Vector (WMF/EMF) graphic deterioration in PDFs created in FrameMaker

[Samala]

Imported WMFs and EMFs look great in FrameMaker; however, in the PDF (created using File > Save As PDF), lines in the graphics disappear. PDFs and SVGs look fine in the PDF.  Is this an Adobe Acrobat issue or should I be doing something different in FrameMaker? Thanks.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

What version of FM? Have you tried Publishing to PDF?

[Samala]

I just upgraded from 2019 to 2022 but I was seeing the issue in 2019 too. I have not tried Publishing to PDF. Let me give that a shot. Thanks!

[Samala]

I tried publishing to PDF with the same results. I magnified the image to make sure it wasn't a resolution issue. Thanks for your help though!

[Winfried Reng]

EMF and WMF files are not as reliable as other vector formats (EPS is best, SVG is good - in my experience). It could be that the output does not reflect that what you see in FrameMaker.

However, it could also be that this is just a zoom effect. What happens, when you zoom in? Do you still do not see these lines?

[Samala]

Yes, the PDF and SVG versions of the same images look just fine. Yes, I did zoom in and out. The lines are definitely missing. Thanks for your help! 

[Bob_Niland]

It would also be worth trying the other PDF workflows:
🗏Publish to PDF
🗏Print to PDF
🗏Print to .ps & Distill
and check the compression settings for each.

I concur with Winfried that EPS is usually the optimal image type for PDF, as PDF is just device-independent Postscript, and EPS is just Encapsulated Postscript, so theoretically gets passed into PDF unmolested.

If HTML/XML/eBook are in the future, SVG is a worthy goal (because it's XML already).

Depending on what vector editor you have available, you might be able to batch convert the legacy vector files to EPS or SVG.

I used to encounter stray-extra-vector problems with some legacy CAD vector formats (DXF?), and made conversion to EPS part of the workflow.

[Samala]

Thank you. Won't I lose all my hyperlinks if I go the Print to PDF route? 

Also, I have anywhere from 40 - 100 graphic files in one chapter. I saved one as an EPS and it was huge (4,247 KB) compared to the other file formats (SVG, 251 KB and WMF, 172 KB). 

[Samala]

Also, I think the original file format is DXF. Our mechanical engineers import the DXF files into Creo. They then create a PDF, which is what I use as my source in Adobe Illustrator.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

If you are bring your files into Illustrator, where does the WMF format come from? Are you sure the files are not getting converted to raster somewhere along the process?

[Samala]

Some of our images are also coming from Visio - that's where the WMFs and EMFs are coming from.

[Samala]

We have diagrams which are done in Visio and they've been saved as WMFs and EMFs. Others are the DXF files. Some of my coworkers have experimented with exporting the out of AI as WMFs and EMFs.

[Bob_Niland]

Given that PDF is the workflow target, another approach for vector image import is … PDF.

If it looks OK after save-as/export from Creo or Visio, it would be expected to be unmolested by FM.

[Samala]

Yes, PDF looks fine too. I'm leaning toward SVG or PDF. SVG file size is smaller. 

Thanks everyone for your help!

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

make sure to mark one or more of these fine answers as Correct

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Why not save as PDF from Visio?

[Samala · Accepted solution]

I'm recommending PDF to to my team, but I was just commenting that SVG works fine too. Thanks!