Changing layer default visibility state is awkward and sometimes does not save
I use Acrobat PRO DC in prepress to switch layer visibility in PDF's that are linked to Illustrator imposition file. Usually I need to change 2-5 layer visibility. The process involves awkwardly too many steps to change a default visibility state of a layer in order for it to be saved. And when trying to save changes sometimes it fails. To correct the issue I usually have to rotate the page CCW and back CW and just then the layer visibility state can be saved. Please look at this as it consumes time and needs too many steps to complete such a simple task.
Eimantas
shared this idea
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John Buonagurio
commented
There is a way of doing this in Preflight, though it's still far more inconvenient than it should be.
1. Select library "Prepress, Color and Transparency"
2. Select single fixups (wrench icon)
3. Expand the "Layers" group
4. Run "Make current layer visibility the default visibility" -
Rob
commented
We need multiple layer selection to simplify editing layer visibility!
I have a similar issue to do with layer visibility but a different use case. I'll describe below:
I've received a bunch of PDFs which I need to use as the basis for a new piece of artwork in Illustrator but before I do they have a lot of unnecessary information on them which could do with cleaning up first. If I open the PDFs in Illustrator the layers become compressed into clipped masks on one layer.
So I've gone through the PDF in Acrobat DC switching off the layers, cleaning up the file ready for me to use only to find that I needed to make that change in each individual layer's properties. My mistake - lesson learnt!
However you could improve this process by enabling the selection of multiple layers at a time. This would make changing properties more efficient for all those layers selected by allowing an end user to switch the default visibility state as a bulk change, rather than the convoluted process that it currently is where you need to open each layer individually.
You could also create a preference setting toggle that retains the layer state visibility between sessions, so that you don't need to redo this when quickly setting the layer state in the layers panel.
Oh another thing .... why does the layer list have to swing back up to the top of the scrollbar when you open and close the damn layer properties window, causing you to lose track of where you're at? It just makes that whole process of editing a long list of layers so much more tedious!
