Black blocks appearing over imported objects in a PDF import - AI

[Guest]

Hi, I have created PDF's using Serif PagePlus - into which I have imported images - when the PDF is opened by the printer in Illustrator, all of the imported images appear as black blocks - have tried using PSD, PDF, JPEG, TIFF and EPS and the results are always the same.  Text and pages created directly in PagePlus work perfectly - it's just imported logos and images that are affected.  Any ideas?  Many thanks for any assistance!

[Ton Frederiks]

Although you can open PDF's in Illustrator, only PDF's made in Illustrator and saved with Illustrator editing capabilities can be edited reliably. 

It is always better to make changes with the application that created the files, in your case Serif PagePlus and use PDF as a final format that does not need edting.

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice. No changes are needed, but the clients’ printer seems to want to create print files via AI rather than directly from the PDF. 😢

[Ton Frederiks]

Did he tell you the reason?

[Guest]

Nope, but I suspect they are trying to set up multiple pages on a larger sheet of stock - I will ask the question. Many thanks.

[jane-e]

“I have created PDF's using Serif PagePlus”

Which application was used to create the file before you convert it to a non-Adobe PDF?

You might start a new ticket on the Serif support page: http://support.serif.com/Main/frmTickets.aspx

[Guest]

Hi, thanks - it’s definitely an Illustrator issue as all the areas created in Page Plus work perfectly - the PDF’s work perfectly as PDF’s and open into PhotoShop and CorelDraw without any issues - it’s purely an Illustrator issue 😢

[Monika Gause]

The application for printing PDFs is Acrobat. Illustrator is not meant to do that. Do that PDFs work when you place (link) them in Illustrator?

[Guest]

They work in everything except Illustrator - any imported format, jpeg, tiff,, eps, psd all turn to black squares in Illustrator

[Ton Frederiks]

What happens if the PDF's are placed as a link in Illustrator instead of opened?

[Guest]

Thanks so much to everyone for their guidance and advice - we found a solution. Opening the PDF in PSD, flattening it there and then opening in AI resolves all issues with the imported black blocks. Phew!!  So glad we found a work around. 

[Ton Frederiks]

You mean you converted them to images?

Bad idea.

[Guest]

Agree it’s not a perfect fix and I do worry about losing sharpness, but it seems it’s mainly for digital samples rather than CMYK litho print run, so I’m not over-stressing it.