SUMMARY Unable to print true vector PDF (i.e., not raster/bitmap images) I have true vector PDFs from which I would like to print some pages, also as true vector PDF (so that selectable text is not converted to bitmaps). Gave up with other viewers based on muPDF, Tried using different PDF printers (Bullzip, PDFCreator). So, I come to try Okular as it is popplar based ... that was my hope. But I am unable to find a place to remove the forced rasterization - see here the option - https://askubuntu.com/questions/1222090/print-pdf-from-okular-without-scaling-down or https://askubuntu.com/questions/1330269/how-to-print-a-pdf-file-to-pdf-including-annotations-and-force-rasterization-fro Besides, I found https://github.com/ocf/projects/issues/79 - printer: enable force rasterization by default (how can this become the default option!!!!) Reread https://docs.kde.org/stable5/en/okular/okular/index.html - only I got was ion https://docs.kde.org/stable5/en/okular/okular/primary-menu-items.html this: Print the currently displayed document. Please take into account that Okular has some specific options for printing PDF which are available via pressing the Options >> button then choosing the PDF Options. Use these options to print your annotations or configure rasterization mode if you have problems with printing some symbols or need to change the scale mode. Note The scale mode options are only available when you check the Force rasterization option. But I am unable to find this Options>> button or where to uncheck "Force rasterization" Looked at PDF backend configuration, but there is no box to uncheck force rasterization .... Filled a question how to get vectorial output - https://discuss.kde.org/t/vectorial-rendering/31678 ---- no reply!! Perhaps the dialogue is missing in windows print dialog ... but I changed standard W11 dialog to legacy UI - https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/activate-legacy-print-dialog-box/579c930b-af44-410b-8bf3-e6678779f80f So, might be I am unable to find it or does it just disappeared the option to print vector PDFs or it is just a windows bug? TIA CT STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. in okular under w11, open a vector pdf (i.e, contains text that is selectable), with three pages for example 2. try to change to non raster mode OBSERVED RESULT No way found alternatively 1. in okular under w11, open a vector pdf (i.e, contains text that is selectable), with three pages for example 2. print first page in non raster mode 3. open printed pdf observed Printed pdf is big and raster only. Text is not selectable EXPECTED RESULT A place to unselect forced rasterization Printed PDFs are vector, small and text selectable SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Windows: 11 23H2 macOS: (available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window) Linux/KDE Plasma: KDE Plasma Version: KDE Frameworks Version: Qt Version: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
It is a current known limitation of okular https://invent.kde.org/graphics/okular/-/blob/master/generators/poppler/generator_pdf.cpp?ref_type=heads#L1532 Patches are absolutely welcome.
In principle, this is fixed by https://invent.kde.org/graphics/okular/-/merge_requests/411 However, by necessity that patch uses the QPainter backend, which is a can of worms of its own.
Peeps, thanks for the information I liked the experience of using okular but I am afraid okular will not solve my chores on the printing thing. QPainter patch has been waiting over three years out of mainstream... And I do not see a compiled windows version available either.... At least, I know I can close my trials searching for removing forced rasterization. Please do expert know what to do with this bug. For me it is a bug, as a feature is missing and not even there is a button on the sw that will let one know this is not available. ... Has been very ilustrative having to go to the code to read and interpret #ifdef Q_OS_WIN // Windows can only print by rasterization, because that is // currently the only way Okular implements printing without using UNIX-specific // tools like 'lpr'. forceRasterize = true; #endif Thanks again! CT