PDF exports issues with Microsoft Word

[Guest]

Hello!

I am not quite sure what happened. I don't think I've had this issue before, but recently I exported some pictures that I draw in Illustrator and then I save them as a PDF copy. I was using the latest standard when asked, without any downsampling. 

When I add these PDF images in Word, they look great, exactly how I expect them to look (SS 1)

Then I save the document (Image quality is set to 'High Fidelity', without compression), and when I reopen it, the picture looks terrible (SS 2). I don't understand what is happening. And if the problem is with Word or something else.

I did a few tests, and I printed PDFs with all the standards from Illustrator. It only worked with the oldest one. But actually I figured that is because the Compatibility feature is defaulted to Acrobat 1.4 in that case and I get a warning about the transparency layer that will be flatten. But I don't want that. 

Am I doing something wrong? I find it difficult to believe that Microsoft Word can only deal with PDFs that have a 2001 standard.

[Monika Gause]

If they look great after exporting and then also when being placed in Word, but look bad after exporting from Word, then the problem is with Word.

Did you export RGB? 

It might be an idea to rasterize all the graphics content and only keep the text live before saving the PDF. Of course do that with a copy of the file.

[Guest]

I'm not sure what to say. Because if I open the picture with Acrobat and then I export it as an image, in all formats the output is absolutely terrible.  Which seems a bit strange.

Yes, they are RGB, but I tried the other one that I don't remember now (I'm not an expert) and it's the same situation.

As for rasterizing... that would make the transparency layer disappear, right? I want it. 

And as I said, why would another piece of software only work with a 2001 standard. Come on. 

[Monika Gause]

You should complain to Microsoft about Word.

I don't knwo what you want to achieve with  "a transparency layer" in Word. 

[Guest]

Uhm, don't worry, Microsoft got the same post. And I think your tone is a bit much, considering how much of the information you decide to disregard from what I am saying. This is not a war between Adobe and Microsoft. I think maybe you have something to say to Microsoft Word, it seems. 

What is this answer?! What do you care why I want a transparency layout?! 

[Abuse removed by moderator]

[Monika Gause]

Microsoft Word is not very good with placed PDFs. PNGs work best.

I do not care about your layout being transparent, but inside Word you do not have access to "a transparent layer". You do not have access to layers in your PDF at all. 

So maybe you start by describing how that object is built at all. And yes, you can preserve transparency when rasterizing your art. 

[Guest]

Thanks, you could've said that. 

I experimented a bit, indeed PNG seems to be closest to what I want. Still there is an effect I managed to do by accident in Illustrator and I love it, but for some reason only PDF imanages to reproduce it. But I guess I will have to use PNG. It's close enough.