Why do fields turn black when using Preview to duplicate or print some pdfs

pdfpreviewprinting

I've come across a PDF form, whose editable fields turn black when, after completing the form, I try to:

  • duplicate
  • move
  • print, or
  • email

the form.

Here's what the form looks like when I download it.
enter image description here

And here's what it looks like when I try to take any of those actions listed above.
enter image description here

Note: I didn't create the PDF, and I don't have (or want) Adobe Acrobat professional on my machine.

Has anyone else seen this before?
(I have a workaround, which I'll share below.)

Best Answer

This is workaround, but it does the trick.

Use the print function to "print" a new version of the completed pdf enter image description here

This seems to restore the grey beneath the filled-in text, like so... enter image description here

Related Question