# pdf layers diappearing... wtf?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034 "2009-02-01T22:13:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/1 "2009-02-01T22:13:05Z")
I thought the whole point of .pdf files was you create a document and you know it’ll be the same layout and format wherever it’s looked at, as long as the end user has a .pdf reader. It’s worked great for years. Until now. Apparently Adobe got all “clever” and started adding options to .pdf’s and now this tried-and-true format is showing brand new bugs. Specifically, I’m trying to save a Photoshop CS4 file as a straightforward .pdf file. Should be simple. “Save as.” But pdf is no longer an option. Now it’s called a “photoshop pdf” and I’m not sure why. It even gives the option of saving individual layers. [rant] I don’t want LAYERS. If I wanted LAYERS that can be individually edited, I’d save the stupid file as a… wait for it… PHOTOSHOP file! Sheesh. I want a simple PDF that just works from computer to computer. That I can trust. That I can have my partners look at, approve, and send to a printer halfway across the country knowing he’ll have the same images I sent over. But nooooooo. Even though I turned the layers option OFF, something’s buggy. On my computer, everything is fine. I open the .pdf in Acrobat and see the entire layout of the graphic. But as soon as I email it to my business partner, he opens it and it’s missing several layers. I don’t believe him, so he takes a screen grab and emails it back. Yup. PDF files no longer show everything you want them to like they used to. [/rant.] OK. Now for the questions. 1 – how do I save a Photoshop CS4 file (Mac) as a pdf so that I am 100% certain the entire graphic exists in the pdf. That all the layers are there. That all the layers that I see on my end actually transfer across the internet to my partner’s computer. 2 – is assassinating the folks who broke this thing illegal? Or will “duh, it had to be done to save the world from idiots” serve as a legitimate and winning legal defense? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/2 "2009-02-01T23:10:07Z")
I hear ya loud and clear and can only offer a fast & simple work-around: Flatten the entire PSD before saving out as a PDF. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/3 "2009-02-01T23:13:25Z")
Yeah that’ll be my last resort. But I’ve got a LOT of files to do this to, and even with actions, it’ll take double the time. If I have to, I will. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/4 "2009-02-01T23:33:03Z")
Apple’s main concern is to keep you using software they have a format monopoly on. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/5 "2009-02-01T23:53:32Z")
Uh… this is Adobe software. Not Apple. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/6 "2009-02-02T00:01:23Z")
Update. My partner tried the card in several viewing apps now. Photoshop: worked. Acrobat reader: worked. Apple’s Preview application – missing layers. So now pdf files don’t work in all pdf readers. cue: sound of me slamming Adobe’s virtual head into the pavement. Repeat over and over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/7 "2009-02-02T00:35:35Z")
> [@filmyak](#): > > Uh… this is Adobe software. Not Apple. Sorry. Brain glitch. Adobe’s main concern is to keep you using software they have a format monopoly on. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/8 "2009-02-02T02:09:54Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Sorry. Brain glitch. > > Adobe’s main concern is to keep you using software they have a format monopoly on. LOL. Agreed! ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/9 "2009-02-02T04:07:53Z")
Haven’t had a chance to check out CS4 yet, but… have you had a look to see if you can print to .pdf rather than “save as”? ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdf-layers-diappearing-wtf/484034/10 "2009-02-02T04:51:06Z")
Yes you can, but… It assumes a printout the size of a piece of paper. I want to send this to a professional printer and the pdf is the exact perfect size when done via “save as” – no blank paper border around it. I guess I can adjust paper size in the print dialogue, but this all becomes a series of workarounds to get back to what used to be a working format. I think I’m gonna have to double the steps required at this point and just flatten the images. Time to suck it up and curse Adobe under my breath.