Gradient graphic in PDF wont print

[karenlewis]

I created a simple document with graphics using Indesign, and exported to PDF for printing. The PDF document opens and previews as expected. 

On printing from Acrobat,  a major vector graphic is ... just missing. The graphic has a b/w gradient fill created in Indesign. 

If open the pdf document in photoshop and print from there - everything prints fine.  

Can you help me understand what the problem might be? My intention is to produce a PDF file that will print easily. I make plenty of graphic-intensive documents using inDesign, and have not yet run up this problem. 

[karenlewis]

Update - 
The vector graphic will print when assigned a solid color swatch. It appears to be struggling with the gradient. Any ideas? The gradient is crucial to the design. 

- Gradient previews in pdf, but disappears when printed
- If pdf is opened and printed from photoshop, gradient will print

[jennyu56228975]

I'm having the exact same issues. I've just upgraded my mac. My old mac displays and prints the background gradient perfectly. It is a vector-based illustration drawn in illustrator. The same file on the new mac displays correctly but when I print using Acrobat the entire background is missing (but the elements in the foreground still appear!). 

[creative explorer]

@jennyu56228975 @karenlewis @bridgetter54325219 Curious to know what the PDF compatibility settings are. Try exporting with a different compatibility setting. I normally have used the older settings. When I use to work in Pre-press (ad agencies, graphic designers, production houses, would bring their files, and we would make sure their files are good to go and make film negatives for commercial printers). And I was taught to use the older settings. The idea behind the latest Acrobat, newer PDFs may not work in older readers due to unsupported features. So, I have been using an older compatibility setting (e.g., Acrobat 5) for wider compatibility but limited features. It works for me. But, you could try Acrobat 6.0. Try that out. 

[S. S]

@karenlewis @creative explorer @bridgetter54325219 @jennyu56228975,

Hi guys,

I was going through the thread and thought of writing down my comments here.

Different Acrobat versions have different compatibility levels for PDFs. For Instance, Acrobat 4 will not support transparency but Acrobat 5 onwards support that. 

Again, layers are not supported on Acrobat 5 and below. 

There may be a few key factors that show you different results for different files.

The following table compares some of the functionality in PDF files created using the different compatibility settings.

Acrobat 4.0 (PDF 1.3)	Acrobat 5.0 (PDF 1.4)	Acrobat 6.0 (PDF 1.5)	Acrobat 7.0 (PDF 1.6), and Acrobat 8 and Acrobat 9 (PDF 1.7)
PDFs can be opened with Acrobat 3.0 and Acrobat Reader 3.0 and later.	PDFs can be opened with Acrobat 3.0 and Acrobat Reader 3.0 and later. However, features specific to later versions are sometimes lost or not viewable.	Most PDFs can be opened with Acrobat 4.0 and Acrobat Reader 4.0 and later. However, features specific to later versions are sometimes lost or not viewable.	Most PDFs can be opened with Acrobat 4.0 and Acrobat Reader 4.0 and later. However, features specific to later versions are sometimes lost or not viewable.
Cannot contain artwork that uses live transparency effects. Any transparency must be flattened before converting to PDF 1.3.	Supports the use of live transparency in artwork. (The Acrobat Distiller feature flattens transparency.)	Supports the use of live transparency in artwork. (The Acrobat Distiller feature flattens transparency.)	Supports the use of live transparency in artwork. (The Acrobat Distiller feature flattens transparency.)
Layers are not supported.	Layers are not supported.	Preserves layers when creating PDFs from applications that support the generation of layered PDF documents, such as Illustrator CS and later or InDesign CS and later.	Preserves layers when creating PDFs from applications that support the generation of layered PDF documents, such as Illustrator CS and later or InDesign CS and later.
DeviceN color space with eight colorants is supported.	DeviceN color space with eight colorants is supported.	DeviceN color space with up to 31 colorants is supported.	DeviceN color space with up to 31 colorants is supported.
Multibyte fonts can be embedded. (Distiller converts the fonts when embedding.)	Multibyte fonts can be embedded.	Multibyte fonts can be embedded.	Multibyte fonts can be embedded.
40‑bit RC4 security supported.	128‑bit RC4 security supported.	128‑bit RC4 security supported.	128‑bit RC4 and 128‑bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) security supported.

I hope this table gives you a better understanding of why using the newer levels of compatibility would be better suited for viewing and working with PDFs.

-Souvik

[creative explorer]

@S. S @bridgetter54325219 so  Acrobat 6.0 would work better...which I said to try

[S. S]

@creative explorer Yes. 

Mostly, it depends on the use case. But here, 6.0 and later should be preferred.

-Souvik

[bridgetter54325219]

Same! Why is this happening?