pdf transparency causing print artifacts

pdf transparency causing print artifacts

jdfnnl
Advocate Advocate
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Message 1 of 11

pdf transparency causing print artifacts

jdfnnl
Advocate
Advocate

I have having an issue with pdfs that have partial transparency when imported into AutoCAD. Although this transparency is not apparent when placed over the white background of a sheet in paperspace, the pdfs are still printed with noticeable artifacts that correspond to these transparent areas.

 

2026-02-12 12_29_44-Autodesk AutoCAD 2015 - [6832 Fairfield Drive.dwg].png2026-02-12 12_29_14-6832 Fairfield Dr [Feb-12-26].pdf - [A3.0] - SumatraPDF.png2026-02-12 12_29_06-Autodesk AutoCAD 2015 - [6832 Fairfield Drive.dwg].png2026-02-12 12_29_52-6832 Fairfield Dr [Feb-12-26].pdf - [A3.0] - SumatraPDF.png

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Message 2 of 11

VincentSheehan
Advisor
Advisor

I would reprint/convert the PDFs to a new PDF without transparency.

Vincent Sheehan

Sr. Civil Designer
Poly In 3D Blog

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Message 3 of 11

rosie_lucas1
Autodesk
Autodesk

Hello @jdfnnl ,

Did the information provided by @VincentSheehan help you and answer your question?

If yes, please click on the "Accept Solution" button on the post(s) that solved your problem. This will assist other community users in finding and benefiting from this information.

If not, please do not hesitate to give an update in this thread so all community members receive an update on the progression of your question, and can suggest next steps that may be helpful for you to achieve what you're looking for.

All the best,

Rosie| Community Manager

Rosie | Community Manager
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Message 4 of 11

jdfnnl
Advocate
Advocate

does this mean I need adobe photoshop to convert the pdfs to a non-transparent format?

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Message 5 of 11

jdfnnl
Advocate
Advocate

I looked at the pdf in Photoshop and it has only one layer but is apparently still placed over a transparent background.2026-02-16 20_38_28-Countertop Receptacle-1.pdf @ 25% (Layer 1, RGB_8) _.png

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Message 6 of 11

paullimapa
Mentor
Mentor

If you have a pdf editor like Adobe Acrobat then you can open your pdf file using Acrobat and then flatten it before saving

Bing Videos


Paul Li
IT Specialist
@The Office
Apps & Publications | Video Demos
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Message 7 of 11

jdfnnl
Advocate
Advocate

I tried using photoshop to flatten the pdf into one background layer then save but autocad still recognizes the transparent parts .. maybe I just need to convert the pdf to a raster image.

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Message 8 of 11

BhaskarMurari
Autodesk
Autodesk

Can you share these images / pdf.

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Message 9 of 11

VincentSheehan
Advisor
Advisor

I searched the Whisper Ceiling fan spec sheet. It comes in clear for me.

 

Screenshot 2026-03-03 075120.png

Vincent Sheehan

Sr. Civil Designer
Poly In 3D Blog

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Message 10 of 11

BhaskarMurari
Autodesk
Autodesk

@jdfnnl Was your issue resolved?

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Message 11 of 11

BhaskarMurari
Autodesk
Autodesk
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