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Sylah
Sylah
Participating Frequently
May 11, 2019
Question

Photoshop pdf files - not printing everything

  • May 11, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 4628 views

I have experienced that when I save my photshop file as a pdf file, people receiving the fil have problems printing it.

What happens is that if they do not select print as image, some of the text or graphic elements simply won't print.

Is there a solution to this that I am unaware of?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    6 replies

    K
    KatePeaslee
    Participant
    February 21, 2024

    I'm having the same problem!  I brought my pdf files - saved from Photoshop - to FEDEX, and over 50% would not print.  I brought them back as jpegs and none opened... I don't currently have Acrobat, and I was wondering if perhaps Adobe does something to force one to buy Acrobat?

     

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 13, 2019

    To avoid confidentiality issues you could create a new file with placeholder text, make sure it also produces the print issues and then provide the file, the pdf and a scan or photograph of the faulty print.

      Sylah
      SylahAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      May 14, 2019

      I actually think I found the answer.

      I DID save incorrectly.

      It seems that I should remove the tics for "Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities" and "Optimize for Fast Web Preview" (in the window in my 3rd picture above), and also remember to save as a copy and not have a tic in "layers" (shown in my 4th picture above).

      Apparently when you save a pdf without remove those tics, the resulting pdf is not a pure pdf format and thus can cause issues when printing out.

        Derek Cross
        Community Expert
        Derek CrossCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 14, 2019

        This wouldn't have occurred if you'd selected (and still should select) PDF/X-4.

          Derek Cross
          Community Expert
          Derek CrossCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 12, 2019

          Print to PDF is the worst way of producing a PDF.

          I suggest this method: In Photoshop select Save As and from the Format drop-down menu select Photoshop PDF. In the next dialogue box (Save Adobe PDF) select from the PDF drop-down Adobe PDF Preset select  PDF/X-4.

          Sylah
          SylahAuthor
          Participating Frequently
          May 12, 2019

          First I merge alle the layers and then I choose flatten image.

          When that is done, I save the image as a pdf as illustrated by the screen shots. I did note that I didn't chose the pdf/x standard you recommended - can this be the issue?

          Yes pdf is a document. I was in the mindset that a printer can differentiate between a document and an image, so I was thinking maybe there was something in the pdf settings that would indicate the same.

          Derek Cross
          Community Expert
          Derek CrossCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 12, 2019

          You state "I know that I have to print the pdf file as print image", as I mentioned create the PDF as I described then use: File > Print to your desktop printer:

          Do you know which application your customer is using to open and print your PDF?

          Sylah
          SylahAuthor
          Participating Frequently
          May 11, 2019

          I know that I have to print the pdf file as print image, so I don't experience the issue myself - but others do.

          What they have computer/ printer wise is unknown to me. The only response I get is that some of the text/ graphic is not printed when they use ordinary print - aka not using the option "print as image".

          I'm slowly thinking that it's because in photoshop I make an image, which I merge and then flatten to use up least amount of space.

          I don't choose any options as such when I save as pdf - I just click ok to everything when I save - so I guess standard pdf settings.

          So I'm thinking that maybe there is an option somewhere in photoshop where I can save the pdf file as a document?

          c.pfaffenbichler
          Community Expert
          c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 12, 2019

          Please post meaningful screenshots including the Layer Panel of the file and provide the resulting pdf.

          So I'm thinking that maybe there is an option somewhere in photoshop where I can save the pdf file as a document?

          A pdf is a document so what is that supposed to mean?

          josephlavine
          Community Expert
          josephlavineCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 11, 2019

          Hi Sylah-

          It would be great if you could provide additonal information as c.pfaffenbicher mentioned.  Perhaps along with the pdf samples, you can include screen captures of your settings.

          best

          c.pfaffenbichler
          Community Expert
          c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 11, 2019

          Could you show an example (pdf and printed result) or can you provide the pdf?

          What are the pdf settings you use when creating the pdf?

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