How to Configure Acrobat to Print PDFs as Images via Group Policy
Question details
The user needs to configure Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to print PDF files as images for all users on an RDS server using Group Policy Preferences.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
- Device & OS
- Windows Server / RDS
- Scenario
- Deploying a standardized printing configuration across a Remote Desktop Services (RDS) environment.
- Observed behavior
- Administrators need to enforce the 'Print as Image' setting globally via registry preferences instead of relying on individual user setups.
Ensure you have administrative access to the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and have reviewed Adobe's Windows preference reference for the exact registry data type.
Deploy the 'Print as Image' Registry Value via Group Policy
Use Group Policy Preferences to push the required Acrobat Reader DC registry key to all users on your RDS server.
Instead of looking for a numbered version key, modern Acrobat Reader DC preferences are managed under standard registry synchronization paths.
You must locate the 'Convert from PDF' registry value in Adobe's Enterprise Toolkit documentation to properly enforce this rule.
Consult Adobe's Windows preference reference and advanced configuration documentation. Locate the 'Convert from PDF' entry in the preference synchronization table to get the exact registry path and value.
Log into your Domain Controller or management server, open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), and edit the GPO applied to your RDS server users.
In the Group Policy Management Editor, navigate to User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry.
Right-click on Registry, select New > Registry Item. Input the Hive, Key Path, Value name, and Value data obtained from Adobe's documentation to force printing as an image.
Apply the GPO to a test organizational unit (OU). Log in with a standard user account on the RDS server and print a PDF to verify the setting before applying it server-wide.
Print PDFs as Images Easily with WPS Office
If you are experiencing complex printing issues on remote servers, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with a built-in, easy-to-use 'Print as Image' function for PDF documents.
- 1. Open the PDF File: Launch WPS Office and open your target PDF document.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click the 'Print' icon on the top toolbar or use the Ctrl + P keyboard shortcut.
- 3. Select Print as Image: In the Print dialog box, locate and check the 'Print as Image' option to rasterize the document.
- 4. Execute the Print Job: Click the 'Print' button to send the rasterized image data to your printer, avoiding standard vector rendering issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I need to configure PDFs to print as images?
Printing a PDF as an image bypasses complex font, layer, and vector graphic rendering on the printer's hardware. This often resolves issues where documents print with missing text, formatting errors, or cause the printer spooler to crash.
Why can't I find the Acrobat Reader DC settings under the traditional numbered version key?
Adobe changed its registry structure for continuous release tracks. Settings for Acrobat Reader DC are now typically found under standardized 'DC' preference paths rather than legacy version numbers like 11.0.
Will printing PDFs as images slow down the printing process on an RDS server?
Yes, rasterizing a document into an image significantly increases the file size of the print spool data. This can lead to longer processing times and increased network traffic between the RDS server and the print server.
