How do I flatten my files?

You can flatten your files using Adobe Acrobat Pro or Photoshop. Files created on Adobe InDesign or Illustrator cannot be flattened directly on said platforms and therefore will need to be converted to a PDF first before uploading to Photoshop or Acrobat Pro.

Photoshop method:
1. Open the PDF file*
2. Make sure the layer is unlocked
3. Right-click on the layer and select “Flatten Image”
4. Select “Save As” to save as a Photoshop PDF. Color mode should be CMYK and at 300 dpi.
*If your files were created directly on Photoshop, skip step 1 and simply use the “Flatten Image” feature directly on your layers.

Adobe Acrobat Pro method:
1. Make sure you have a backup file of your PDF
2. Locate Print Production (under the Advanced dropdown or in the Tools tab depending on your version of Acrobat)
3. Select the Flattener Preview
4. If needed, adjust the Raster/Vector balance. If you choose a balance of 1-99, you will need to deselect the “Clip Complex Regions” box.
5. Check the “Convert All Text to Outlines” box
6. Click “Apply” to flatten the PDF & close the Flattener Preview

All versions of Acrobat may vary. If these instructions do not help, look up your version number and the steps online for the most accurate results.