Circles with gradiant swatch stroke are "cut off" in some PDF viewers

[Andreas Jansson]

Hi,

Using a gradient swatch as stroke setting on some circles, the left and right "edges" of the circle are cut off, when viewing the exported PDF file in an old PDF viewer, see image.

The circle in the middle is without stroke, and a normal stroke also works fine.

I've tried a number of different settings in the PDF Export settings.

Is there anything to do about this, or are some PDF readers just not made to show gradient strokes? This is an old "Foxit" reader, not updated, so I'm well aware that it might be the cause and that there is no other solution than to upgrade the reader (please, no "smart" comments about that). I just want my pdf files to show up exactly the same no matter the reader, and to ask you if there is any way to use gradient swatches without risking these effects if people have older PDF viewers.

I'm using the built-in export function in InDesign CS6.

The circles show up uncut in Acrobat Pro.

Thanks,

Andreas

[rob day · Accepted solution]

if there is any way to use gradient swatches without risking these effects if people have older PDF viewers.

If this is not going to offset printing you could try a flattened sRGB PDF. Like this where compatibility is Acrobat 4

[Andreas Jansson]

Checking the "Simulate Overprint" made it come out right!

Could you explain why the right and left sides of the circles were cut when using a gradient swatch (built from swatches of Process type, CMYK mode)?

[rob day]

I assume it's because the PDF readers you are using are not capable of handling live transparency. Also, if there's no color management sRGB will provide more consistent color than CMYK