Fix Missing Image and Uneven Table Borders in Word-to-PDF Conversions
Question details
Users experience disappearing image borders and irregularly displayed table lines after converting a Word document to a PDF file.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Microsoft Word 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting Word documents containing tables and bordered images into PDF format for sharing or printing.
- Observed behavior
- Upon opening the converted PDF, thin table borders appear uneven or distorted, and image borders are completely missing.
Ensure that the borders are correctly applied, formatted, and clearly visible in the original Microsoft Word document before troubleshooting your PDF viewer settings.
Disable the Enhance Thin Lines Option in Acrobat
This display setting in Adobe Acrobat can sometimes distort thin table lines and hide image borders on your screen. Turning it off restores the correct visual rendering.
Often, the PDF conversion itself is perfectly fine. The issue lies within Adobe Acrobat's screen rendering preferences, which attempts to make thin lines more visible on digital displays but can inadvertently cause visual anomalies like uneven tables.
Launch Adobe Acrobat, click on the "Edit" menu at the top, and select "Preferences" from the dropdown list (or press Ctrl+K).
In the left-hand navigation pane of the Preferences window, click on "Page Display" under the Categories section.
Locate the "Rendering" section in the main panel and uncheck the box labeled "Enhance thin lines".
Click "OK" at the bottom of the window to apply your changes. Close your PDF document and reopen it to view the borders correctly.
Convert Word to PDF Perfectly with WPS Office
Avoid third-party rendering glitches by using WPS Office's built-in PDF conversion tool. It natively preserves table borders, image formatting, and overall document layout flawlessly with just one click.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office Writer and open the Word document that contains your tables and images.
- 2. Access Export Tool: Click on the "Menu" button in the top-left corner of the interface.
- 3. Select Export to PDF: Choose "Export to PDF" from the dropdown list to open the conversion dialogue box.
- 4. Save the PDF: Review your save destination and click "Export to PDF" to instantly generate a perfectly formatted PDF file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do table borders look uneven in PDF but normal in Microsoft Word?
This is typically caused by the PDF reader's screen rendering settings. Features like 'Enhance thin lines' attempt to make faint lines more visible on digital displays but often overcompensate, making uniform borders look uneven or distorted on screen.
Does turning off 'Enhance thin lines' affect how the document prints?
No. The 'Enhance thin lines' option is strictly a screen display setting in your PDF viewer. It changes how the PDF is rendered on your computer monitor but has absolutely no effect on how the document prints on paper.
How can I prevent table borders from disappearing during future PDF conversions?
To prevent viewer-dependent rendering issues, try using slightly thicker border lines (e.g., 1pt or higher) in your original Word document. Alternatively, use a reliable built-in PDF exporter like the one found in WPS Office to ensure the document structure is flawlessly embedded.
