PDF prints garbage

On occasion we have PDF documents that will look fine in the reader, but when printed all the characters turn to garbage. This has happened on three different computers (all Windows XP) and two different printers (both HP laserjets but different models).
Any suggestions on how to correct this? If the document prints out garbage and we reprint (without re-opening or anything) it usually prints fine the second time.
Also, the documents are plain text and are not images. They are typically around 14k in size.
Thanks in advance.

We also have a similar problem printing to a Brother MFC-8860DN Laser on a small home network.
On one Vista32 SP1 PC only, we are unable to correctly print PDF's to the Brother MFC-8860DN, but the same PC does print the same PDF correctly to a Lexmark C510 Colour Laser. This is the same with all PDF files (including ones that used to print correctly).
The problem we are having is that it appears all the writing is printed using symbols and foreign characters and not standard English letters (looks something like a wingdings font). However all the formatting, table outlines and pictures print fine. Choosing print as image from the setup dialog produces the same results.
This started about 2 months ago when we upgraded this PC to Acrobat Reader 8.2 (we have not done the others and they are still ok). We have since uninstalled both acrobat reader and the brother drivers, then re installed the latest versions of both of them.
We have also tried rolling back to an earlier version of Acrobat reader.
We have quite strong virus protection and have done scans with many packages and nothing has been found.
I can send a scan of a printout if it would help anyone track down the issue.
Regards,
Peter.

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Adobe PDF printer 'printing' garbage characters

Acrobat Professional v9.5.0 (Acrobat reports there are no updates available)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
I print from various applications and web pages to my 'Adobe PDF' printer to save things as PDF files.
Over the last several months, I have begun to have issues with printing to my Adobe PDF printer. This issue happened twice just yesterday, actually.
I will be looking at a web page, and choose to print it to PDF (a purchase receipt for example). I supply the filename and choose to print, and Acrobat will bring up the newly created PDF and it will have garbage characters in various places.
If I try printing it to PDF again, I get the same results.
However, if I print the item to Microsoft XPS format, it works just fine and all the characters are readable.
I don't know what to do. I saw an article about embedding the fonts, but it appears that all the standard 'web safe fonts' are already set to be embedded in PDF files via distiller (if that is what is actually doing the printing to create the PDF). If I have to choose more fonts to embed into the PDF, it seems to be extremely difficult to determine what fonts are being used by each site or application and choosing them all manually to be embedded in the files.
Surely there has to be a simpler solution to this issue.

I too had this annoying issue, usually printing from https sites, although the site address may be coincidental.
What worked for me was:
Select Print
In the print dialog box, select Adobe PDF and then Preferences.
In the Printing Preferences dialog box the tab should be Adobe PDF Settings
Uncheck the box next to Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts
Select OK
If the box is already unchecked, it might be caused by something similar. This worked so I went no further. I have not yet checked to see if this must be done each time or how to make it default.

IE9 print to PDF may print garbage

I have Acrobat 9 Pro as my printer and when I print a web page I sometimes get garbage printed in data fields (headings print OK). For example, printing the receiept for IEEE renewal shows all the data fields in garbage characters. Yet my Technet renewal
receipt printed correctly.
I'm using Win 7 Home Premium on a Gateway NV58 notebook.
Is there anyhting I can do to resolve this problem or is it a problem with the web site?

Hi,
Have you tried to the following method?
1.
Open the Printers folder (in Windows Vista) or Devices and Printers folder (in Windows 7).
2.
Right Click the Adobe PDF printer and choose Printing Preferences.
3.
In the Adobe PDF Settings tab, uncheck the option Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts.
4.
Click OK.
For more information, please refer to the following article:
Missing or Garbled Text Printing from IE9 to Adobe PDF Printer
Alex
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Adobe PDF printer not printing past 180 pages random garbage characters

I am in IT and I have a user whose PDF printer will not convert docs to PDF past 180-182 pages. It gives her an error about that place in the doc that says there was nothing selected and that none of it was converted when in reality it converted it all (up to 180-182 pages). On top of this it will place random illegible characters throughout the PDF with no apparent order. We've re-installed Adobe multiple times and updated it.
I've looked everywhere to find an answer so I'm now here.

