: Why is a PDF made with AI showing a faint black ghost outline around some shapes? I am trying to help with an .ai document I did not create. It has multiple layers and when they save as

@Berumen635

Depending on the PDF export settings you're using, it may be due to transparency flattening. This is often apparent when using X-1a, specified by many print providers. If you zoom in to examine, those lines generally disappear (and PROBABLY won't affect press output), but can still be annoying.

One way around this is to create a solid color-filled object (say process white or black), and place it at the very back. In most situations, it should resolve things. You may have to experiment a bit, to get the desired result.

This same process can be applied to InDesign, as well.

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@Eichhorn212

This happens to me in InDesign all the time. Even though the dark lines on the PDF do not print, it is a problem because PDFs are often distributed digitally. This solution should work in Illustrator also:


Put everything that that is raster or has transparency (drop shadows, etc) on one layer.
Turn off all other layers (text, logos, etc) and in Illustrator, open the AI file with Photoshop (In InDesign you will have to export as PDF first and then open in PSD). Save it as PSD and name it something you will remember (I usually add '-flatbg' to the name).
Then you place the new PSD file on new, bottom layer in your original document (turn off old layer you just exported, turn on text /logo layer) and export as PDF.
Whew, it is kinda a pain, but it flattens the background and now you can have a PDF that doesnt have the annoying black lines around certain objects. And the text/logos can still be editable if need be.

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@Sue6373160

These are called "hairlines" and should not show during print. Sometimes these are due to using masks. Also changing your transparency quality settings illustrator can help eliminate these. If you still want to make certain that there will be no problems during printing simply export your Illustrator file as a hi-res TIFF.

Edit:
After re-reading your post this is most definitely because you are putting images into Illustrator, which it is not meant for. I would suggest using either Photoshop or InDesign. Besides being the correct way to work, you will get better results and more control over images if you go this route.

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