Export PDF without layers

[Gideon S]

Hi, I am trying to export a pdf from Publisher without the layers being visible in the PDF. In Adobe, when I export a PDF it has an option "Show Acrobat Layer"--without this box checked, the layers do not show up in a PDF. Is there any way to prevent layers from showing up in the layers panel of a PDF document?

[Joachim_L]

Welcome to the Affinity forums @Gideon S!

2 hours ago, Gideon S said:

Is there any way to prevent layers from showing up in the layers panel of a PDF document?

When you click on the More button in the export dialogue, you get some more options including Include Layers. With this unchecked, there will be no layers in Acrobat anymore.

I have to admit, that it is a bit confusing, that there is a Layers panel having elements inside and even with Include Layers checked, they eventually do not show up as layers in Acrobat. You have to hit the Add Layer button from the Layers panel or use New Layer from the Layer menu, move the elements into these layers to see them in Acrobat.

I hope this was not misleading?

[lacerto]

3 hours ago, Gideon S said:

Is there any way to prevent layers from showing up in the layers panel of a PDF document?

In the More options accessible from the Export to PDF dialog box, there is "Include Layers" option that is by default checked in digital exports and "PDF (print)" and "PDF (for print)" and "PDF (for export)" presets, but can be turned off to not have "Layer" layers to be exported as PDF layers. It is turned off for PDF/X-1a:2003 and PDF/X-3 (and cannot be turned on, which is correct), and "PDF (press ready)" (where it can be turned on, if wanted). 

Note that there is a bug in the current versions, which causes Layer layers to be included as PDF layers when you export using PDF/X-4 method, without a possibility to turn off the option so if you have to export using this method, you either need to change the layout so that you change the "Layer" layers to groups (if you want to maintain the object hierachy of your design), or use a 3rd party app to flatten the layers in the exported PDF.

[user_0815]

It depends on the export settings. For example using PDF/X-4 you cannot flatten all layers at export as far as I know.

I had the same question recently and my solution was to remove all "Layer" layers within the afpup document. You can still use groups to organise in the layers panel but not "Layers".

[Gideon S]

Hmm...I know I checked the more options and didn't find the layers option--Adobe has it but I can't find it in Publisher. I'm not around my computer for a few days, but I'll have to check again, maybe I'm missing it.

[walt.farrell]

3 hours ago, Gideon S said:

Hmm...I know I checked the more options and didn't find the layers option--Adobe has it but I can't find it in Publisher. I'm not around my computer for a few days, but I'll have to check again, maybe I'm missing it.

At the bottom of the More... options while exporting to PDF:

[Gideon S]

Thanks for the help. I finally found it. I didn’t realize you could scroll down for more export options!