Saving in PDF/X-1a Layer error

[lucasrielli]

Hey guys...
So I have this problem that it appears when I save to PDF/X-1a.

The PDF file merge all the layers and cut the art in some pieces.

(I noticed that the problem only occurs with projects that contains "jpeg's" or "png" on it)

I was creating a business card for my friend, and he asked me to use a specific background.

You can see that at this point, nothing wrong happens (it's a simple project with two layers)

But when I saved in PDF/X-1a (so I could print), I noticed that the file had something wrong.

So I opened the PDF in the Illustrator, and the layers were merged and cutted in random pieces

In this case, I only used bitmap, but there was one time that I used bitmap and vector, and the same error occurred.

[Test Screen Name]

Layers are forbidden in PDF/X-1a, so they must be merged. What version of AI do you use the create the work (please don't say "latest"!)

[lucasrielli]

I use CS6... but that's weird.. I made a project once, only with vectors and saved as PDF/X-1a and the layers were not merged.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Please read about how transparency and transparency flattening works.

This stuff has been around for almost twenty years. It's about time to get informed.

A Designer's Guide to Transparency for Print Output, Adobe | Adobe Illustrator | Portable Document F...

[lucasrielli]

So I decided to browse other stuff to help me with my problem, and I found a topic that you answered a guy about "PDF/X-8"

"They might have mixed up the numbers.

PDF/X-1a 2001 is a format in which transparency will be flattened and everything will be converted into the chosen CMYK profile. So it will be safer to use than X-3. You have to ask for the color profile to use".

My question is: which should I use for images that contains transparency? PDF/x-3 or PDF/x-4... because I'm sending to make an offset printing and I don't want to make any mistakes

PS: I did not ignored the guide that tells how transparency and transparency flattening works

[Test Screen Name]

bear in mind that design layers aren't the same thing as PDF layers. And merging them doesn't change anything. Flattening transparency, now, that's a whole different story. Using such an old PDF/X standard forces conpromises.

[Test Screen Name]

You need to use what the print provider requires: you don't necessarily have the luxury of choice, and there is no generic best. However, a lot of people today swear by PDF/X-4, working and delivering in tagged RGB (NOT CMYK).

[lucasrielli]

I noticed that with the X-4 everything was the way it's supposed to be, but unfortunately, here in Brazil, all the print companies only uses PDF/X-1.

The only solution that i've found, was to rasterize the transparent layer with the background, and don't do anything to texts.

(but if it still happens, just rasterize everything)

Thanks everyone for the help.