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Adobe InDesign: Bugs

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  1. Version of Adobe InDesign, InCopy or InDesign Server
  2. Steps to reproduce the issues
  3. Expected result
  4. Actual result
  5. Test file, screenshot, video or GIF capturing the issue (optional)
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544 results found

  1. Variable font: Italic character wrongly displayed when exported to PDF format from InDesign.

    I'm reporting this bug on behalf of the type design studio Dalton Maag. To reproduce: use the provided test font, write the lowercase letter "p" in Indesign, and choose the "Hair Italic" instance, or equivalently, set:
    - the font's weight axis to the minimum,
    - the width to its default value
    - the italic axis to its maximum.

    Glyphs are shown without fault within InDesign itself. However, when exported to PDF format and opened on Acrobat Reader, there is an issue with how the letter “p” is displayed (see aktiv_vf_p_bug.png).

    We are suspecting the issue is caused by a point…

    3 votes

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    The fix for this issue is now available in the latest update of InDesign – version 16.1
    Please update to this version to get the fix.


    Adobe InDesign team

  2. InDesign 2019/2020, PDF export deletes components of some composite CJK glyphs when they overlap

    Install the test font in the attached zip and open the the InDesign document. Exporting to PDF clears out the top part. This did not happen in 2018.

    I initially reported this to Josh Hadley on 23 Jan 2020, who wrote up an internal report and came back to me, saying the InDesign team could reproduce and suggested working around the issue by decomposing everything or diverting the export through PostScript/Distiller. A very large client told us that this is not an option for them and would like a direct fix.

    3 votes

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  3. Tagged and other accessibility features not working properly in v15

    It's not consistent, but a variety of issues often occur when exporting tagged files for 508 compliant PDFs. I often have to backsave to v.14 and all works fine in that. Sometimes I will get a pdf that has artifacts or other elements that have different tags than those assigned in the InDesign file. Sometimes I get urls that won't read on the read aloud function. Sometimes things work fine. It's happened often enough that it seems to warrant attention.

    3 votes

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  4. Color font printing in muted colors in pdf/print

    There are some issues with the rendering/printing of color-fonts (created with Fontself) in InDesign 2020. This looks like a bug because switching from pdf 1.6 to pdf 1.3 and back to 1.6 in the pdf export dialog-box solves the issue. This isn't an option in our InDesign server setup though. Are there any ideas for a workaround?

    3 votes

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  5. indesign inside indesign error CMYK on PDF exporting

    Problem in inDesign v15. Previous versión works fine

    I use huge indesign files (wen name it A) inside a indesign file(we can name it B), is cool feature that optimice our workflow. After update, everythink looks working well but when we exporte print file in PDFx1a Format we experiment problems on RGB->CMYK conversión on images os "A"file, when we export from "B" file. But it work fine if we export on the original "A" source file. Some similar issues are detected, leaving space in white or low, strange white image file as described on attach file.

    Not very sure if…

    3 votes

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  6. Cannot export a PDF to tmp folder

    When I try and export a PDF to the /tmp folder I get the error "Failed to Export the PDF File" with no other information whatsoever.

    Exporting to the desktop worked fine with no issues.

    It does not appear to be file-dependant as I even tried creating a brand new document with a single line of text and exported using one of the presets.

    OS: macOS Mojave (10.14.3)
    ID: InDesign 15.0 & 14.0.3

    3 votes

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  7. Text on path do not export to PDF inDesign 2020

    Text on path with outline do not export, only first letter. Even if I change the font, reimport from idml. Only if changing alignment of outline to exterior is working

    3 votes

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    Under Review  ·  amaarora responded

    Thanks for reporting the issue. We are reviewing it

    -InDesign Team

  8. Can't export page range as pdf

    I'm unable to export a page range from InDesign as a PDF as I have done for decades. I get two options when I choose "range," "All" and "Letter V."

    3 votes

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    4 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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    Did you try selecting (highlighting) “All Pages” and type whatever page range you want to export?
    If you have alternate layouts and you want to export a range of pages from a particular alternate layout, say Letter V, you can also type the page range after putting a colon, like this: Letter V: 2-3.
    This has been the case for many versions and has not changed.


    Adobe InDesign team

  9. Missing Objects in Word pdf printing

    The file prints the banner and logo okay in pdf. But when I place them in Indesign 14.0.3 x64, and print them from there, two objects disappear. I'm also using Windows 7 7601 and latest Suitcase Fusion.

    It seems to happen with pdf files that are exported from Word from my clients.

    3 votes

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  10. export

    My inDesign file won't export to PDF. it says it has an error but no exact details.
    Also when I want to make a package it stops while exporting

    3 votes

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    2 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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    CLOSED  ·  amaarora responded

    To identify the cause of this issue, we had started our investigation with the aim to resolve it. You might have also received email from us seeking more details to help in our investigation.

    We’ve concluded our investigation and came up with the finding : Either the issue is fixed in the latest release of InDesign or the issue was intermittent in nature at the time of its reporting and is not reproducible now.

    We recommend you to upgrade to the latest version of InDesign 2020 (if you’re not already on it). It contains a lot of stability fixes.

