Creating a PDF with layers and sublayers

[CoffeeKing]

Is there any way that I can create a PDF that has layers and sublayers? I'm creating PDFs with Adobe Illustrator and in the export menu it gives me the option to "Create Acrobat Layers from Top-level Layers". I'm thinking that Illustrator isn't able to create a PDF with layers/sublayers. Is this something that can only be done with Adobe Acrobat Pro? If so, how do I do this?

Thanks in advanced!

[Tariq Ahmad Dar]

Hi @CoffeKing, 

Sorry for the delayed response, and thank you for reaching out with your question. 
In case you haven't found an answer, here is something about layers in Acrobat

PDF layers in Adobe Acrobat allow users to view, navigate, and print different content layers within a PDF. These layers, often originating from applications like Adobe InDesign, AutoCAD, and Visio, enable the inclusion of various elements, such as text, images, and annotations, in a single document. Users can control the visibility of these layers, facilitating the presentation of different versions or aspects of the content without the need for multiple files.

Key Features of PDF Layers:

• Viewing and Navigating Layers: Users can expand the Layer's navigation panel to view all layers in the PDF, toggle their visibility, and navigate through the content.

• Managing Layer Properties: In Acrobat Pro, users can rename layers, merge them, change their properties, and add actions to layers, providing flexibility in how content is presented and interacted with.

• Printing Layers: The print settings can be configured to print visible layers, all layers, or a specific set of layers, allowing for customized hard copies of the document.

• Layer Visibility Control: Authors can set default and initial state settings for layers, determining how they appear when the document is first opened.

To effectively work with layers in Acrobat, it’s essential to ensure that the source document is converted to PDF using presets that preserve layers, such as Acrobat 6 (PDF 1.5) or later.

For a comprehensive guide on working with PDF layers, including detailed instructions and best practices, refer to this documentation: https://adobe.ly/4hbmlpn;

~Tariq

[JR Boulay]

Layers : yes, using Illustrator, InDesign or Acrobat Pro.

Sublayers : NO.