Transparent/gray checkerboard background in PDFs after macOS Tahoe update

Nach dem Update auf macOS Tahoe (oder auch schon auf macOS Sonoma) kann es vorkommen, dass PDFs im Vorschau-Programm mit einem transparenten/grauen Schachbrettmuster angezeigt werden, obwohl sie eigentlich einen weißen Hintergrund haben sollten. Dies ist ein bekannter Anzeigefehler und hat nichts mit der tatsächlichen Transparenz des Dokuments zu tun. 

Die Lösung

Der Fehler kann in der Regel mit einer einfachen Einstellung in der Vorschau behoben werden. 

1. Beenden Sie Vorschau vollständig (⌘ + Q).
2. Öffnen Sie dann Vorschau erneut.
3. Öffnen Sie ein beliebiges PDF.
4. Klicken Sie in der Menüleiste auf Darstellung > Dokumenthintergrund anzeigen. Stellen Sie sicher, dass die Option deaktiviert ist.
5. Beenden Sie Vorschau erneut (⌘ + Q), um die Änderung zu speichern.
6. Beim nächsten Start von Vorschau sollte das Schachbrettmuster verschwunden sein und der weiße Hintergrund wieder korrekt angezeigt werden. 

Quelle KI

I second a previous comment that I just tried with SUCCESS! I've been having the SAME issue. If you UNCHECK "Show Document Background", you MUST quit Preview, in order for the setting to stick. Once you relaunch Preview, the checkerboard will be replaced by the normal white background. Clearly a bug still, but at least this is an acceptable workaround.

I did uncheck Preview>View>Show document background and the checkerboard was gone next time I opened a transparent pdf

SimonCK wrote:

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/d14fbd40-94eb-41b3-bc77-81b4db561e11

[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: After updated to macOC Tahoe, the PREVIEW is now showing many PDFs with transparent/gray checkerboard background, even a PDF that I created from Excel on the same macOS. Another PDF is now cannot open as unable to verify it is free of malware

Try a different PDFeditor if the general app Preview.app is not interpreting it correctly.

there are many, here are a few examples:

Acrobat Reader / Adobe Acrobat DC

https://get.adobe.com/reader/

PDFpen / Nitro

https://pdfpen.com/pdfpen/

pdfExpert

https://pdfexpert.com/

Master PDF Editor

https://code-industry.net/get-masterpdfeditor/

PDFgear

https://www.pdfgear.com

Both succeeded in opening the Federal Government files and able to retrieve all data, continue updating, save, close and reopen again.

Foxit Reader / Editor

https://www.foxit.com/

Wondershare PDFelement

https://pdf.wondershare.com/

I opened a Word document in LibreOffice 25.8.2 and exported it as a PDF 2.0 document (not PDF/A-4). When I open this document in Preview, the document appears normal. I can even select the View menu > Show Document Background without any effect.

However, when I also select View menu > Show dark appearance for PDF, then the background becomes transparent. Deselecting this setting and Show Document Background does nothing. Toggling these a few times eventually restores the white document background, so I would stay well away from these two View menu items.

Otherwise, I have PDF documents dating back decades that open and display properly in Preview 11 on Tahoe 26.0.

Try opening the same PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader or Chrome, they’ll render white backgrounds normally.

jeepeefrombruxelles wrote:

I don't want to use another PDF software . I'm used to Preview

To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

SimonCK wrote:

I just exported one of my Excel files to PDF format on my Mac, and it is still showing a checkerboard via Preview.

I don't have Microsoft 365/Office/Excel installed to test. Are only PDF's created with Excel exhibiting the problem?

I have the same issue. I tried everything, went to the Brussels Apple Store where they weren't able to help me.

If one of you could help this will be very appreciate.

I don't want to use another PDF software . I'm used to Preview

Thank you guys

jeepee

For what it's worth, I checked 100+ PDF's going back to 2008 and none were transparent. Not in Quick Look, Preview or the Preview panel in the Finder.

Thanks