Problem while exporting transparent font

[illuise]

Hello,

I try to work with Affinity programs for print design, but I always have one big problem:
The exported PDFs have rasterized/pixeled elments, which should actually be vector elements.
In the example below all font and vector elements that are transparent got rasterized.

I use PDF X3 settings for export.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for your help!

transparency.pdf

[firstdefence]

Welcome to the forum @illuise

We really need the original document, the afdesign, apub or afphoto file depending which app you have used to create this, also which version of the Affinity apps have you used V1 or V2?

At a guess, I'd say you have used a feature that will rasterise the text, such as blend modes, Adjustment layers or a filter. 

[illuise]

I've got the same problem in Publisher 1, Publisher 2, Designer 2
Thanks for your help!

test2.afdesign

[GarryP]

Exporting to PDF/X-3:2003 with “Rasterise: Nothing” gives me all vectors but the opacities have all been set to 100%.
(I noticed that at least one layer had a Blend Gamma of 1.45 (rather than the 2.2 default) but I don’t know if that will make a difference - Note: See note by loukash later in this thread about Blend Gamma and text layers.)

I have a feeling that this issue may be related to this other one:

 

 

Edited January 17, 2023 by GarryP
Added note.

[lacerto]

Obsolete.

[loukash]

32 minutes ago, lacerto said:

If you need to use PDF/X-3 (by request of the printer), but wish to keep all shapes in vector, the only method would be flatten the transparencies manually (e.g. by dividing the transparent regions and then manually applying opaque color values).

Or by using a PDF editor that is capable to convert PDF/X-4 to X-1 or X-3 the "Adobe way". I don't know if there's any 3rd party app though, since I'd still use my Acrobat Pro X for that, but that version doesn't work anymore on MacOS Catalina as required by Affinity v2, so… bummer.

[lacerto]

Obsolete.

[lacerto]

Obsolete.

[loukash]

2 hours ago, GarryP said:

I noticed that at least one layer had a Blend Gamma of 1.45 (rather than the 2.2 default) but I don’t know if that will make a difference.

Text layers have 1.45. That's the standard global setting in Preferences > Tools.

[illuise]

Thank you for your replies. You're right, it worked with PDF/X-4.
But I often need to deliver in X-3 and I don't see any workable solutions for that with Affinty that are not extra time-consuming.

[loukash]

2 hours ago, lacerto said:

llustrator (already at least CS6) can do that

Of course, it's the same PDF engine as Acrobat. I was getting perfect PDF/X-3 directly from AI CS5 even with crazy complex multipage layouts with transparencies à gogo while I was emulating old letterpress look and solid color color overprint without letterpress or solid colors, like in the example I once posted here: 

^ You can't do that with Affinity.  

52 minutes ago, illuise said:

But I often need to deliver in X-3 and I don't see any workable solutions for that with Affinty that are not extra time-consuming.

I tried a few quick things and the best I could come up with would be something like this:

test2_illuise_example_loukash.afdesign

It doesn't take that much time:

1. duplicated the curve characters
2. merged them into one object
3. placed characters as its children

That will at least slightly reduce the antialiased edge on PDF/X-3 export.

Better solution for this exact scenario would be the second example inside the document where I have replaced the individual characters with a conical gradient fill. the rasterized fill will be cropped with vectors and will remain sharp, which is approximately how the Adobe PDF flattener proceeds.
There may be a few more workable solutions.