PDF Export Without Splitting Layers

[LadyZsaZsa]

I'm very new to Affinity Designer and I'm trying to use it to create tiled, trimless PDF sewing patterns with each size on a different layer. So far, I've got things working ok and it prints out the way I want it.

The problem is with the PDF layers after export. In Designer, I have each size on a separate layer, spread out across multiple slightly overlapping artboards. However, once exported, it seems every layer repeats for each of the pages (i.e. the section of the large object that falls on a particular artboard gets one layer, on the next page it gets a totally new layer). I suppose I could combine them in Adobe Acrobat Pro, but considering there are 16 pages each with 16 sizes, I'd rather not have to sort through and combine 256 different layers.

PLEASE tell me this can be done! I'm hoping this is just my Affinity inexperience showing and something that can be easily fixed. Thanks!!

[stokerg]

Hi @LadyZsaZsaand Welcome to the Forums,

I've been trying to find a way to do this and so far haven't had much luck with my test file.  Could either attach your afdesign file or upload it to our Dropbox here and i'll try with your file and see if i can make any better progress  

[Hangman]

@LadyZsaZsa, which setting do you have selected in the Layers Menu, List Layers for All Pages or List Layers for Visible Pages? If you set it to List Layers for Visible Pages does that remedy the issue?

[LadyZsaZsa]

On 8/26/2022 at 6:09 AM, stokerg said:

Hi @LadyZsaZsaand Welcome to the Forums,

I've been trying to find a way to do this and so far haven't had much luck with my test file.  Could either attach your afdesign file or upload it to our Dropbox here and i'll try with your file and see if i can make any better progress  

Hi, and thank you for replying! I have uploaded the file to the Dropbox. I did manage to successfully merge the layers in Adobe Acrobat Pro, but it was very annoying and way more time-consuming than it probably should be...I would love to hear any suggestions you may have for making it work

[LadyZsaZsa]

On 8/26/2022 at 8:19 AM, Hangman said:

@LadyZsaZsa, which setting do you have selected in the Layers Menu, List Layers for All Pages or List Layers for Visible Pages? If you set it to List Layers for Visible Pages does that remedy the issue?

Hi! You mean in Adobe Acrobat? Unfortunately that doesn't fix the problem...it reduces the number of layers I can see in the TOC at a time, but they are all still separate.