Photoshop + Acrobat: "Export As Optimized PDF" distorts / garbles all vector data

Question

Hello All,I have been optimizing PDFs in Acrobat for a very long time with no issues. Today, the process I use no longer works. I have spent several hours troubleshooting. I called customer service for 2 hours, just to be bounced around from Acrobat to Photoshop as one rep cannot help you with both programs. I searched the internet high and low. I am at a loss here. Please help!Here is the usual workflow:PHOTOSHOP- Created a graphic in photoshop. All text with one raster image as background- Converted all text to shapes- All that is left in the file is layers of shapes (formerly text) and one background raster image- Save As PDFResult: A 30mb PDF file, perfect vector shapes, print-ready CMYK 300dpi.The above could be just fine but there is a lot of bloat when Photoshop makes a PDF so I like to optimize the file.ACROBAT (Optimize To Minimize File Size)- Open PDF in Acrobat- Review file, Zoom to 1200%, confirm all shapes/converted text/vectors look great- Save As Other... Optimized PDFUsual Result: A ~2mb file, all shapes / vector in tact.Current Results / Issue:  Creates a PDF, completely distorts, garbles, and misinterprets the vector shapes, shapes are still vector, but all messed up. The vector characters seem to be completely retracted or as if the program is trying to scan for text then do it's best to give you some kind of terrible estimate of how it should look.This process has been working for months without a hiccup. I tried every combination of options under "Optimized PDF". I even tried clicking no options. I uninstalled Acrobat and reinstalled. I used "Reduce File Size". Same issue persists. It's starting to feel like a software issue. Windows 10 and CC Suite are fully updated.Thanks for reading and thanks in advance.CASE Number / ID: ADB5468478W5P6Message was edited by: J S

jane-e · Answer

js21229673 wrote
I have been optimizing PDFs in Acrobat for a very long time with no issues. Today, the process I use no longer works.

This process has been working for months without a hiccup.

Hi JS,

Can you try doing File > Save as Photoshop PDF with live text instead of shapes? Live text is the best workflow from PS to PDF.

In the Acrobat dialog that comes up, what named setting are you using, and does it say “modified” after the name? If the named preset was modified, how was it modified in each tab?

In Acrobat, Save as Other > Optimized is usually only used if you do not have the original file and only the PDF and you need to compress it further. Again, what is the named setting or does it say “custom”? If it says “custom”, how was each tab modified?

You should be able to minimize the file size using the correct settings the first time since you have the source document.

Also, if you click Edit in Acrobat DC, it does OCR without asking and does try to convert it back to text with whatever setting you have in the OCR tool. To check to see if it did that, go to File > Properties and look at the Font tab. Are any typefaces listed there?

When it worked for you before, which versions did you have of PS and Acrobat? And which (exact) versions now?

Jane

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