How to Fix Specific PDFs Failing to Print in Adobe Acrobat DC
Question details
Specific PDF files produce printing errors in Adobe Acrobat DC, while other PDF documents print perfectly fine.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Attempting to print certain PDF files results in failure, even after reinstalling the application, updating drivers, and testing alternative printer drivers.
- Observed behavior
- The print job fails or errors out only for specific PDF files, indicating an issue isolated to the content or structure of those particular documents.
Ensure your printer is turned on, connected securely to your PC, and has sufficient paper and ink. Try printing a test page or a plain text document first to rule out any general hardware or connection issues.
Print the Affected PDF as an Image
Bypass damaged fonts, complex transparency layers, and corrupt structural elements by sending the PDF to the printer as a flattened image.
When a PDF contains intricate layering or corrupted data, the printer's processor can fail to interpret the document correctly. Forcing Adobe Acrobat to render the file as a flat image before sending it to the printer is the most reliable workaround for file-specific printing errors.
Open the problematic PDF file in Adobe Acrobat DC. Click on 'File' in the top menu bar and select 'Print'.
In the Print dialog box, locate and click the 'Advanced' button near the top right.
Check the box next to 'Print As Image'. You can leave the default resolution settings as they are. Click 'OK' to apply.
Click the 'Print' button at the bottom of the dialog box to print the flattened file.
Resave the PDF File
Use the Save As function to rewrite the document's internal structure and clear minor corruption.
Use Acrobat Preflight to Fix Damaged Objects
Utilize Acrobat's built-in print production tools to analyze the PDF and automatically repair structural issues.
Print Complex PDFs Smoothly with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to struggle with specific PDF structures, try opening and printing your files using WPS Office. Its robust and lightweight PDF reader often effortlessly handles complex or slightly corrupted PDF files without throwing rendering errors.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your Windows 10 PC.
- 2. Open the PDF: Right-click the PDF file that failed to print, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office.
- 3. Access Print Settings: Click the 'Print' icon in the upper toolbar or press the 'Ctrl + P' shortcut.
- 4. Print the Document: Select your target printer from the dropdown menu and click 'Print' to complete the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do only specific PDFs fail to print while others work?
This happens when specific PDF files contain corrupted data, unsupported fonts, complex transparency layers, or damaged structural objects that your printer's processing engine struggles to interpret, even if the application and drivers are functioning normally.
Does printing a PDF as an image reduce the quality of the document?
Printing as an image may slightly reduce the crispness of text compared to standard vector-based printing, but it generally retains high enough quality for reading and successfully bypasses the complex rendering errors causing the print failure.
How do I know if my printer driver or the PDF file is causing the problem?
If you can print most PDFs, Word documents, and test pages perfectly fine, and reinstalling or updating printer drivers doesn't resolve the issue for a specific document, the problem is highly likely isolated to the internal structure of that particular PDF file.
Can converting the PDF to another format help fix printing issues?
Yes. Exporting the problematic PDF to a Word document (.docx) or converting it entirely into an image format (like JPG or PNG) and printing that new file can often bypass the PDF-specific rendering bugs.
