redacted text when printing PDFs

[ggrossman]

I tried to print a PDF I downloaded from Ilford and most of the text looked like redacted text (see attached). This happened with a bank statement I downloaded also!!! I updated the Adobe Reader but that did not seem to help. Any suggestions for troubleshooting this?  Thanks in advance, Georgette

[Dragon-Fur]

@ggrossman

Assuming you meant Adobe Reader DC:

Reinstall / Update your PDF Reader (Adobe Reader DC / Foxit)

Try / Consider:

Open the file in the 'Reader and Print as an image.

Example:

Open the offending PDF file > File > Print > Advanced > Print the PDF file as an image

If all else fails:

Open the file / page in your favorite browser / program >

Use Snip to create an Image of the "thing that will not print" >

Save the Image on your computer and print the image.

Snipping Tool in Windows 10 / 8 / 7: Tips & Tricks to capture screenshots

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[Georgette1]

Your suggestion--Open the offending PDF file > File > Print > Advanced > Print the PDF file as an image--WORKED!!  Many thanks.

Why does this happen only on certain files?

Also, my husband sent the redacted-looking file from his PC to the same printerS without using this trick and it printed perfectly.

WHY????

Georgette

[Dragon-Fur]

@Georgette1

You are welcome.

I am glad you now have a usuable paper copy of your data.

---

@Georgette1 wrote:

Your suggestion--Open the offending PDF file > File > Print > Advanced > Print the PDF file as an image--WORKED!!  Many thanks.

Why does this happen only on certain files?

Also, my husband sent the redacted-looking file from his PC to the same printerS without using this trick and it printed perfectly.

WHY????

Georgette

---

I don't know the answer to "why".

File Systems differ, that is, everything that is on your computer is not necessarily the same on another computer.

Version of Windows, Fonts, installed program versions, Driver versions, instructions that link together to access and translate the file information, the libraries used to translate the data to the print software, the print software itself -- some, one, a few, or many of these might be different from one computer to another.

The file might have corrupted as it downloaded to your computer -- yes, even more than one time.  Even a tiny "mis-step" in the instructions during the download can result in a file that is not completely "right".

The original file structure (before the file was downloaded) might not be fully compatible with all the little differences on your computer as compared to the original system on which the file was created.

Reference:

Manage Print Output with Print Preview

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Inspires you, provides fresh insight,

Or teaches you something new,

Click the "Thumbs Up" on that Post.

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