    If you still face this issue even after updating to the latest version of InDesign, please submit the crash report to us. (The guidelines to submit crash are available at (https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/submit-crash-reports.html)
    We seek your support in our continual effort to improve InDesign.


    Adobe InDesign Team

  11. Pdf export Doc- Blank Pages NO printing of png. Images - Latest InDesign Version

    Hi
    I believe I am not the first one to experience this terrible frustration, not being able to get a clean Pdf export doc that I send to print. One blank page is coming out of the printer instead of the one with the pics. I use Mojave 10.14.3 and the latest InDesign version. I also unchecked the PrefLight box.
    Anyone can help to sort out that issue?

    3 votes

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    0 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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  12. Tabs in Arabic text move weight declaration to the wrong place

    When placing an Arabic weight statement (e.g. "13g") followed by a tab and a percentage (e.g. "19%"), the weight declaration ("g" or "mg") moves to the percentage when exporting to pdf. Only when setting PDFX/1a:2001 is selected the output is correct. But this setting removes all layers and flattens transparencies so it's not very useful.
    A workaround is to place a space after the tab (so on the left side since this is a right to left language).
    See screen shot in attachment. On top = InDesign file, bottom = pdf created from this file using PDFX/4. The top line…

    3 votes

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    3 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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  13. white overprint with placed INDD

    I stumbled across a strange phenomenon today. I have an INDD file (file 1), which is placed as such in another INDD file (file 2). In this file 1 there is a Swiss cross, which is placed as EPS. If this placed file 1 is exported as PDFX-4, everything looks correct. However, if the file 2 with the placed file 1 is exported as PDFX-4, something strange happens. The Swiss cross disappears in the PDF or the white is set to overprint. However, this is neither stored in file 1 nor in the EPS.

    I have the following
    Option 1:…

    3 votes

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  14. PDF Exporting Issue - Linked EPS wrong color

    When exporting files created w/ Id CC 2018 13.0.1, some linked eps files appear in the PDF in a totally incorrect color. I've tried embedding the files and saving as an interactive PDF, to no avail. This has happened with multiple docs . Given this issue, I'm rendered unable to print any of my projects. Any insight appreciated!

    3 votes

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    0 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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  15. 3 votes

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    5 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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  16. Custom PDF presets erased after update to CC 2018

    I have several saved PDF presets for different clients. All of them had been deleted after upgrading from CC 2017 to 2018. I first thought they were simply not migrated over, but after opening InDesign CC 2017 I noticed they were gone there also! Only the default presets (High-Quality Print, etc.) were showing up in the drop-down menu. I had to go into my TimeMachine update to restore the files.

    3 votes

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    4 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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    Hi Annika

    Could you please go to the following location on your system, and check whether your presets are present on your machine or not:
    /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe PDF/Settings

    Also, is there any other Adobe application that is installed on your system, like Illustrator? If yes, could you please check if your presets are shown in those applications or not.

    Regards
    Anasuiya Gupta

  17. Updated version 21.0.2 features not working

    Version of Adobe InDesign, InCopy or InDesign Server: 21.0.2, updated 12.01.2025
    Steps to reproduce the issues: There are multiple issues occurring.
    1. Open existing file, last saved on 11.03.2025.
    2. App freezes when trying to use any function, e.g. copy/paste, duplicate page. Takes up a few minutes for any function to complete.
    3. When trying to save the file, I have to save as a new file.
    4. When exporting to PDF, does not Use InDesign Document Name as the Output File Name despite being selected. If selecting Range, only allows All Pages in dropdown. Does not export accessibility tags…

    2 votes

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  18. InDesign exports out incorrect pdf document when another InDesign file is open and detached from main panel

    This is a weird bug that I just found. I'm using a Mac and have 3 monitors. The OS and all Adobe products are up to date. I am not using InDesign Beta. I have two separate InDesign files open and the second one is detached from the primary InDesign panel and on the other monitor. I have the primary document selected and go to File > Adobe PDF Presets > Press Quality and somehow InDesign will export out the other document that is not selected and on the other screen. I have recreated this twice with the same result.…

    2 votes

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  19. Output to PDF removes bleed

    Summary: Output to PDF removed bleed

    Details:

    I laid out a book in Indesign using the 'Book' feature, with several similar sections or documents linked as a 'Book'. Each document based on the same original so all had same settings.

    I needed to output to PDF for the printer, Mixam UK. I downloaded the printer's settings, which include: output to single pages, bleed with no marks, with 'use document bleed' checked.

    I had set up the documents in Indesign in spreads with 3mm bleed as usual from the start. When looking at the output settings BEFORE output, I could see…

    2 votes

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  20. the first letter of the heading does not appear in the result.

    Adobe Indesign (19.0 : 20.0) 2024-2025 / Mac os Sequoia 15.0.1
    When using a Text Variable (Running Header ‹Paragraph Style›) and applying it to fully diacritized Arabic text, the first letter of the heading does not appear in the result. This issue arises when exporting to PDF.
    open indesign and Type the fully diacritized Arabic text, Assign paragraph sytle, go to Text variable - Define - New - Running Header «Paragraph Style» - Assign.
    The text is expected to display correctly without errors; however, contrary to this, the first letter of the fully diacritized text does not appear. This issue…

    2 votes

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