A print to PDF is an entirely different process than using the Save As Adobe PDF. If you use the Save As PDF or XPS, you are using the MS plugin, not the one from Adobe. The results can vary depending on the preferences selected and such. Usually when the print fails it is due to either AcroTray not running or an error from Distiller (and recorded in the log as long as the log is not turned off). If you have a lot of graphics, the print process can run into memory limitations (usually from the TEMP folder issue) due to the initial conversion to PS that can be huge. The graphics are generally not compressed much until they get into the PDF.
If you are having problems with the print process, the first step is to try a print to file. This process creates a PS file (may have a prn extension). If that file is created, the next step is to open the file in Distiller to create the PDF. If there are errors from Distiller, you will see them at this step. Errors are often related to color settings or fonts that cannot be embedded. Maybe that will give you some things to consider.

With firefox 5.0 printing a "selection" prints garbage. This happens with both my HP and a PDF printer. IE prints the same selection correctly. I use XP on a HP laptop.

When I try to print a "selection" that includes graphics it prints garbage.

Tried that but it made no difference whatever

Photoshop CS3 printing garbage characters on HP LaserJet 1300

After installing CS3, Photoshop prints garbage characters on my HP LaserJet 1300.
Yes, I have tried printing as ASCII, ASCII85, Binary and JPEG - nothing helps (plus the settings won't stick even after holding down Alt and clicking the Remember button).
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tzw - I responded about this on another forum. I talked to technical support at Adobe about this exact issue about 2 months ago - can't print photoshop CS3 on any of my three HP printers. ( I have a HP1200, an HP 2550 and a HP photosmart 7660) (CS2 works fine) They worked with me for about an hour - called me back and worked some more, and then decided to send it up to the programmers (or engineers or whatever) The programmers called me and worked with me for another hour - trying different set-ups etc., but the conclusion by them was that this was a huge problem in that there were a lot of HP printers out there - that they were going to give this their top priority - and that there would be a fix for this soon. (I have yet to see a fix.)

HP OfficeJet 7310 Prints Garbage via D-Link

I have an HP Officejet 7310xi All-in-One: The only way I can use all the functions and have it print correctly is having it directly connected to my computer. But when I connect it (USB) via my D-Link DPR 1260 wireless print server, which is wirelessly connected to my Airport Extreme, it prints garbage at the top of each page -- squishes everything up there, dropping lines.
For example, in MS Word, if I have two tables separated by three lines, the tables print one after the other. If I have various graphics, they squish to the top. This happens with PDF documents also, opened via Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat. In addition, all the text in Excel spreadsheets cascades to the bottom roght of the cells, dropping text out of the cells.
Finally, it allows hardly any of the HP multifunctionality it's supposed to come with.
HP touts this as being a wireless-adaptable printer, so everything should work with my wireless setup. The D-Link is supposed to work with Macs also.
My HP LaserJet 1300 works fine wirelessly with this setup.
I have downloaded and installed all the latest HP drivers. Everything else is updated as well (latest Airport, D-Link etc.) I cycled everything, restarted everything, reset the printers, etc. etc. Spent at least 8 hours total on the phone wiht Apple, HP, and D-Link technicians.
Does anyone have a fix for any of this?
The one issue I've read that MAY be relevant relates to non-ASCII text messages being sent to the PS printers (an Adobe issue maybe?), but I can't find where to fix that with Word documents, if it's even the issue.
I'm aware that there are problems with multifunction printers and Leopard, but I have the latest Tiger.
Any help would be appreciated.

Infinimac wrote:
Finally, it allows hardly any of the HP multifunctionality it's supposed to come with.
This is a limitation of using third party wireless print servers. Most multifunctions will only allow (simple) printing.
HP touts this as being a wireless-adaptable printer, so everything should work with my wireless setup.
I would expect this is the case IF you use the HP wireless adapter for your printer.
The D-Link is supposed to work with Macs also.
My HP LaserJet 1300 works fine wirelessly with this setup.
This would be expected as it is just a printer.
iFelix

Printing Garbage Characters

When a particular user prints a certain PDF the first page, which appears to be a form, prints mostly weird characters with some numbers mixed. If I log into the same machine under my login I can print it fine. My guess is that user has some setting set that is causing this issue. Any thoughts?

