Export as PDF(for print) rasterizes everything

[toth]

I use Export as PDF(for print) all day, because I design colorboxes, labels, hangtags etc - 99% of the time it's fine, and all text and shapes is kept vector.

But for a specific brand it keeps being rasterized(without me knowing), and I get it returned from the customer. Have to export again but change settings to "rasterize nothing"(normally not needed).

Does anyone know why this typically happens?

[lacerto]

Three major reasons:

1) You have used an FX effect on an object.

2) You have used transparency or blend mode on certain objects and used PDF export time transparency flattening (either explicit rasterization, or PDF/X-1a:2003 or PDF/X-3, which rasterize transparencies implicitly). 

3) You have placed PDF content to be passed through, but the PDF version of the placed content is lower than that of the exported PDF; or that you have exported to one of the PDF/X-based formats and you have non-PDF/X-based placed PDF content.

Below is a demonstration of the mentioned causes for rasterization:

rasterizations.pdf

Because you mentioned that you principally export to PDF (print), so probably to RGB, the PDF/X-based transparency rasterizations related to CMYK production are not probably relevant in your situation, so I would check the use of FX and adjustments, and PDF version compatibility (in case you have placed PDF content to be passed through).

[toth]

You're right - for some reason several layers are set to passthrough, though I have no idea why. is "erase" still ok to use as a blend mode? That I'm using on purpose, for cutouts.

 

EDIT: After testing, seems erase too is causing rasterisation

[loukash]

21 minutes ago, toth said:

is "erase" still ok to use as a blend mode?

Erase will always rasterize.

[NotMyFault]

Instead of BM erase, use shapes or closed curves and compound layers, and use this as mask

[lacerto]

It is good to understand that Erase blend mode applied to an object will rasterize anything on layers below it, whether the object on which the blend mode is applied covers underlying objects or not. If Erase is used at all, it is normally necessary to restrict its effect by using e.g. clipping or grouping.