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andrejfavia3
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PDF export causes text to be pixelated (continued)

May 4, 2012 6:33 AM

Alright, what is going on with Adobe's accounts?

 

Apparently Adobe doesn't recognize my username and password for this second account, and when I ask to send a password to my email, I never get the email, so I had to create a third account just to post a thread and update it.   

 

 

 

And what the hell is going on with my original thread?

 

http://forums.adobe.com/thread/988287

 

I can't find a Reply button anywhere to update my question. I just saw it there a few days ago. What happened to that? I can't find for the life of me another way to update my thread! Why is the thread marked (READ ONLY) when my question hasn't been answered yet?

 

You people have to be kidding me! This is seriously the most confusing, bewildering process I have ever had to go through just to ask a question and update it.

 

So that's why I'm creating this new thread. Here is a link to the old one:

 

http://forums.adobe.com/thread/988287

 

 

 

Anyways!

 

Here is the update that I was trying to post for the past week, in that thread, but couldn't:

 

 

 

UPDATE:

I still have not received an answer to my question:

 

How do I export a vector drawing with text in Photoshop to a PDF, such that the text isn't pixelated when I view the PDF?

1476 Views   12 Replies   Latest reply: andrejfavia3, May 10, 2012 2:47 PM
 
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  • Currently Being Moderated
    1. Marian Driscoll,
    May 4, 2012 7:24 AM   in reply to andrejfavia3
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    Adobe closed the forum in which you originally posted because it was for prerelease/beta software. As the software has graduated from the incubation of  "Adobe Labs", you can post here now.

     

    As a general rule of thumb, it is easier to get a response by narrowing your topic. Both this post and your original post included extraneous distractions from your interest in PDF export.

     

    The first tip is to not print to PDF.

     

    The "High Quality Print" Adobe PDF preset should give you what you need in PS CS5. If CS6 behaves differently, then you may have a bug.

     
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  • andrejfavia3
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    2. andrejfavia3,
    May 4, 2012 7:56 AM   in reply to Marian Driscoll
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    Unfortunately I have to use PDF, because I need the file to be infinitely resolved when I zoom in as much as I want (no pixelation).

     

    I'm afraid that PDF export didn't work in Photoshop CS 5 either.

    I'm using a lab computer with Photoshop CS 5.1, and I did what you told me (High Quality export), and that didn't work.

    In fact, both the graphics and the text appear pixelated.

    I turned off all the compressions and bicubic. That didn't work.

    That's two computers I've tried it on.

    What combination was I supposed to use?

     

     

    Also: the "Reply" button did not show up when I logged in and viewed this thread. What am I supposed to do if I can't see the reply button?

     
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  • Shan-Dysigns
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    3. Shan-Dysigns,
    May 4, 2012 8:08 AM   in reply to andrejfavia3
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    If you have any faux text effects, that won't render as vector.

     

    Without looking at your .psd, there could be any number of reasons your .pdf isn't rendered properly.

     

    You can send me your .psd if you want.

     
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  • Mylenium
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    4. Mylenium,
    May 4, 2012 8:08 AM   in reply to andrejfavia3
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    Unfortunately I have to use PDF, because I need the file to be infinitely resolved when I zoom in as much as I want (no pixelation).

     

    But then again, why do it in Photoshop in the first place? You are using the most unsuitable tool I can think of to produce guaranteed vector-based output. The standard answer we use in the Illustrator forum a lot is: If it gets rasterized, then there is some appearance that makes the programm think it can only retain the look by converting to pixels. Contrary to what you think, just drawing it out as vectors doesn't guarantee vector output. There is any number of things that could be going on, so unless you tell us more about your setup and what PDF export options you actually use, this is an pretty unproductive discussion, but some of the common caveats are:

     

    - you may not be allowed to embed the fonts

    - you may have formatted the text with custom options

    - your vector shapes may overlap in a way, that there is no way to calculate holes and self-intersections on paths within the PDF spec

    - any number of issues with things involving transparencies and blending modes, including layer styles, partial opacities, adjustment layers

    - nesting of layers/ paths in general

     

    Again, without seeing what exactly you are doing, it's impossible to advise, but as a start check those things.

