How to Fix Acrobat Cannot Convert Angled Images from Publisher to PDF
Question details
Users are unable to successfully convert Microsoft Publisher documents to PDF using Adobe Acrobat when the document contains images rotated at custom angles.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Publisher
- Device & OS
- Windows 7
- Scenario
- Attempting to create a PDF from a Microsoft Publisher document that features images rotated at non-standard angles using Acrobat Standard 2017.
- Observed behavior
- The standard text and other content convert normally, but images rotated at specific angles do not render correctly in the resulting PDF when using Acrobat's PDFMaker.
Ensure you have saved the latest version of your Microsoft Publisher document to prevent any accidental loss of layout formatting before trying alternative PDF conversion methods.
Use Microsoft Publisher's Built-in PDF Export Feature
Bypassing the Acrobat PDFMaker plugin and using Publisher's native export functionality ensures that complex rotations and layouts are preserved exactly as they appear on screen.
Recent versions of Adobe Acrobat may lack full support for direct PDF generation via the PDFMaker plugin in Microsoft Publisher. When you export natively, Publisher handles the image rendering itself, correctly translating angled rotations into the final PDF format.
In Microsoft Publisher, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, then select 'Export' from the left-hand menu.
Click on 'Create PDF/XPS Document', and then click the 'Create PDF/XPS' button on the right side of the screen.
Choose your desired save location. Click on the 'Options' button if you need to adjust the print quality (e.g., High Quality Printing or Commercial Press). Finally, click 'Publish' to generate the PDF.
Print to the Adobe PDF Printer
Using the 'Print to PDF' method forces Microsoft Publisher to control how the document's elements are sent to the PostScript engine, often resolving plugin-related glitches.
Use WPS Office for Flawless Document Layouts and PDF Creation
If you frequently encounter layout and PDF conversion issues with your current setup, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides robust layout capabilities and a highly accurate built-in PDF converter that handles rotated images and complex formatting with ease—completely free.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office directly from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Create Your Document: Use WPS Writer or Presentation to build your layout, freely rotating images to any custom angle.
- 3. Export to PDF in One Click: Go to 'Menu' > 'Export to PDF' to seamlessly convert your document without distortion or missing elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat's PDFMaker fail to convert my angled images?
Acrobat's PDFMaker plugin for Microsoft Publisher sometimes struggles with custom image rotations (angles other than 90, 180, or 270 degrees) because newer versions of Acrobat may lack complete integration support for Publisher's specific rendering engine.
Can I change Acrobat settings to fix the image rotation output?
Generally, no. Because Publisher controls how images are sent to the PostScript processor, tweaking Acrobat's internal PDFMaker settings will rarely correct issues with how angled images are rendered. You must rely on Publisher's native export or print tools.
Will using Publisher's native 'Export to PDF' lower my document's image quality?
No, as long as you configure the export options correctly. When selecting 'Create PDF/XPS', click the 'Options' button and ensure you have selected 'Commercial Press' or 'High Quality Printing' to retain the highest possible image resolution.
Does this issue happen with images rotated at exactly 90 degrees?
Typically, standard right-angle rotations (90, 180, and 270 degrees) convert normally without distortion. The conversion failures are most commonly observed when images are rotated at non-standard, custom angles.