My issue wasn't just about the first page; most of my pages printed garbage, only a few printed fine.
I started opening the PDF file in Preview and printing from that. I could add blank pages if I wanted a multi-page document to print some blank pages on the back of my 2-sided copies in Preview (Edit - Add blank page). This works great! I've spent months trying to figure this out. I'm running Mac 10.5.8 OS with an updated version of Reader (also printed garbage) and Acrobat Standard 7.0, which is old, but I need it to make one PDF from multiple PDFs.

HP3015 Printing Garbage Characters

We have had 2 HP3015's that all of a sudden will start printing garbage like ASCII characters. Tried reloading drivers. If we put in HP601 machines instead, the machines function fine. Hospital setting.

My issue wasn't just about the first page; most of my pages printed garbage, only a few printed fine.
I started opening the PDF file in Preview and printing from that. I could add blank pages if I wanted a multi-page document to print some blank pages on the back of my 2-sided copies in Preview (Edit - Add blank page). This works great! I've spent months trying to figure this out. I'm running Mac 10.5.8 OS with an updated version of Reader (also printed garbage) and Acrobat Standard 7.0, which is old, but I need it to make one PDF from multiple PDFs.

DJ 6940 prints garbage in mid-document

I have a user with a DJ 6940 that suddenly will start printing garbage in the middle of a document. It used to do fine for the whole document. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the whole printer, but if anything it works worse. Any ideas aside from replacing the printer? It's connected to Windows XP via USB.

We also have a similar problem printing to a Brother MFC-8860DN Laser on a small home network.
On one Vista32 SP1 PC only, we are unable to correctly print PDF's to the Brother MFC-8860DN, but the same PC does print the same PDF correctly to a Lexmark C510 Colour Laser. This is the same with all PDF files (including ones that used to print correctly).
The problem we are having is that it appears all the writing is printed using symbols and foreign characters and not standard English letters (looks something like a wingdings font). However all the formatting, table outlines and pictures print fine. Choosing print as image from the setup dialog produces the same results.
This started about 2 months ago when we upgraded this PC to Acrobat Reader 8.2 (we have not done the others and they are still ok). We have since uninstalled both acrobat reader and the brother drivers, then re installed the latest versions of both of them.
We have also tried rolling back to an earlier version of Acrobat reader.
We have quite strong virus protection and have done scans with many packages and nothing has been found.
I can send a scan of a printout if it would help anyone track down the issue.
Regards,
Peter.

I recently upgraded to Reader X, using XP SP3, but it prints garbage

I have two printers, an HP j4580 (default) and a Brother mfc-7420 (now gives poor quality after a number of years of satisfactory use). I can usually print a single page PDF but if there are multiple pages, some or all of them print garbage. I have tried unloading and reloading the software without success. I have seen tips for similar issues but none of them address my set-up, for example the j4580 properties does not have a function allowing or not allowing the printer to choose fonts. I have also tried downloading files to disk before printing but this does not make any difference. I have read that versions of Reader prior to X are wide open to malware attack and although I preferred Reader 9 I am not happy about going back to it for this reason. HELP!

In total desperation I went back to 9.4.5 today after reader X gave me complete garbage on a ONE-PAGE document in very simple text only!!
I am still concerned that 9 does not have the answer to hostile hacking and nobody has put my mind at rest about that but I simply have to have a version which actually works and I don't trust smaller companies to have the answer if Adobe doesn't (call me naive).

Printing to PDF– printer offline

I'm trying to print a document to PDF.
In the dock is a printer icon labeled Adobe PDF 8.0 @ My Computer
When I click on the icon a box opens, showing the cue.
It says "Printing '2012 AlumBulletin.indd.'
Looking for printer...
Printer offline.
How do I get the PDF printer back online?
Is there some prefs file to trash and then restart?

Hi, I am having the same problem on multiple computers starting this spring as you reported. I just bought a new win 7 64-bit (happens on 32 bit too) and installed Adobe 9 Pro. First time I used it to print from the web on IE 9 the garbage printing happened. I've started to use other methods of creating PDFs because the Adope PDF printer is too unreliable, sometimes it works, more often it does not. The problem also occurs when printing a PDF of a word document. Fortunately, I can use Word to save in PDF format which does work.
Very Very Aggravating !!

Printing to PDF printer problem

Since April I have been having a problem printing internet documents to a pdf file. When I print bank transaction documents to a PDF printer the form structure prints correctly but the data that goes in the form is all jumbled up in unreadable characters. I just tried to print a Govenment census confirmation to a PDF file using the PDF Printer in Acrobat 9 and it acted like the Bank printing problem. All other printing of PDF documents works fine. I have the latest updates all installed and the problem still is there. This problem did not exist in the first half of March. Any suggestions?

Hi, I am having the same problem on multiple computers starting this spring as you reported. I just bought a new win 7 64-bit (happens on 32 bit too) and installed Adobe 9 Pro. First time I used it to print from the web on IE 9 the garbage printing happened. I've started to use other methods of creating PDFs because the Adope PDF printer is too unreliable, sometimes it works, more often it does not. The problem also occurs when printing a PDF of a word document. Fortunately, I can use Word to save in PDF format which does work.
Very Very Aggravating !!

Canon iR1025if is printing garbage with latest driver. What am I doing wrong?

I have an iMac with OS X 10.9 installed on release day (10/22). Ever since I upgraded I am not able to print "perfect" PDF files from Preview or Skim. Files generated using LaTeX and some special fonts print "garbage" or blanks with a Canon iR1025if.
The printer was working fine under 10.8 and the (then) latest Canon driver. After I upgraded to 10.9, I kept getting errors when I tried to print something, so I uninstalled printer and old driver, installed new driver, and reinstalled the printer (following directions found here in the Apple Support Cummunities). I could then print again, but every time I use some different (math) fonts, such as Arev Sans, it either prints garbage, boxes or blanks instead of the text. See the picture attached. When the PDF is printed under Adobe Acrobat Reader, it comes out exactly as on screen.
Notice that the same PDF on screen is correct, while the printed version is full of garbage. Other fonts generate similar problems.
Any ideas how to fix this? I'd appreciate any help.
malu

Hello MLO_BR,
It looks like you are getting some anomolies when printing from these programs, and mulitple fonts are affected. I would recommend the troubleshooting found in this article named:
Troubleshooting printer issues in OS X
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3147
Follow these steps until the issue is addressed:
Make sure that the printer is powered on, has ink / toner, and that there are no alerts on the printer’s control panel. Note: If you cannot clear an alert on the printer's control panel, stop here and check the printer's documentation or contact the manufacturer for support.
Ensure the printer is properly connected to a USB port on the Mac or AirPort base station / Time Capsule. If the printer is a network-capable printer, make sure that it is properly connected to your home network.
Use Software Update to find and install the latest available updates. If an update is installed, see if the issue persists.
Open the Print & Scan pane or Print & Fax (Snow Leopard) pane in System Preferences.
Delete the affected printer, then add the printer again.
If the issue persists, try these additional steps:
Reset the printing system, then add the printer again.
If the issue still persists, reset the printing system again. Download and install your printer's drivers. Then, add the printer again.
Contact the printer vendor or visit their website for further assistance.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
All the very best,
Sterling

Pdf printer driver install win 8.1

i have uninstalled and reinstalled reader 11 5 times, that is after installing reader 8.1 in cs3. i have searched and tried every option and spent 5 hrs trying to get the pdf printer installed on my new asus with win 8.1. i was able to down load pdf blue and it worded out of the box. but why should i pay another $50 when i already pay adoby for the reader. can any one help me with the fix?

I have read your post several times, but I cannot figure out what your problem is; can you rephrase it?
Also this part does not make any sense to me
cy0179 wrote:
why should i pay another $50 when i already pay adoby for the reader.

PDF prints garbage

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