How to Set Print as Image as Default in Acrobat DC
Question details
Administrators need a way to globally enable the Print as Image option by default for all users in a virtual desktop environment.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC 2020
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Configuring enterprise-wide printing defaults for a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to prevent PDF rendering errors.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat currently requires individual users to manually check the Print as Image option in the advanced print settings, which needs to be automated.
Before modifying system registries or Group Policies, ensure you have administrative privileges and always test the registry changes on a non-production virtual machine first.
Use Group Policy and Enterprise Registry Preferences
Configure enterprise-wide printing preferences using Group Policy Objects (GPO) based on Adobe's enterprise deployment guidelines.
Because the exact registry keys vary depending on the specific Acrobat DC build and track (Continuous vs. Classic), administrators must reference the official Adobe Enterprise Deployment Toolkit.
Applying this configuration via GPO ensures that 'Print as Image' is enforced for all users in the virtual desktop environment without requiring manual intervention during each print job.
Review the Adobe Acrobat Enterprise Toolkit (ETK) Preference Reference documentation to locate the specific registry keys corresponding to your Acrobat Pro DC 2020 track.
Locate the appropriate registry path (typically under HKCU\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\2020) and create or modify the DWORD value associated with advanced printing defaults to force the Print as Image behavior.
Open the Group Policy Management Console and create a new Registry Preference item targeting the specific Organizational Unit (OU) where your virtual desktop users reside.
Log in with a test user account, open a PDF in Acrobat DC, click Print, open the Advanced settings, and verify that 'Print As Image' is checked by default.
Print PDFs as Images Effortlessly in WPS Office
If configuring complex enterprise registries in Acrobat is tedious, try WPS Office. WPS PDF provides a lightweight, highly compatible PDF reader with an easy-to-use 'Print as Image' function to prevent font and rendering issues natively.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your target PDF document using the built-in WPS PDF editor.
- 2. Access the Print Menu: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Print', or press 'Ctrl + P' on your keyboard.
- 3. Select Print as Image: In the Print dialog box, check the 'Print as Image' option to ensure all complex graphics, layers, and fonts are rasterized.
- 4. Print the Document: Click the 'Print' button to send the rasterized document to your printer, avoiding typical spooling or font errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do administrators need to set Print as Image as the default?
In virtual desktop environments, or when printing documents with complex fonts and graphics, standard printing might cause spooling errors or missing elements. Printing as an image rasterizes the document, bypassing these specific hardware and rendering issues.
Can individual users enable Print as Image manually in Acrobat?
Yes. Users can press Ctrl+P to open the Print dialog, click the 'Advanced' button at the top, and check the 'Print As Image' box. However, without administrative GPO enforcement, this must be done manually.
Where can I find the exact registry keys for my version of Acrobat Pro DC?
The precise registry paths and values are documented in the Adobe Acrobat Enterprise Toolkit (ETK) Preference Reference. The exact path depends on whether your installation is on the Continuous, Classic 2020, or Classic 2017 track.
