Color changes when zooming in or out

[marklouisbelache]

Hi! I noticed that the color in some parts of my PDF changes when I zoom in or out the page (page has optional contents). Is this normal? Is there a way to avoid that?

[Tariq Ahmad]

Hi marklouisbelache,

Sorry for the delay in response.

If you open the file on a Mobile device and check in Adobe Reader, are you able to see the same behaviour?

Also, is this happening with all the files or just a few? Let us also know the version of Acrobat or Reader you are using?

I am not able to see this behaviour at my end.

Will be waiting for your response.

-Tariq Dar.

[marklouisbelache]

Hi Tariq,

I don't see the behavior when I open the file on my mobile. However, I see it in on my PC and that's where I usually read my PDF. I'm using Acrobat Reader DC 2017 Release Version 2017.009.20044.

Thanks.

[Tariq Ahmad]

marklouisbelache,

It seems it might be a screen related issue.

Please check your monitor if you have the option to calibrate its colours and try it again.

Let us know if that helps.

-Tariq Dar

[Garrett5C64]

The same things is happening to me. It has nothing to do with my monitor because i have tried it on 3 different monitors. 

[senmorteco]

Same thing here. The color change is most noticeable in blues, but I think it's there for all of the colors. When I zoom out the blue becomes faded and greyish. Acrobat Pro DC Version 2021.007.20099. It is also inconsistent. It doesn't happen every time, and will only happen on some pages (even though all pages supposedly have the same palette) and will randomly switch back and forth as I continue to zoom. Screen clipped example here from two pages in the same document with a legend generated using the same color pallette:

[maoshuo chen]

I have the same problem. When zoom in & out, the color will change.

[Marc318433111foz]

Same problem here when zooming in and out in PDF's created with CAD software.

It happens on ALL our machines (about 90 HP ProBooks) and ONLY in Adobe Reader. Opening the same PDF in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Foxit dispays the correct colors when zooming in and out.

What solved it for us is printing/publishing in PDF/A-1b format. This was listed as an option in the "publish" procedure of our CAD software, but can also be found in the custom properties of the "Print as PDF" virtual printer from Adobe Reader itself.

From the Wiki:

"PDF/A is an ISO-standardized version of the Portable Document Format (PDF) specialized for use in the archiving and long-term preservation of electronic documents. PDF/A differs from PDF by prohibiting features unsuitable for long-term archiving, such as font linking (as opposed to font embedding) and encryption.[1] The ISO requirements for PDF/A file viewers include color management guidelines, support for embedded fonts, and a user interface for reading embedded annotations."

As far as I understand it this format has other downsides, but for our application these are irrelevant.

Hope this helps someone...