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WCSII
Inspiring
September 27, 2021
Answered

How do I paste a vector image into a PDF made from Microsoft word

  • September 27, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 5598 views

I am writing a grant that has a combination of text written in Word with figures that I made in Illustrator.  I'll skip the intermediate steps for a moment, but what I want to do is 1) save a Word document as a PDF 2) open  it in acrobat DC (newest version) 3) edit the PDF 4) delete a rasterized PNG file (exported from latest version Illustrator) 5) insert the original vectorized PDF file (saved in latest version of Illustrator) into the gap where I deleted the PNG file.  

I can easily do steps 1-4.  Step 5 is what I'm asking about.

 

I have found ways to have Acrobat "try" to do this...and it either immediately rasterizes the PDF (stupid) or only pastes the text that is in the PDF (also stupid).

 

I have included a snapshot below.  Everything should be vectorized. The picture on the right has been rasterized to paste it into Microsoft word.  I can select the picture and delete it in Acrobat just fine...but I cannot figure out how to insert the original PDF of that same image into that spot.  I have also notice that every time I try to import the PDF into Word or Acrobat (which they both seem to rasterize), they resize the image. I have made the PDF exactly the size I want...not sure why it gets smaller.

 

 

 

 

A few more details about how the file was made this way. I am typing into Word and want to have inline figures. Previously, while using a Mac I could simply paste the vectorized PDF files into Word--it allowed me to select PDFs as "images". It was beautiful.  On a PC, this is much more difficult--it only allows raster files to be "images". I can insert an "adobe acrobat PDF" as an object but it appears to convert that into a raster image.  It also opens the file up as too small, so I have to resize it...which since it's a raster file makes it look terrible.  Stupid.

 

I just want to have my PDF figures look good. Rasterizein

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer WCSII

So this is a GREAT solution!!!

 

Go to Rich Media

Add Button

Make the button the size of the image it will replace

General>Form field "visible"

appearance> "fill color and border color" "off"  (defaults to a gray fill color you have to turn off)

Options> layout > icon only

Option > layout> choose icon  (choose your PDF file)

Option> layout> advanced   "fit to bounds"

Actions> not sure how to "disable" actions but I haven't selected anything.

 

It looks PERFECT!!! THANKS!!!!

 

3 replies

Luke Jennings3
Community Expert
Luke Jennings3Community Expert
Community Expert
September 27, 2021

I would write the proposal in InDesign, where you can place (or copy/paste) the word document and properly format it using InDesign styles. Placing vector art into InDesign, either as original (.ai) Illustrator file, or as a PDF, is easy and non-destructive.

Acrobat is not the best tool for making edits.

Another option is to place your Word PDF into InDesign and then place the other elements on top of the placed PDF, once everything is properly sized and positioned, open the original PDF in Acrobat and select and delete the unwanted elements. Export the InDesign file to a new PDF.

    W
    WCSIIAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 27, 2021

    This is intriguing. I'm new to Indesign.  Just installed it. It sounds like you are describing what I was trying to do in Acrobat--select the raster image, delete it, and insert a good PDF copy in its place.  But....

     

    I have a PDF of the Word doc, but how do I get Indesign to open it?  I cannot get it open. 

     

     

    (there's no way I can write the proposal in InDesign, and plus it's already done)

    Luke Jennings3
    Community Expert
    Luke Jennings3Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 27, 2021

    InDesign cannot open a PDF, you would need to create a new InDesign file at the desired size (File> New> Document) then place the PDF into the open InDesign file (File> Place). 

    You would open the placed PDF in Acrobat to delete the unwanted elements, then update the link in InDesign.

    There is a pretty steep learning curve for InDesign, as it is a professional tool with loads of features, but placing and positioning files and exporting to PDF is quite easy. Watching a few Youtube videos should get you up to speed in less than an hour. Visit the InDesign forum for answers to specific questions if you get stuck.

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/ct-p/ct-indesign?page=1&sort=latest_replies&filter=all&tabid=discussions

     

      Document Geek
      Community Expert
      Document GeekCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      September 27, 2021

      Try exporting your files from Illustrator as EMF. It's an older file format, but you will be able to import it into Word just fine, and it wll export as vector from Word. EMF is an RGB file, so your blacks will be rich black.

       

      Also, have you tried inserting your PDF grahics into word, just as you would with a raster image? (Instead of pasting them). Not sure if this would make a difference. I'm on a mac, and I do know that sometimes mac and PC Word behave differently...

        W
        WCSIIAuthor
        Inspiring
        September 27, 2021

        Thanks, just tried it.  EMF shows up under the "export" tab and it appears to make a (low quality) raster image out of it.  Word can insert it like a raster image, and treats it as such. It's actually worse than a PNG file.  Worth a try though.

         

        Document Geek
        Community Expert
        Document GeekCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 27, 2021

        EMF previews look bad when placed in word, but when exorted to PDF, it is vector. 

        Karl Heinz Kremer
        Community Expert
        Karl Heinz KremerCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 27, 2021

        You can create an interactive button and then use the PDF file with the vector graphic as the button image. Make sure that you disable the button features so that does no longer react to mouse clicks. 

          W
          WCSIIAuthorCorrect answer
          Inspiring
          September 27, 2021

          So this is a GREAT solution!!!

           

          Go to Rich Media

          Add Button

          Make the button the size of the image it will replace

          General>Form field "visible"

          appearance> "fill color and border color" "off"  (defaults to a gray fill color you have to turn off)

          Options> layout > icon only

          Option > layout> choose icon  (choose your PDF file)

          Option> layout> advanced   "fit to bounds"

          Actions> not sure how to "disable" actions but I haven't selected anything.

           

          It looks PERFECT!!! THANKS!!!!

           

          Karl Heinz Kremer
          Community Expert
          Karl Heinz KremerCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          September 27, 2021

          one odd trick is that you cannot insert the icon is you first turn off fill color.  I had to insert the icon, then turn off fill color, in that order


          Glad that you figured it out. I am just coming back to reading the comments, and I was ready to tell you how to do it 🙂 

           

          To disable the actions, go to "General" tab and make the button "read-only". You can also go to the "Options" tab and select "Behavior" to "None". 

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