Skip to main content
M
Mrs5FEA
Participating Frequently
November 6, 2022
Answered

Can’t copy paste from Indesign generated PDFs

  • November 6, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 457 views

I work on an annual publication with a colleague. We have just picked up this year's publication and in a difference from previous years to this, once the PDFs have been generated by InDesign, we can't copy and paste from them, something we need to do as part of our production process.  I can activate OCR within the pdf software but then lose all the formatting which my colleague, who works remotely, needs to see.  She says this is only happening with my documents,  She can cut and paste from PDFs also generated through InDesign but for a different publication from a different producer so it appears OCR is working on her Adobe Reader.

could this be an issue that is happening through InDesign, we're trying to find out what's happening so we can fix it. I've not changed or altered anything since previous use and accept it may not even be an InDesign issue but would like to just cover the possibility in a view to solving it. 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Eugene Tyson

Pdf x1a would trigger the transparency flatener which is what is probably rasterising the text.

 

Pdf x4a wouldn't flatten the pdf 

 

Anything with an effect like drop shadow or anything in effects panel, or any image with a transparent background etc.

 

If you have to have pdf x1a then consider putting text on a layer above everything else.

4 replies

Robert at ID-Tasker
Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
November 6, 2022

I'm sorry but I don't understand - so you prepare document in InDesign, then export as PDF and then someone is copying texts from it ? Why are you doing it this way ?

 

M
Mrs5FEAAuthor
Participating Frequently
November 6, 2022

The prompt replies and suggestions are much appreciated. I hesitated to name the software as I felt any other mentioned would be leapt on as the reason for this happening. My point was that it hasn't been an issue before and, to my knowledge, I'm not doing anything different as I have in the past. I have now tried creating the pdf on PDF/X4 setting (was previously doing PDF/X1a) and that seems to be working - as does if I simply plain old export as an Adobe Print file.   I don't profess to be a techie or print expert, just someone who's learnt on the job to transfer paper skills to computer skills.  OCR is something that has seemed to work in the past. Again, I don't profess to understand it! I design a page in Indesign, export using the Adobe Presets (/X1a).  You could rule out the alternative software my end, I could forward it created from InDesign and unopened to my colleague who is opening it in Adobe Reader. IF necessary, which can and does happen, she cuts and pastes from it.

E
Community Expert
Eugene TysonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
November 6, 2022

Pdf x1a would trigger the transparency flatener which is what is probably rasterising the text.

 

Pdf x4a wouldn't flatten the pdf 

 

Anything with an effect like drop shadow or anything in effects panel, or any image with a transparent background etc.

 

If you have to have pdf x1a then consider putting text on a layer above everything else.

M
Mrs5FEAAuthor
Participating Frequently
November 6, 2022

Oh that's brilliant!  Thank you for explaining. Makes total and utter sense.  Thank you so much! Learn something new every day

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 6, 2022

    What does OCR have to do with any of this?

     

    You say "PDF software" but anything besides Acrobat is going to be a crapshoot. While there are some very good PDF applications, there are some really bad ones.

     

    Perhaps if you back up and give us full details on this workflow we might be able to offer some assistance in improving it.

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 6, 2022

    If you're doing OCR then it's likely being rasterised.

    What are your PDF settings?

    Try PDF X4a setting and see if it problem occurs.

    But some info about the workflow and settings in use would be good to have:) 

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices