Hello,

I am trying to export a PDF for print of a brochure I designed in Inkscape. The problem is I have it all looking just the way I want but when I export to PDF some of the objects lose their opacity transparency. Is it possible to export to PDF while retaining this transparency?

-PippyPie

If the loss of opacity is caused by filters (blur is a filter, too), then for export from Inkscape you would need to check 'rasterize filter effects'.
Also make sure to select the highest possible pdf version number.

For serious desktop publishing (with color profiles etc.), also take a look at scribus, an open source DTP program.

Thanks Moini,

I don't think the opacity was changed using filters, I simply used the slide bar right in Inkscape. I've selected the "rasterize filter effects" but that didn't help either. Any other thoughts? I've been goggling but can't find anything and I'm really at wits end

-PippyPie

Can you upload an SVG and a corresponding pdf file, so we can play around with it and try to find out what the issue is?

Hi Moini,

That sounds great. I will send you a PM with the link to the files. Thanks!

-PippyPie

PMs aren't the preferred way, PippyPie - because they limit how many people can help with the issue.
Next time, please just create a separate file that exposes the issue. That way, you don't need to upload copyrighted material, or things you don't want to share for other reasons, but can still get help from everyone.

That said, I'll take a look now.

Some notes:

- You can get the file size down considerably by using a pattern or even clones for the brochure back. From the first ungroup, I get > 21000 objects, which could be reduced to a single one, improving editing and pdf render speed massively, and probably almost halving the file size (the bitmap images seem to make up the major part, though).
- Clips are known to cause problems when exporting to pdf. If possible, I would try to avoid using those when intending to export to pdf (at least in the current Inkscape version).

Test result:
When I save your file to pdf from Inkscape 0.91, I get a pdf that looks correct (without having made any of the suggested edits).

I'm not sure what causes this difference . I'm on Linux Mint, 64bit.

Does it look correct if you do File -> print -> print to file -> pdf?

A workaround could be to just change the color of the objects to a blue-ish gold tone, flattening their transparency.

OK sorry about that Moini. I will post here directly next time.

Regarding the file size/brochure back, I think that would be a HUGE help. I actually received this file originally from a graphic designer who had made it in Illustrator so I've been working with what I got and being forced to learn Inkscape along the way. Regarding using a pattern or clones...Is this something that is easy to do? Or do you have any link where I can read up on it?

I don't seem to have the same option to file->print-> print to file-> pdf? I can select a box on the print dialog to print to file, but then there is no pdf option. I tried printing to Microsoft Print to PDF and it still creates the same problem. I'm using 64bit Windows 10 if that matters.

As a last resort I can try your workaround. It's just frustrating Any other thoughts?

Thanks again,

-PippyPie

The printing dialog is probably your system's one, so that may explain why it looks different for each of us. It seems to me you found the option I meant, though.

As for 'Object to Pattern', here's a nice tutorial:
http://www.silent9.com/blog/archives/14 ... scape.html
Manual section: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... s-Patterns

For using 'Tiled clones' to create a pattern, you can look here:
https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/r ... -cms-20284
http://verysimpledesigns.com/vectors/in ... terns.html
(using clones will avoid a rendering issue - namely a tiny gap between tiles of a pattern - which needs some expertise to work around)

I'd suggest you create a second file where you can learn how to deal with the clones / pattern creation. This will make editing and playing around with the options faster.

Thank you Moini

Hi Moini,

Just wanted to give a quick update. I tried installing Inkscape on a Mac that I own and saving to pdf but it's still having the same problem

The search for a solution continues!

-PippyPie

One more thing I just realized that might be a clue...the swirls on the back cover page don't have their opacity changed at all! And yet when saved to a PDF they suddenly become very dark....Any thoughts on that?

-PippyPie

Here is a link to relevant files if anybody else would like to try to solve the issue: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6trmla93vz46wmd/AAC0158xABbsftlvQAC_Xf_5a?dl=0

The PNG should be what the expected result is. The PDF is what is happening. And the SVG is the original file.

-PippyPie

Looking at it at the first time.
Lots of unnecessary clipping and repeating could be covered by patterns.
I'd estimate it could be reproduced in an 1 MB svg.
Let's see.


Edit:
No, not this time. Bailing out.

Probably the known issue in certain versions of cairo (the graphics library Inkscape uses for PDF export), as tracked for Inkscape here:

• Bug #1258265 “transparency lost in pdf export of groups with clip-path= property”