PDF Printing Issues

How to Fix Thin Lines Around PDF Graphics When Printing

Olivia Miller Nov 3, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing unwanted thin lines or boxes surrounding graphics when printing PDF documents.

Product: PDF Reader / Editor
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a PDF document that contains graphics, often noticed after viewing the file in editing mode.
Observed behavior: Thin lines or bounding boxes that are normally only visible in editing mode appear on the final printed document.

Before you start

Ensure your printer drivers are fully up to date and check the print preview to see if the lines appear digitally before sending the document to the printer.

Solution 1Recommended

Test with an Alternative Printer or Workflow

Determine if the issue is caused by the printer's rendering process rather than the PDF file itself.

Often, lines around graphics are caused by a specific printer's inability to correctly render transparency or layers in the PDF page description.

Print to a different printer

Send the PDF file to a completely different physical printer to see if the lines persist.

Use Print as Image

In your PDF reader's print dialog, click on 'Advanced' and select 'Print as Image'. This forces the printer to process the page as a single flattened graphic, bypassing transparency rendering bugs.

Test with an Alternative Printer or Workflow

Processing Time: Using the 'Print as Image' feature may cause the document to take slightly longer to process and print.

Solution 2

Flatten PDF Transparency Before Printing

Resolve rendering issues by manually flattening unsupported transparent objects in the PDF.

Print PDFs seamlessly

Print PDFs flawlessly with WPS Office

Avoid rendering glitches and formatting errors by using WPS Office to manage, edit, and print your PDF files. Its advanced rendering engine handles transparency and graphic layers effectively to ensure a clean printout.

1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your problematic PDF document.
2. Access Print Settings: Press Ctrl + P or click the Print icon on the top toolbar to open the print dialog.
3. Configure Advanced Options: Check for advanced rendering settings, or select the option to print as an image if your printer struggles with layers.
4. Print Document: Click 'Print' to get a clean physical document without unwanted bounding boxes around your graphics.

Advanced PDF printing with robust 'Print as Image' supportHigh compatibility with standard PDF graphics and transparent layersLightweight application for fast document renderingExcellent Microsoft Office format compatibility for seamless workflow

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do boxes appear around images in my PDF when printing?

This is often caused by transparency flattening issues where the printer's rendering engine fails to properly process the transparent background of an image or a layered graphic, resulting in a thin hairline or box.

How can I remove bounding boxes in Acrobat Edit PDF mode?

Bounding boxes are a normal part of the editing interface indicating selectable objects. To view the document without them, exit the editing mode and switch to the standard viewing or reading mode.

Does 'Print as Image' reduce print quality?

It can slightly reduce text sharpness because fonts and vector shapes are converted to pixels. However, you can usually adjust the DPI resolution settings in the advanced print menu to maintain high quality while fixing graphic glitches.

Will updating my printer driver fix PDF printing lines?

Yes, manufacturers frequently release driver updates that fix specific page description language bugs, including how gradients and transparencies are rendered on paper.

PDF Troubleshooting