How do I print an encrypted PDF file .... to PDF

[Guest]

I have finished making a form fillable PDF.  I want to put some restrictions on the form, so that end users cannot edit the forms or add additional text/move text around.  When the users complete the form, I want them to be able to print the document to PDF.  My current encryption is as follows:

Printing = allowed at high resolution

Changes Allowed = filling in form fields and signing existing signature fields

Right now, when I print the document to a printer, there is no issue.  But, when I print the document to PDF, I get the following message:

%%[ ProductName: Distiller ]%%

This PostScript file was created from an encrypted PDF file.

Redistilling encrypted PDF is not permitted.

%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%

%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%

I have read countless posts about not being able to print an encrypted PDF file to PDF, but that just is not accurate.  I use form fillable PDFs all the time.  Those PDFs have encryption, yet I can somehow print them to PDF.

This is beyond frustrating, so I figured I would ask to see if anyone knew how to make this work.

Thanks!  

[TruSake]

Best solution is instead of using Adobe PDF as Printer, on the same drop-down menu, use Microsoft Print to PDF. This will work better as it will flatten the image and make it as small as possible.

[RWassell]

Yes! Thank you. I had not thought of this before coming to the solution of opening the fillable in my Chrome Browser and then printing as a PDF from there. I went ahead and tried your suggestion and see that it works, too, which is really good to know. The only thing I see is that printing the fillable as a flattened PDF via Adobe from the browser created a smaller file than printing the fillable to a flattened PDF using the Microsoft PDF printer option. The browser Adobe printer option resulted in a 226 KB file and the desktop Microsoft printer option resulted in a 446 KB file. The original fillable file is 435KB. Who knows... 😄 

[Minty25101846c2av]

For others who may be searching, there is a "small" online PDF tool that will do this for you.

[default29238846zm00g5]

It is 2023 and still has the same problem. 
I created a fillable PDF form. It is a static pdf form and Adobe Reader Enabled. It has a sign field. It is encrypted so the layout cannot be changed. The end user who will fill out this form is not the IT people who know technical stuff. 
So my intention is to make create a form with less hassle as possible. People can fill that with free Adobe Reader they can save it if they can complete that in one go, then they can either e-sign or attach signature image, then print that to normal PDF. 

It works with Microsoft Print to PDF, but not with Adobe PDF converter. Same message appear many times. 

[defaultet0bl368vyht]

Look the point of all this dicussion is that PRINT IS ALLOWED for these fill in the forms, and the NEW acrobat subscription suddenly does not allow printing of a form created by the user of Acrobat with PRINT allowed but everything else encrypted so the form ITSELF will not be changed.  This never happened to me before I installed the new version.  I use forms that are sold and that allow printing and that I fill in with the appropriate information that have under security PRINT ALLOWED, but that I can no longer print, because of this distiller error.  WHAT IS THE FIX?  This CANNOT BE BY DESIGN.

[defaultet0bl368vyht]

I agree with you. This is ridculous.  In your forms that you created, I am sure you have under Security, PRINT allowed, and you and I are still getting this error, and adobe WON'T FIX IT, making the program useless for forms.  Also, for some reason they won't allow reader and acrobat to be installed on the same machine.  It doesn't happen on another machine with reader, that does not have acrobat installed. I can fill in the forms and print with adobe.  The USER filling in your forms won't know that.  There are other print options that will load the form, allow the user to FILL IN THE FORM, and print it, because PRINT IS ABVIOUSLY allowed.  I have used them as a work around in my business.  HOWEVER, creating forms that you want your users to use that pull up on their computer in ACROBAT makes it useless for them, since they cannot print them and email them back to you as a filled in form.  THIS IS INFURIATING  Commerical forms I bought have the same issue. I can no longer fill them in and print them for the approrpiate client to a pdf and email them to the client. I have to print to a printer, scan, and then email OR use an alternate PDF printer to open the filled in form and then print to pdf and then email it.  DOES ANYONE AT ADOBE USE THEIR OWN PROGRAM?  YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW THIS ISSUE IS AN ERROR when the form is PRINT ALLOWED under security, but the rest of the form is ENCRYPTED.  If you want examples, email me, and I will send them to you to see the error.

[Test Screen Name]

"since they cannot print them and email them back to you as a filled in form."

But why would they do anything so weird (and frequently impossible). Why aren't they told to save and email?

Better still, since email is hardly a good way to send or submit most forms, have an actual submit to https.

[haleh_5915]

Instead of printing to Adobe PDF, try printing to a different kind of PDF from your (I use Microsoft print to PDF). Hope this helps.

[defaultg36lnr7oiehy]

Exactly. I am using Microsft print to PDF and it works find
And btw, the reason of wanting to print the original PDF is because it is password protected by a third party to my eyes only and that's the only way I found to unprotect it and store it on a secure place is to print it back to PDF.
I could also print it paper and scan it, I guess that's what Adobe wants... this Adobe security is obviously obsolete