Flattening PDFs for Certain Brands Printer: A Complete Guide for Mac and Windows Users

If you’ve ever tried printing a PDF on your Brother printer and encountered the dreaded “unsupported” error, you know how frustrating it can be. This error often occurs because the printer requires a “flattened” PDF — a version of the document that has been simplified into a single layer. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you how to flatten a PDF on both Mac and Windows, delve deeper into the concept of layers in PDF documents, explore the history of PDF printing, provide insights into Brother’s brand history, and compare different printers for home use.

Understanding Layers in PDF Documents

To understand why some printers require flattened PDFs, it helps to understand what layers in a PDF document are and why they can be problematic.

What Are Layers in a PDF?

A PDF (Portable Document Format) is a versatile file format that can contain various types of content, including text, images, graphics, annotations, and interactive elements like forms and hyperlinks. When you look at a PDF, you see a single, unified document, but under the hood, a PDF can be composed of multiple “layers.”

Think of layers in a PDF as similar to layers in graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop. Each layer can contain different types of content that are stacked on top of one another. For example, one layer might contain the background image, another might contain text, and yet another could include interactive elements or annotations.

Layers allow for greater flexibility and functionality. You can hide or display certain layers, edit them individually, or add interactive elements such as buttons and forms. This feature is especially useful for designers and professionals who need to create complex documents that maintain their layout and functionality across different devices and platforms.

What’s Inside the Layers?

Layers in a PDF document can contain a wide variety of elements, such as:

1. Text Layers: These include all textual content in the document. Text layers can vary by font, size, style, and color and may also contain hyperlinks or interactive elements.
2. Image Layers: These layers hold all images in the document, whether they are photographs, graphics, logos, or other visual elements. Image layers can be transparent, contain different resolutions, and have varying compression settings.
3. Graphics Layers: These can include vector graphics like lines, shapes, and drawings. Vector graphics are resolution-independent, meaning they can be scaled up or down without losing quality.
4. Annotation Layers: These are layers that include notes, comments, highlights, and other markup elements added to the document.
5. Interactive Layers: PDFs can contain forms, buttons, and other elements that the user can interact with. These layers can contain JavaScript code that performs actions when the user interacts with them.
6. Transparency Layers: These layers contain information about transparency and blending modes used to merge different elements together. They are particularly useful for overlaying images or text without a solid background.
7. Embedded Font Layers: PDFs often contain embedded fonts to ensure that text appears as intended, regardless of whether the reader has the font installed. These fonts are included in a separate layer and can add complexity to the document.

Why Do Layers Cause Issues for Printers?

The concept of layers makes PDFs flexible and powerful, but it can also make them more complicated for printers to handle. Here’s why:

1. Complexity and Processing Power: Printers, especially more affordable or older models like many Brother printers, have limited processing power and memory. When a printer receives a PDF with multiple layers, it must interpret and render each layer correctly to produce the intended output. This process can be challenging and time-consuming, causing errors or even causing the printer to reject the file.
2. Transparency and Blending Issues: Transparency layers can be especially problematic. If a PDF contains transparent elements, the printer must calculate how these elements blend with other layers beneath them. Not all printers are equipped to handle these calculations, which can result in unexpected print results or errors.
3. Embedded Fonts and Graphics: Some printers struggle to render PDFs with embedded fonts and high-resolution graphics. The printer must recognize the font, understand its size and style, and then render it properly on the page. If the printer doesn’t have the capability to interpret these elements, it may display errors or fail to print.
4. Annotations and Interactive Elements: Annotations, interactive forms, and JavaScript can create additional challenges for printers that are designed primarily for basic text and image output. These elements need to be flattened or removed to ensure compatibility.

Flattening a PDF on Mac Using Command Line

Knowing the reasons why flattening is necessary, let’s explore how to do it on a Mac using the Ghostscript tool.

Step 1: Install Ghostscript

If you haven’t already installed Ghostscript, use Homebrew to install it:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
brew install ghostscript

Step 2: Use Ghostscript to Flatten the PDF

To flatten your PDF, run:

gs -o output.pdf -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dPDFSETTINGS=/prepress -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH input.pdf

Explanation of Options:

• -o output.pdf: Specifies the output file name.
• -sDEVICE=pdfwrite: Sets the output device to PDF.
• -dPDFSETTINGS=/prepress: Uses prepress settings, flattening transparency and preserving high quality.
• -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4: Forces the output to PDF version 1.4, which does not support transparency.
• -dNOPAUSE, -dQUIET, and -dBATCH: These options ensure the command runs smoothly without interruptions.