     

    Mylenium

     
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  • andrejfavia3
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    5. andrejfavia3,
    May 4, 2012 8:43 AM   in reply to Shan-Dysigns
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    As far as I can see, I can't send a Photoshop file to you, because I don't see a way to upload Photoshop files in private messages.

     

    Allegedly I can attach an image (which I assume means JPG, GIF, etc.), a video, a link, and an emoticon, but I don't see a way to attach a generic file.

     

    The same seems to be true here in the forums.

     

     

    To others:

    I am not using partial transparency. I am using standard fonts. I don't see any custom options for the text. I don't see any overlapping vectors. I don't see any special blending modes in my layers. I had a choice of using Photoshop or NeoOffice, but NeoOffice does not place elements where they should belong to the precision that I need (e.g. one pixel), and I am not sure what other program to use to create vector drawings. What else would you recommend?

     
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  • Shan-Dysigns
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    6. Shan-Dysigns,
    May 4, 2012 8:51 AM   in reply to andrejfavia3
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    Look at my profile, there is an email address, email the .psd to that. If the .psd is larger than 10MB, then (if you can) upload the file to either a server (f you have access to one), or use one of the many online services out there that allows you to send files.

     
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  • Currently Being Moderated
    7. Marian Driscoll,
    May 4, 2012 11:07 AM   in reply to andrejfavia3
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    andrejfavia3 wrote:

     

    ...does not place elements where they should belong to the precision that I need (e.g. one pixel), and I am not sure what other program to use to create vector drawings....

    Why do you need one pixel precision with a vector drawing? Pixels are not relevant in vector art.

     

    Alternative vector programs include Adobe Illustrator ($) and Inkscape (Free, GPL).

     

     

    andrejfavia3 wrote:

     

    Unfortunately I have to use PDF...

    I did not say that you should not use PDF. I said that you should not print to PDF. You should only save to PDF. I guess I was not clear.

     
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  • andrejfavia3
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    8. andrejfavia3,
    May 9, 2012 3:09 PM   in reply to Shan-Dysigns
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    I don't see your email address in your profile. When I go to your profile, I see the following:

     

     

    I don't see "Send email" or an email address anywhere. I looked all over.

     

    And when I click on the Send private message link, I see buttons for adding everything except a file.

     

    Where is your email link on your profile?

     
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  • andrejfavia3
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    9. andrejfavia3,
    May 10, 2012 10:00 AM   in reply to andrejfavia3
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    Alright I worked it out with Shan. Apparently the problem was that if I choose to bolden some text, then I have to use a separate bold font TTF, rather than a boldening style from the text options. I had no idea what a "faux effect" or "faux" means.

     

    I don't understand why Adobe can't just fix it so that if I want bold text, I can still have that exported to high-res.

     

     

    One more thing before I close the thread: How do I turn off all these million and one email notifications? I don't want my inbox filling up with messages saying "Hey, someone responded!"

     
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  • Shan-Dysigns
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    10. Shan-Dysigns,
    May 10, 2012 10:09 AM   in reply to andrejfavia3
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    I don't understand why Adobe can't just fix it so that if I want bold text, I can still have that exported to high-res.

     

    There is nothing to fix. If you want bold text (as I have told you in emails), you just need to choose that option in the font variant drop down. If the font you want to use doesn't have a bold (or whatever variant), then look online to see if there is one available. If not, and you are strict about using a particular font, you can convert that font to a shape, the individually edit each character by expanding it (or you could do it easier in Illustrator by using "expand fill") - but your best bet is to just use the font varient instead of faux (which means fake) font effects. All those faux effects will not export with vector data.

     

    How do I turn off all these million and one email notifications?

     

    If you are viewing this thread online, at the top of the thread, click on "stop email notifications". The panel is on the right side of screen.

     
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  • Mike Ornellas
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    11. Mike Ornellas,
    May 10, 2012 12:45 PM   in reply to Mylenium
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    Photoshop is a raster application. Text created in Photoshop is still raster data with a vector shape that is defined. You will always get raster text unless the recieving application or device supports vector shapes and retains them as such.

     
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  • andrejfavia3
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    12. andrejfavia3,
    May 10, 2012 2:47 PM   in reply to Mike Ornellas
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    Alright I think we can close the thread.

     
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