Possible explanations for disappearing text ?

Report · Aug 21, 2025

I have a merged PDF that is comprised of a cover letter (page 1) and email attached to the cover letter (pages 2 and 3) . The email is a standard Outlook email with standard text, exported to PDF from Outlook. Each of the three pages also have text boxes that were added to indicate page numbers and Exhibit reference numbers. When I print the PDF out, all the added text boxes disappear.

What is odd is that part of the email text (the first paragraph of the email, under the email header) also disappears completely. What are possible explanations for this?

I understand why added text boxes might disappear (default settings for text boxes can viewable but not printable), but why would a section of original text from the email disappear - unless it was altered?

One explanation is that the first paragraph was covered, and a text box with different text was added on top. When it prints, this text box disappears, leaving a blank spot in the email.

Could there be any other possible explanations for as to why the body of an email exported from Outlook to PDF might disappear, other than it was altered?

Report · Aug 22, 2025

@Robert_+8396 you nailed it! The most likely cause is that the document has overlapping objects where one is a part of the original email content and the other is an added text box. When the PDF is displayed on screen, Acrobat can handle layers and render them correctly. But a physical printer needs the file to be "flattened" into a single image. If a layer is corrupt or marked as non-printable, it is simply left out of the final print job.

Try printing as an image forces the entire PDF, including all its layers and visual elements, to be rendered into a single image before being sent to the printer. This method bypasses any issues with non-printable layers or fonts and should give you a printout that looks identical to what you see on the screen.

Report · Aug 22, 2025

Thank you!

Could there be any other possible explanation for why text might disappear, aside from overlapping objects? Or is that the only possible explanation?

I'm actually trying to determine with some certainty if the first paragraph of the email, which mysteriously disappears, is an overlapping object - or if there is some other possible way to explain the behavior.

In other words, whether the only possible conclusion here is that the email was altered by someone. After all, why else would the text disappear, unless it was a text box added later / an overlapping object?

Report · Aug 22, 2025

@Robert_+8396 try to select the missing area in the PDF on the screen. If the area can be selected as a single text box (not just the underlying text), it would be proof of an overlapping object.

Because the PDF was altered and is only happening in one spot, it isn't a font or a bug, it would have affect other text in other places too, which it didn't. The disappearing text is acting exactly like the text boxes that were added. We know the added text boxes disappear when printed. The missing paragraph behaves the same way. It kinda tells me the paragraph was also added as a text box that was placed over the original text to cover it up. Hence, the overlapping. Or I can be totally off?

Report · Aug 22, 2025

You're right, that was my conclusion as well, but I was hoping to know if there could be any other possible technical or coding explanation for it. If there isn't, that means the ONLY explanation is that the document was altered.

When I try to select the text that dissappears, it doesn't show as a single text box. This is true for the text boxes (ie, "Exhibit 1") that I know with certainty were added on top of the email as text boxes, so maybe the PDF was flattened. I wish there was a way to unflatten it or isolate/identify the overlapping objects somehow?

Report · Aug 22, 2025

@Robert_+8396 once you flatten it, it's FLAT. But, hang on, here is a video on YouTube, 'How to Unflatten PDF in Adobe Acrobat without Losing Quality?' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZH1RHD0gIg

Maybe that will help. Sorry, I didn't watch it.

Report · Aug 22, 2025

The video doesn't really address it.

If it was flattened, why would the text boxes still disappear when printed? Maybe then it wasn't flattened, since the overlap objects don't print. Is there any way to isolate or separate the overlapping objects or layers?

Report · Aug 25, 2025

Does anyone know how to confirm whether disappearing text is in fact due to an overlapping object, and not some other strange coding glitch? Thank you!