Placed vector graphics show as low-resolution previews on export of book to pdf
In InDesign 14.0.2 on macOS 10.14.6, when an InDesign indd file containing placed vector graphics (PDF or Illustrator files) is part of an InDesign book, and the entire book is exported to PDF, some graphics in the PDF show as low-resolution previews.
Steps to reproduce the issue:
Create two or more InDesign files with placed vector PDFs, and save and close them.
Add these InDesign files to an InDesign Book file.
Export the Book as a PDF.
Expected result:
Placed vector PDFs show as vector graphics in the exported PDF.
Actual result:
Some placed vector PDFs show as low-resolution previews in the exported PDF.
See attached file. Note that in the PDF the bar chart on the second page is a low-resolution preview, even though the file is correctly linked in the source InDesign file. This PDF export was made from the InDesign book file with both InDesign files closed.
Rhiannon Miller
shared this idea
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C
commented
This just started happening in ID 2023 on Ventura. Did not happen when I last exported a book in the exact same fashion 4 weeks ago.
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Gunther
commented
Some additional informations (I started the forum thread at hilfdirselbst.ch Uwe Laubender mentiones): Meanwhile I've made a complete de- and new installation of all Adobe CC apps, that didn't change anything, the bug remains. There is some strange behaviour of Indesign: depending on what file I choose as style source in the book panel, the exported PDF changes: always in the file that I choose as style source the .ai file is exported perfectly, in all the other book files the .ai files are exported as low-res bitmaps.
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Uwe Laubender
commented
We also have a case discussed at Adobe InDesign forum at hilfdirselbst.ch:
Indesign PDF-Export: bei Buchdatei wird AI-Grafik als Rastergrafik ausgegeben
tpf, 26. Jan 2022, 22:49https://www.hilfdirselbst.ch/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=582372#582372
Version of InDesign is 16.4.0 on WIndows 10. I think, that the issue must be tied to the installation, the system or some specific factors on the specific machine. I tested some files of the OP on my Windows laptop and had no issues at all.
Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( ACP ) -
Kenneth C Benson
commented
Update: When I save my .indd files to .idml, open them and save them in Indesign 2019 (14.0.3), make a book file in ID 2019, I can export the entire 300 page book (with about 75 placed .ai vectors) with no issue.
So there is a workaround, but it's really hard migrating all my files back two versions.
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Kenneth C Benson
commented
I'm getting the same thing. Pure vector .ai files placed in an Indesign file export to PDF perfectly when I export individual .indd files to PDF. But when I combine them in a book and export the whole thing, most (but not all) of my graphics are reduced to 72ppi bitmaps. I asked about this on the ID forum (https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/pdf-made-from-book-file-ruins-illustrator-graphics/td-p/12438224) but haven't gotten any answers yet. I'd love to know the workaround (besides exporting individually and combining with Acrobat, which is what I'm doing now).
I'm on Windows 10, OS build 19043.1237 (latest, I think) running ID 16.4 x64 (also latest, I think). All graphics in all chapters are found (i.e., not missing) and updated. That said, this looks exactly as if ID couldn't find my graphics and substituted a low-res proxy.
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kevin
commented
This also just started when I upgraded a few weeks ago. Exporting documents individually works fine, but when exporting all 20 docs with book, vector images are bitmapped and unreadable.