Fix Incorrect Page Size When Sending PostScript to Distiller in Photoshop
Question details
The user experiences an issue where custom page sizes are lost, defaulting to an 8.5-by-11-inch format, when sending a PostScript file from Adobe Photoshop to Acrobat Distiller.
- Product
- Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat Distiller
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a PDF with custom page dimensions from a Photoshop design via the print workflow.
- Observed behavior
- The custom page formats are not passed correctly through the PostScript print workflow, resulting in an incorrect 8.5 x 11 inch default page size when opened in Distiller.
Verify the exact canvas and document dimensions in your original Photoshop file before initiating any PDF conversion.
Use the Save As PDF Command in Photoshop
Directly saving your Photoshop file as a PDF bypasses the PostScript print workflow, reliably preserving your custom page dimensions.
When you print to PDF, the application generates a PostScript file that is then processed by Distiller. During this handoff, custom page boundaries defined in the application are often dropped, causing Distiller to fall back to its default Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches). By bypassing the printing process and saving natively, the page geometry is maintained.
Launch Adobe Photoshop and open the document you wish to convert to PDF.
Click on 'File' in the top menu bar, then select 'Save As' from the dropdown menu (or press Ctrl+Shift+S / Cmd+Shift+S).
In the Save As dialog box, click on the 'Format' dropdown menu and select 'Photoshop PDF'.
Click 'Save'. In the subsequent Adobe PDF preset dialog, configure your desired compression and output settings, then click 'Save PDF' to generate the file with its accurate custom dimensions.
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While highly specialized graphic design requires tools like Photoshop, everyday document creation, PDF management, and formatting are much simpler with a dedicated office suite. WPS Office offers a powerful, lightweight alternative with robust native PDF handling capabilities.
- 1. Download and install: Get the free WPS Office installer from the official website and complete the setup on your computer.
- 2. Open the PDF Toolkit: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab on the homepage to access dedicated viewing and editing tools.
- 3. Manage your PDFs: Open any existing PDF to adjust page sizes, edit text, or convert the document directly to Word, Excel, or image formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat Distiller default to 8.5 x 11 inches?
Acrobat Distiller defaults to a standard Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) when the incoming PostScript file does not explicitly define custom page boundary settings. This frequently occurs when applications send print data rather than exporting native PDF parameters.
Can I force a custom page size directly within Acrobat Distiller?
Yes. Open Distiller, navigate to Settings > Edit Adobe PDF Settings, and modify the Default Page Size under the General tab to match your required dimensions before processing the PostScript file.
What is the difference between Print to PDF and Save as PDF?
Printing to PDF generates an intermediary PostScript file that strips out advanced application-specific features and sometimes custom geometry. 'Save as PDF' uses native export libraries, keeping dimensions accurate and preserving elements like layers and live text.
