PDF documents are more complex than they look. When you convert a document that had transparent objects such as images into PDF files, the transparent images are processed in many small fragments in the PDF.

For example, converting a word document that may have contained a transparent GIF to PDF. This is not limited to transparent graphics but could also be a result of hidden texts, signatures, and other invisible layers. This processing can increase the file size of the PDF, which can cause printing problems. This issue is essentially not caused by Casedo but rather the process that went into creating the PDF before importing it to your bundle.

In most cases, the solution to this would be to ‘flatten’ your document. This process removes transparent texts and objects and converts them to a format that the printer can interpret.

• Mac – open the PDF in Preview and select File > Export as PDF.
• Windows – download and install PDF WIZ – it is free and not to be confused with PDF Expert (though this may have the same functionality, I haven’t tested it). Click HERE for more on how to flatten your documents for free.
  

If you have an Adobe Acrobat DC Pro license you can use the “Use print production” toolset to flatten PDFs.

Failing the above, you can simply print the document to PDF, that will probably lose any embedded bookmarks, but will flatten the document.

In both cases above you will produce a marginally bigger PDF than the original which is searchable and can be used in Casedo without issue. However, the Mac solution removes any embedded bookmarks, whilst the Windows solution keeps them.

N.B. ‘Flattening’ a document cannot be undone. You may want to make a copy of your document before consulting to this procedure.

We understand this is a cumbersome process, and we are working very hard to include a pdf optimise function within Casedo itself in upcoming releases!

For a more general overview of flattening PDF documents take a look at How to Flatten a PDF for Better Performance and Compatibility.