Cannot export files if a linked image is large

Forum|Forum|23 days ago
June 30, 2026
6 replies
61 views

The new versions of InDesign (21.3–21.4.1) cannot export files if a linked image is large (more than 1 GB tiff). When exporting to PDF, only a gray square appears, and the JPG export is empty. The last working version is 21.2.

D

David3787643819g2Author

Participant

Hi,

I checked a lot of files. The problem only occurs with the files I moved to another drive. The file structure remained the same (D:/Works/Loreal to G:/Works/Loreal). It doesn't update the links when opening the files. The anomaly is that it exports all the small links but not the large one. If I re-link the large image that looks like a valid link, it exports correctly.
InDesign 21.2 has no problems at all.

leo.r

Community Expert

I wonder if the problem lies with the Generative AI preferences again somehow? (I don’t remember in what version exactly they were introduced.) Do you have them unchecked?

D

David3787643819g2Author

Participant

Hi,

Configuration: Windows 11 x64, Intel i5, 64 GB RAM, 8 GB NVIDIA.

I've attached the screenshots.
All of my work involves high-resolution images, so I've stuck with version 21.2.
In one instance, exporting works in version 21.4.1, but I had to convert to IDML format first.
If I just save to the new version and then export, it still doesn't work.

R

rudo123

Inspiring

I had a similar problem, converting a large TIFF to PSB helped.

rob day

Community Expert

Hi @David3787643819g2 , Also, are you linking or embedding the .tif? How much RAM is available, and when you select the image, what is the image’s Effective PPI listed in the Links panel?

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @David3787643819g2,

Thanks for reaching out and sorry to hear you're running into this issue.

I tested this on InDesign 21.4.1 using a large TIFF sample that I created in Photoshop, but I wasn't able to reproduce the behavior on my end.

Could you please confirm your operating system? Also, does this happen with one particular TIFF, a specific set of TIFFs, or all linked TIFF files larger than 1 GB? It would also be helpful to know which application created those TIFF files.

If possible, please share the affected TIFF or a packaged InDesign document containing it by following these steps:
https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/preflighting-files-handoff.html#package_files

If the files are confidential, feel free to send them to me via DM using any public cloud-sharing service such as Google Drive or Dropbox.

Additionally, could you please share:

A screenshot of the PDF export preset/settings you're using.
Whether the issue still occurs after saving the document as IDML, reopening it, and exporting again.

These details will help us investigate the issue further.

Looking forward to your update.

Thanks,
Abhishek