Print color composites in Acrobat Pro

Last updated on Jun 7, 2026

Learn how to print all colors together in a single output for proofs or desktop printing.

Use composite printing to print all colors in a PDF together on a single plate. It's commonly used for desktop printing and for creating color or grayscale proofs before final production.

Open a PDF in Acrobat Pro.

Select File > Print. The Print dialog box opens.

Configure your page range and page handling options as needed.

Choose Document and stamps from the Comments & Forms dropdown menu to include all visible content.

Select Advanced from the upper-left. The Advanced Print Setup dialog box opens.

Select Output from the left panel and then choose a composite option from the Color dropdown menu.

Select a preset from the Transparency Flattening dropdown menu to manage the rendering of transparent objects in documents.

Select OK to apply the advanced settings, then select Print in the Print dialog box to print your composite.