How do I get rid of what looks like frame lines on my adobe print pdf?

[Brendan24111036dhr9]

It's hard to see in the picture, but when I used export from InDesign to Adobe Print pdf format a few lines came through that aren't in the original when viewed in InDesign. One of these looks like a frame around text, the other I'm not sure. Why are these showing up?

Adobe Acrobat view of PDF

I have the line around one of the texts, but the other one doesn't even have a frame there.

InDesign view of frames

InDesign without frames

When I export it as a JPEG it looks fine.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

These are flattening artitifacts, usually due to using a preset that does not support live transparency.

What settings/preset are you using for Export currently?

[Brendan24111036dhr9]

PDF/X-1a:2001

The printer requires that one or PDF/X-3:2002. In their documentation, everything was using the 2001, so that's what I stuck to. The only default setting I modify is to include the document bleed settings check box. Brad @ Roaring Mouse 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

That would do it. Both of those preset write the ancient Acrobat 4 v1.3 format that flattens art. You need at least v1.4 to support transparency effects. I suspect your printer can handle better than that and just haven't updated their documentation.

[Brendan24111036dhr9]

Ok thanks for the details. Let me follow up with them. Appreciate the insight: Brad @ Roaring Mouse 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

As a test, export a new PDF. Select one of the presets, but change Compatibility to Acrobat 5 v1.4. You won't see the stitching lines. That's still an old format these days; The standard these days is to send PDF/X-4. I haven't met even a hacky store front copy shop that can't deal with those.

[rob day · Accepted solution]

Hi @Brendan24111036dhr9 , Stitching artifacts are caused by Display anti-aliasing and would not print in high resolution output where there would be no anti-aliasing.

In Acrobat uncheck Smooth line art in your Page Display>Rendering Preference:

[Mike Bro]

Hello @Brendan24111036dhr9,

Typically those lines are a non issue when it comes to printing, you can verify this by toggling a couple of preference settings in Acrobat. Go to Preferences > General > Page Display > Rendering and toggle the Smooth line art and Smooth images on or off from their current state. If the lines disappear it's just a dispay issue.

Regards,

Mike

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

This is indeed true. When a high-end RIP processes these files, the stitched areas are rendered fine. You can see this yourself by opening your PDF in Photoshop and render it at 1200 ppi (with anti-aliasing off). The stitching lines should not appear.

However, this still doesn't address how people viewing it in other situations experience your great work. It looks crappy having stitching lines all over the place, so you are still better off exporting at at least v1.4.

[Brendan24111036dhr9]

Thanks for all the great details every one. Sorry for the delay, came down with a stomach bug but am still alive!

@Mike Bro @rob day that did indeed remove it, thanks a bunch for the recommendation.

Brad @ Roaring Mouse The digital pdf is exported using interactive pdf. I haven't seen any issues so far, but thanks for calling that out.

Thanks again everyone!

[rob day]

The digital pdf is exported using interactive pdf.

Interactive exports with live transparency (PDF 1.7), so they wouldn’t have the flattening artifacts.