PNG file has dark blue-grey background when exporting from 'Asset Export' into Acrobat PDF

[savagequest]

When exporting PNG files from 'Asset Export' in Illustrator and importing the file into Acrobat PDF, a dark blue-grey background appears for no reason. There is no background around the graphic in Illustrator, and none when viewing in any other app or preview.  It only shows up when importing the PNG to Acrobat.  

I've never had an issue with any file format exported from this panel until now. 

If anyone has encountered this before and can offer a solution, it would be greatly appreciated. 

Here's an example of what I'm seeing on my end. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Can you share such an exported png file?

Which versions do you use?

I tried replicating it, but it works for me.

[savagequest]

Sure, the PNG file I imported is attached.

I'm on v: 28.7 Illustrator &  v: 2024.002.21005 Acrobat (both are the most current release)

[Ton Frederiks]

I can verify that behaviour, but when I resave the file in Photoshop, it works fine.

Can you check the PNG settings in Asset export?

[savagequest]

Yes, same for me with Photoshop correcting the issue.  However, that is not a solution by having to use 3 different applications to simply get an image into a PDF, which seems very complex for such an easy task.  The only settings I can see are in the attached screenshot. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes it is strange and I cannot replicate it with a new file.

How are your Format Settings for Asset Export?

Maybe you can share the .ai file (rename .ai to .pdf to attach it to a message in this forum).

[savagequest]

here you go

[Ton Frederiks]

Thanks, I still cannot replicate it, my Illustrator 28.7.1 . Mac Ventura 13.6.9

I change my settings to yours (I would not use Type Optimized), but that did not replicate the problem.

Maybe someone has another suggestion.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @savagequest,

Thanks for sharing the files. Would you mind rasterizing the object and then exporting it as a PNG to check if it helps?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[savagequest]

Hi, @Anubhav M

Thank you for the reply.  The Rasterizing method worked straight from Illustrator without having to go into Photoshop.  While a good workaround for this project, I see other issues with more complex vectors and subjective quality. It is still unclear why Acrobat is adding a background color at all to a PNG that was exported with a transparent setting.  Something I've never encountered in all my years using Adobe products. 

This sample is rasterized at 300 ppi and is the graphic to the left in the blue bounding box, the quality is good for this use, however, on other graphics, I could see where there might be some rough edges vs the crisper vector versions. 

[savagequest]

Thank you, @Ton Frederiks – 

Curious, why you would suggest not using (Type Optimized)? For years I've always found this helps keep fonts crisp when using transparent backgrounds and would love to know if unchecking it is the better option and/or what settings are the best universal options for PNGs. 

I appreciate you looking into my PNG issue.  If it helps, I'm on Mac Sanoma 14.6, and possibly this has something to do with it. 

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

If there is no live type involved, like your example or logos, patterns, Art Optimized gives a smoother superior result.

But you can try that for yourself, quality is subjective.

[savagequest]

Thanks, @Ton Frederiks – 

This does make more sense, and I've obviously taken the lazy man's route and treated that export setting as a default standard, when in fact I could benefit from switching it on an as-needed basis to achieve a higher quality.  

[Ton Frederiks]

It is a good habit to check the defaults from time to time (especially after an update). PDF as an example has the smallest filesize as default.

[savagequest]

Although, switching between Live Type and Art Optimized does not eliminate this original issue.  It gives a good guideline for image quality.  I have tried saving the same file out both ways and once again when imported into Acrobat, the mysterious cloudy blue background still shows up.