PDF made with InDesign prints black background for transparent png from Illustrator

[Greeneyedpainter]

I made a PDF using InDesign 16.0.1 and uploaded it to my online shop.  A customer sent me images that showed when she printed, the background behind my transparent images printed black instead of white so that other than some white fill, the entire page printed black (not a happy customer).

Here's how it was made:

• I made the transparent drawing in Illustrator and exported it as a transparent png file (line drawing). 
• The png file was then placed in Indesign and then exported as a PDF. 

When viewed, the background behind the black line drawing was white.  What would cause it to print with a black background?

I could not recreate the problem with my printer and I don't have information about the preview software used to print the images.  I just don't want this to happen in the future any time I insert a transparent png file into an InDesign document.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Stacey

[BobLevine · Accepted solution]

Why are you using PNG? Just place the AI file.

What you're describing sound like a third party PDF reader messing up the transparency.

[Greeneyedpainter]

Thanks!  I was wondering about the reader since I didn't know how they were opening and printing the file. Also, thanks for the tip about placing the AI file.  I'll have to give that a try. I have multiple artboards in the file and didn't think about being able to do that. 

[Eugene Tyson · Accepted solution]

You'll have to flatten transparency in your PDFs for online - as online PDF  readers, like Foxit, Chrome Reader or any 3rd party PDF readers are not great with transparency.

[Greeneyedpainter]

Thanks for the tip about flattening transparency in my PDFs before uploading!  I will give that a try.