Pattern shift, color loss when save AI to PDF

[Nguyen Thanh Nam]

Hi everyone, thank for your time of reading this topic.

I have two questions:

1- I've created an AI file, save it as a PDF file, then print out both of them to see the difference. The pattern (a grid of dot) appear in PDF file look smaller and lighter, and they are shifted. Other objects remain the same, I wonder why. Standard for saving is PDF/X-4:2010, compression method is bicubic downsampling.

2- Firstly I print PDF by Foxit Phantom, pattern shifted. Then I opened PDF and printed by MS Edge, pattern didn't shift anymore but still look lighter. Does PDF application affect the print result?

[Ton Frederiks]

Did you try Adobe Acrobat to print it?

[Nguyen Thanh Nam]

Ugh, Acrobat worked pretty well! But I still wonder why. Is it just because they both come from Adobe family? How AI packs PDF file to view in other software?

Btw, thank for your solution

[Ton Frederiks]

Although the PDF file format is published by Adobe, not all PDF viewers do support all of its features like Adobe Acrobat does.