Flattening a PDF on Windows

For Windows users, tools like Adobe Acrobat, PDF24 Creator, or PDF-XChange Editor can flatten PDFs with ease. These tools provide graphical interfaces that make the flattening process more straightforward.

For Windows, tools like Adobe Acrobat and free alternatives like PDF24 Creator provide user-friendly ways to flatten PDFs. Follow these steps for the most common tools:

Using Adobe Acrobat

1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
2. Go to Print (Ctrl + P).
3. Select Adobe PDF as the printer.
4. Check Print As Image.
5. Save the flattened PDF.

Using PDF24 Creator

1. Download PDF24 Creator.
2. Open your PDF in PDF24 Creator.
3. Use the Flatten PDF tool.
4. Save the file.

The Evolution of PDF Printing

The Portable Document Format (PDF) was introduced by Adobe in 1993 as a way to share documents across different platforms while preserving their layout, fonts, and graphics. The need for a universal file format arose in the early ’90s, when different word processors and design tools produced documents that often lost their formatting when opened on another machine.

The early days of PDF were challenging for users and printers alike. The format was initially complex and required specialized software to view or print. Adobe Acrobat Reader, released alongside the PDF, was one of the few tools that could correctly interpret these files. Early printers struggled with PDFs because they were not designed to handle complex vector graphics, multiple layers, and embedded fonts that were commonplace in these files.

As PDF usage grew, printer manufacturers began incorporating support for the format directly into their devices. However, not all printers were created equal, and some, like many Brother models, required flattened PDFs—versions of the document that had been simplified to remove complex elements such as transparency layers, advanced fonts, and interactive elements. This requirement persists in some printers today due to limitations in processing power and memory.

Why Do Some Printers Only Support Flattened PDFs?

As we discussed, the complexity of PDF layers can make printing a challenge. By flattening the PDF, all layers are merged into a single, simplified image. This reduces the amount of processing the printer has to perform, increasing the likelihood that the document will print correctly.

A Brief History of Brother: From Sewing Machines to Printers

Brother Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational electronics and electrical equipment company founded in 1908 as Yasui Sewing Machine Co. Originally a manufacturer of sewing machines, Brother expanded its product line over the decades to include typewriters, knitting machines, and later, printers, fax machines, and other office equipment.

Brother is well-known for its innovation and commitment to quality, particularly in the field of printing technology. In the 1970s, Brother began producing dot matrix printers, and by the 1980s, they had entered the laser printer market. Today, Brother offers a wide range of printers designed for home, small office, and enterprise use, focusing on reliability, affordability, and ease of use.

One reason Brother printers often require flattened PDFs is their design philosophy centered on simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Many Brother models are built to be reliable and affordable, targeting home users and small businesses. As a result, they may not include the more advanced processing capabilities found in higher-end printers that can handle complex PDF files with multiple layers and advanced graphics.

Comparing Home Printers: What to Consider

When choosing a printer for home use, consider the following:

Brother:

• Strengths: Reliable, affordable, easy to use, cost-effective toner replacement.
• Weaknesses: Limited support for complex PDFs, fewer high-end features.
• Best For: Home users, small businesses looking for a budget-friendly and reliable printer.

HP (Hewlett-Packard):

• Strengths: Wide range of models, good color printing quality, support for mobile printing.
• Weaknesses: Higher cost of replacement ink, potential issues with third-party cartridges.
• Best For: Home offices, users who need high-quality color prints.

Canon:

• Strengths: Excellent photo printing quality, durable printers, good range of features.
• Weaknesses: Slightly more expensive, higher running costs due to ink prices.
• Best For: Photography enthusiasts, users who need high-resolution color prints.

Epson:

• Strengths: High-quality color printing, eco-friendly refillable ink tank options (EcoTank models).
• Weaknesses: Slower print speeds, initial higher cost for some models.
• Best For: Environmentally conscious users, those who print large volumes.

Lexmark:

• Strengths: Fast printing speeds, good for monochrome documents, high duty cycle.
• Weaknesses: Higher initial cost, not ideal for high-quality color printing.
• Best For: Offices with high-volume black and white printing needs.

Conclusion

Understanding the layers in PDF documents helps explain why flattening is necessary for certain printers, including many models from Brother. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure your PDFs are compatible and ready to print, whether you’re using a Mac or a Windows PC. We also explored the history of PDF printing, the reasons behind flattening requirements, and compared various home printer options to help you make the best choice for your needs.

With this knowledge, you can navigate any PDF printing challenges with confidence, ensuring your documents are always ready for print!