Forum Discussion
PDF figures inserted in Word exhibit black background
I am using Word for Mac to prepare a manuscript. I inserted a PDF figure with transparent background, which was created with Adobe Illustrator. It looks fine on my Mac. But when I transfer the document to a Windows computer, the transparent background of the figure becomes black. For other Office softwares, such as PowerPoint, similar issues also happen.
I know if I convert the figure to png format would fix the issue. But I still want to stick on the PDF format since it's vector image and compatible with LaTeX.
Can you figure out why is this happening and how to fix it? Thanks!!
1 Reply
Consider the following as workaround:
1. Convert PDF to EMF (Enhanced Metafile)
• EMF is a vector format supported natively by Windows Office.
• Use Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape to export your figure as .emf.
• Insert the EMF file into Word, it preserves vector quality and avoids black backgrounds.
2. Use SVG Format
• Newer versions of Office (especially Office 365) support SVG.
• Export your figure as .svg from Illustrator.
• Insert into Word, SVG handles transparency well and maintains vector fidelity.
3. Embed PDF as an Object
• In Word (Windows), go to Insert > Object > Adobe Acrobat Document
• This embeds the PDF as a file, not a rendered image, it opens in Acrobat when clicked.
• Not ideal for inline visuals, but avoids rendering issues.
4. Use LaTeX for Final Typesetting
• If your final output is LaTeX-based, consider keeping figures as standalone PDFs and referencing them in LaTeX.
• Use Word only for drafting, and avoid embedding figures directly.
