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annab96467542
annab96467542
Participating Frequently
January 24, 2023
Answered

background color not showing up in PDF

  • January 24, 2023
  • 7 replies
  • 17857 views

I have several pages in my INDD document with a solid fill color. After I export the file to PDF, I can see the background color in the preview screen but when I open the PDF, none of the pages with the background fill show it. Please help.

    Correct answer Laura35507807ew2n

    what was the fix? i'm having the same issue..... i don't know what to change in "accessibility settings" to make the background show up!?! 


    I stumbled across this discussion when I was having the same issue (background colors not displaying after converting to PDF) and after reading about accessibility (see post above) I went to Adobe Acrobat > Edit > Preferences > Accessibility > and uncheck Replace Document Colors. That seemed to work for me.

    7 replies

    D
    Danielle37907446oxiy
    New Participant
    August 16, 2024

    Hi all, I am having these same problems, however, I do not have the accessibilty box checked and yet the filled rectangle color is not showing up. Does anyone have any other ideas as to why this might be happening?

     

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2024

    Hi @Danielle37907446oxiy , Can you share the ID file, you can attach it to a reply

    D
    Danielle37907446oxiy
    New Participant
    August 16, 2024

    Here is a portion of the full document, but the same problem applies to each. Thank you for your help!

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 24, 2023

    No problem here. The purple color background is there in InDesign and the exported PDF.

    annab96467542
    annab96467542Author
    Participating Frequently
    January 24, 2023

    So why can't I see it on my screen?

    A
    anne-mariec93685459
    New Participant
    December 31, 2024

    I stumbled across this discussion when I was having the same issue (background colors not displaying after converting to PDF) and after reading about accessibility (see post above) I went to Adobe Acrobat > Edit > Preferences > Accessibility > and uncheck Replace Document Colors. That seemed to work for me.


    Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was losing my mind trying to pinpoint the issue and Boom... fixed.

      rob day
      Community Expert
      rob dayCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 24, 2023

      but when I open the PDF, none of the pages with the background fill show it.

       

      Hi @annab96467542 , That could happen if you created the background color by editing the default [Paper] swatch. [Paper] represents the color of the paper with no ink printed. AcrobatPro has the equivalent in its Output Preview panel, Set Page Background Color, which is unchecked by default:

       

       

      annab96467542
      annab96467542Author
      Participating Frequently
      January 24, 2023

      To create the background I drew a box with a solid fill (with bleeds). This has only started happening since the latest update to the software – I don't know if it's Acrobat or INDD that's causing this. I'm attaching one page from my INDD file and the resulting PDF. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. I've never had this problem in the past. If I open up the page in Photoshop, the background color is there. When I browse my desktop to open the file, it shows in the preview display.

      S
      Community Expert
      SJRiegelCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 24, 2023

      If by Solid Fill Color, you mean a spot Pantone, then the fault may be in the Acrbat view settings. 

      In the Page Display settings, for Use Overprint Preview: Always

      Luke Jennings3
      Community Expert
      Luke Jennings3Community Expert
      Community Expert
      January 24, 2023

      Are you viewing the pdf in Acrobat or Reader? You may be creating a layered pdf and your pdf viewer does not respect layers. It might also be an overprint issue or the background layer is set to not print (or export). Is the background color a spot color? Can you attach a sample page with the missing background?

      annab96467542
      annab96467542Author
      Participating Frequently
      January 24, 2023

      I'm viewing in Acrobat. I've never had this issue in the past so when I opened up the file and there was nothing there, I was surprised. I've attached one page from my document with the resulting PDF. All colors are CMYK. Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

      John Mensinger
      Community Expert
      John MensingerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 24, 2023

      How did you apply the background color? Is it on a layer that is set to non-printing?

      quote

      After I export the file to PDF, I can see the background color in the preview screen

       

      Which "preview screen" is that, and what application are you using to open and view the PDF?

       

      kglad
      Community Expert
      kgladCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 24, 2023

      in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

       

      p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post if it helps you get responses.

       

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