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desicore.creative
desicore.creative
Participant
February 4, 2018
Question

Difference between Print and Export as a Print PDF

  • February 4, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 7580 views

Hi guys,

I'm just started using inDesign. Earlier I used Illustrator for every job required printing (I know it's not necesserly the best tool for that). I'm wondering what is exatly the difference between Print as an Adobe PDF for the press and Export as a Print PDF. Do I have the same result? As far as I checked, those two options have different setting for saving a pdf for press.

Thank you in advance for your help!

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Steve WernerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 4, 2018

Here's a good article I wrote some time ago that explains the difference:

https://indesignsecrets.com/creating-pdf-export-or-use-distiller.php

mbrch
mbrch
Participating Frequently
November 15, 2019

Hi !

I contacted Adobe support theother day about a color management question when printing on desktop printer from Indesign on windows.

I have been advised to convert document to PDF through Print > Adobe PDF instead of export to PDF.

I actually got much accurate color management through this process. I tried to get more explanation from support, but was not really precise.

What do you think about this ? Did you notice this issue ?

jane-e
Community Expert
jane-eCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 4, 2018

Export will also keep various live features. In Acrobat, when you go to File > Properties, it will say it was created using InDesign.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Derek CrossCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 4, 2018

And, to add to Bob‘s excellent advice, unless you’ve been given a spec, use the InDesign preset High Quailty Print for a desktop inkjet printer and PDF/X-4 for commercial litho printing..

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 4, 2018

Short answer: Export is far superior. Supports transparency and color management. Distilled PDFs are very archaic and there is zero reason to use them.

There's a ton of information out there. Just google "distilled vs exported pdf indesign"

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