How to Fix Acrobat Pro Omitting Text When Printing a PDF
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where random portions of text are missing when printing a PDF file using Acrobat Pro.
- Product
- Acrobat Pro, PDF
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Printing a PDF document that contains text, comments, or multiple layers from professional PDF software.
- Observed behavior
- Random text segments are completely omitted on the physical printout, even though the same document displays properly on screen and prints correctly from alternative viewers like macOS Preview or Google Chrome.
Verify your printer connection and driver status, and keep a backup copy of your original PDF document before modifying any layer configurations or font embedding settings.
Use the Print As Image Feature
Printing the PDF as an image forces the printer to process the page exactly as it appears on the screen, bypassing complex rendering issues caused by unembedded fonts or specific Adobe overprint settings.
This is often the quickest and most reliable workaround for printing issues in Acrobat Pro where elements randomly disappear. By rasterizing the document, Acrobat stops sending individual text and layer commands to the printer, ensuring the physical copy matches the digital preview.
Launch your PDF document in Acrobat Pro and go to File > Print, or press Cmd + P on your keyboard.
Click on the 'Advanced' button located near the top right of the Print dialog box.
In the Advanced Print Setup dialog, check the box for 'Print As Image'. Click OK to confirm.
Click the Print button to send the document to your printer. Verify if the omitted text now appears correctly on the page.
Adjust Print Settings for Comments and Layers
Ensure that Acrobat Pro is configured to print all document layers and comments, as these are sometimes disabled by default for physical printing.
Fix Unembedded Fonts and Overprint Settings
Check for unembedded fonts and correct overprint configurations that may be causing text masking.
Print PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Acrobat Pro continues to omit text or struggle with rendering settings during printing, try using WPS Office. Its built-in PDF tool provides highly compatible, accurate WYSIWYG printing without complex layer or overprint configuration, ensuring what you see on screen is exactly what prints.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Download WPS Office from the official website and complete the quick installation process on your device.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and drag your problematic PDF document into the workspace to open it.
- 3. Access the Print Menu: Click the Print icon on the top toolbar or press Cmd/Ctrl + P.
- 4. Configure Print Options: Ensure 'Print content' is set to 'Document and Annotations' if your text is part of comments.
- 5. Print the Document: Click Print. WPS Office will process the document and send it accurately to your printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF print properly from Chrome but omit text in Acrobat Pro?
Browsers like Google Chrome and basic viewers like macOS Preview use simplified PDF rendering engines. They often ignore complex Adobe-specific settings, such as non-printing layers, unembedded fonts, or overprint rules, forcing all visible content to print. Acrobat Pro strictly enforces these document settings, which can lead to omitted text.
How can I tell if my PDF contains unembedded fonts?
In Acrobat Pro, open the PDF and go to File > Properties, then select the Fonts tab. This menu lists all the fonts used in the document. If a font is properly embedded, it will say '(Embedded)' or '(Embedded Subset)' next to the font name. If not, it may cause printing issues.
What exactly does the 'Print as Image' feature do?
The 'Print as Image' feature rasterizes the entire PDF page—turning text, layers, and vector graphics into a single flat image file—before sending it to the printer. This avoids processing complex text data or font instructions that frequently cause missing elements during the printing process.
