Re: "A drawing error occurred" Error using Acrobat Pro DC

I have Adobe version 19.010.200969. I am current with the latest updates. I still keep on getting the error message "a drawing error occured". This on documents which I down loaded from a number of sites which I have not had problems with before. Other threads on the same topic have stated that the problem has been fixed. If that is so, why am I having problems and getting the error message?

Hi James,

One thing that I would try is to first check that the actual scanning is not the problem. To do this I would bypass any scanning from within Acrobat.

Acrobat has no internal scanning capability and relies upon the scanning software that works with your scanner. As you are on a Mac that implies that to scan from within Acrobat you are using Image Capture, an application that I personally hate hate hate. Since I have an Epson scanner, I have access to EpsonScan software and because I typically do scanning of photographic things, I also have SilverFast software but for documents EpsonScan software is just fine. If you have a Canon scanner you can use Canon's scan software, etc.

What you need to try is to scan using your scanner's software. If there are various levels within the software, look for something like "Fully Auto," "Home," or "Professional Mode." Please select the Professional mode but always avoid the Fully Auto. Save the file as a TIFF (preferred) but if you can only save as a JPEG, save it with the least amount of compression. Also, be sure to scan at 300 dpi or better (up to 600 dpi is almost overkill but never bad).

Now, take that TIFF image and drag it onto the Acrobat icon in your Dock, Acrobat will automatically process that image and make it a PDF and will ask you if you want to make it a searchable document, click Yes.

Finally see if you get that same error. If you do not, it because of a setting within the auto settings that you have between Acrobat and your scanning software.

FWIW, I NEVER scan from within Acrobat. I've used Acrobat for almost 20 years and have found it to be easier to simply scan via proper scanning software and my scanner with nothing in-between to potentially get involved.

Also, here's a blog I wrote for Adobe that you might find of interest.

https://forums.adobe.com/community/creativepipeline/blog/2018/01/22/scanning-clean-search-able-pdfs

Let me know if any of this helps.

I am having the same issue with the drawing error and unable to open pdf's in acrobat reader dc 18.011.20063.

I have checked for updates, but do not need them.  I downloaded the patch from your website to no avail.

The pdf's are created on Corel Draw X8. Other pdf viewers open the files without any problem.

I had no problems prior to the latest version of acrobat reader.

How can this be solved as I am trying to send out Church newsletters to many people who cannot use adobe for this.

Hi Jamesca,

As you get " a drawing error occurred" when open the scanned PDFs, please refer this help document Error "A drawing error has occurred" | Adobe Acrobat, Reader.

Please try once to update the application to the latest version available.

Launch the application and go to Help > Check for updates.

You can refer this help link Release Notes | Adobe Acrobat, Reader for more information on the latest updates.

Check if that resolves the issue.

If the issue still persists, please update the thread.

Let us know if you need any help.

Regards,

Meenakshi

Moving from Acrobat General Troubleshooting​ to Scanning & OCR​