

What OS version?

What Preview version?

Can you upload a sample PDF that has the problem?

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

gary_sc

Community Expert

Hi, @siliconmana, I’m not seeing that at all. Please verify your opacity in your settings.

After you click on the Highlight tool, click on the color or your highlight color. On the bottom you’ll see an opacity slider. For me, 40% is good.

Please let us know what you find, thanks. If this isn’t it. we can dig deeper.

siliconmanaAuthor

Known Participant

It’s nothing to do with opacity in Acrobat as the issue is only in Apple Preview.

siliconmanaAuthor

Known Participant

Sorry, I had a look at opacity and it’s at 100%. While transparency works in Acrobat, I can see how this could affect Preview.
Is there a setting to change the highlight opacity default?

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