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Applications => Adobe Acrobat => Topic started by: pspdfppdfxhd on November 17, 2017, 10:44:38 AM

Title: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on November 17, 2017, 10:44:38 AM
never really thought about this before...but,

Is there any way to view layers in Acrobat? We got a file today for a product label, from a big agency who have particuar ways of doing things. They put a "transparent" varnish layer in the file from Illustrator in there which wacked out the color.

I was asked to make a color printout so had to bring the file into indd, go into object layer options, turn off the varnish layer and export.

?

Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on November 17, 2017, 10:58:01 AM
Maybe I am missing something but you'd think there would be a way to delete unwanted layers in Acrobat.

Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on November 17, 2017, 10:59:02 AM
Aside from the dreaded opening in Illustrator I mean... :facepalm:
Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on November 17, 2017, 11:00:55 AM
Actually, I did just that, there are no layers in Illustrator but you CAN click them on and off In indd.

Odd.

Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: Just_A_Mac_Guy on November 17, 2017, 11:02:19 AM
Assuming you have a "layered PDF", open in Acrobat and click on the grey space on the left side of the window. you will see a column of icons. Click the one that looks like a stack of papers {layers}. That should give you the ability to turn layers on and off.
Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on November 17, 2017, 11:05:34 AM
boy do I feel stupid!

Always wondered what that was for. Goes to show you, you really CAN learn something new every day!

So if you turn it off and print it, it won't show on the print?
Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: David on November 17, 2017, 11:54:47 AM
set the layer properties to not print (right click )
Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: Joe on November 17, 2017, 12:23:16 PM
Just had a layered PDF this week with version changes on layers. Too bad we don't have the $20,000 license from Kodak for layered PDF's. Could have been a simple job. The way it was though turned out to be a :strangle: moment!!!!!!!!!!11 (Their layers didn't fit the base colors! Dumbasses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11)
Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on November 17, 2017, 02:04:51 PM
IMBECILES!
Title: Re: viewing layers in Acrobat
Post by: swampymarsh on November 23, 2017, 05:27:04 PM
 :deadhorse:
Quote from: pspdfppdfxhd on November 17, 2017, 11:00:55 AMActually, I did just that, there are no layers in Illustrator but you CAN click them on and off In indd.

Odd.

Not odd when you understand the process.

Acrobat "layers" are really called "Optional Content Groups" or OCG. Adobe use the term "layers" as that is more familiar to those with experience in other programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign etc.

When you create a "layered PDF" in these other programs, the resulting PDF has a "layer" as most users would expect, it has the objects stacked/layered over the top of other objects. The PDF "layer" behaves as expected from the source application that created the layers.

However, take into account a PDF that does not contain layers...

You can use a preflight fixup or PitStop Pro to create layers based on the source type (lineart, image, gradient, text).

The result will be a layered PDF with content split according to it's source type – however these "layers" are really OCG! They do not have a layer or stacking order, their position/order does not affect object order (forwards/backwards). Think of them as "content filters".

So the "layers" are not really layers in the traditional sense, which is why other programs such as Illustrator do not see the layers when you open the PDF into Illustrator. This is also why InDesign does recognise the layers, as it has been designed to do so.