How to Fix Numbers Turning Black When Editing or Printing a PDF
Question details
Specific characters, such as numbers or the letter O, appear as solid black boxes when editing or printing a PDF document.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing text within a PDF or sending the PDF document to a physical printer.
- Observed behavior
- Numbers and characters are blacked out or replaced by solid black blocks, rendering the document text illegible.
Determine if the black boxes appear on your computer screen while editing or only on the physical paper after printing, as this helps isolate whether it is a software rendering issue or a printer driver problem.
Print the PDF as an Image
Bypass font rendering issues and printer driver conflicts by sending the document to the printer as a flattened image.
When your printer fails to recognize the embedded fonts in a PDF, it may substitute them with black boxes. Printing the document as an image forces the printer to process the page visually rather than reading individual text characters.
Open your problematic PDF document and press Ctrl + P (or Cmd + P on Mac) to open the print settings.
Look for an 'Advanced' button or an 'Options' tab located near the printer properties in the dialog box.
Check the box labeled 'Print as Image'. Click OK to save the setting, and then click Print to test the output.
Flatten the PDF Document
Merge all layers, interactive elements, and fonts into a single layer to prevent rendering glitches.
Fix PDF Font Issues with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a highly compatible PDF editor that accurately renders fonts and handles complex PDF layers. Whether you are editing text or printing documents, WPS PDF ensures your numbers and letters display perfectly without blacking out.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and drag your problematic PDF file into the workspace to open it.
- 2. Verify Text Rendering: Navigate to the Edit tab and scroll through your document to ensure all text, numbers, and letters are correctly recognized without black boxes.
- 3. Print Flawlessly: Go to Menu > Print, configure your printer settings, and print the document with accurate formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do letters and numbers look like black boxes when I print a PDF?
This usually happens due to corrupted fonts, missing embedded fonts in the PDF file, or a miscommunication between your PDF software and the printer driver. The printer substitutes the unrecognizable characters with solid black placeholder boxes.
How can I fix blacked-out text without losing document quality?
To maintain text quality, try updating your printer drivers. If you created the original document (e.g., in Microsoft Word), ensure you check the 'Embed fonts in the file' option before exporting or saving it as a PDF.
Does printing a PDF as an image use more printer ink?
No, printing a text document as an image does not use significantly more ink. However, it may take slightly longer for your printer to process the file because the data size sent over the network or cable is much larger.
