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vancey31007647
Participant
Jan 30, 2026 12:33 AM UTC
Answered

Drop Shadows Export Incorrectly in PNG from InDesign 21.2

Ever since the last updated, drop shadows aren't displaying properly when exporting PNGs from Indesign. There are a couple of threads, but no solutions, It's becoming annoying, as the workaround is to close the app completely and reopen the file. Totally messes the workflow.

    Mike Witherell
    Mike WitherellCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Sep 20, 2026 1:58 PM UTC

    According to release notes for InDesign 21.6, (September 2026) this problem has been fixed.

    Long live the drop shadow!

    Mike Witherell
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    25 replies

    perfect_inspiration3f9c
    Participant
    Oct 8, 2026 8:06 PM UTC

    It has not been fixed for me LOL. 8-10-2026 Adobe InDesign 21.6 updated
     

     

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    nik.m
    Community Manager
    nik.mCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    Sep 21, 2026 5:26 AM UTC

    Hi all, as Mike mentioned, this issue has been fixed in the 21.6 release of InDesign. Please check: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/desktop/whats-new/release-notes.html

    To update InDesign to the latest version, please check: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/apps/manage-apps/creative-cloud-apps/update-creative-cloud-apps-manually.html

     

    Please let us know if you continue to experience the same behavior after updating to version 21.6.

    Thanks,

    Nikunj

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    Mike Witherell
    Community Expert
    Mike WitherellCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Sep 20, 2026 1:58 PM UTC

    According to release notes for InDesign 21.6, (September 2026) this problem has been fixed.

    Long live the drop shadow!

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    Mike Witherell
    HHainstockBB
    Participant
    Aug 14, 2026 10:53 AM UTC

    Still not fixed… (on mac)

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    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    Oct 9, 2026 2:33 PM UTC

    Hello ​@HHainstockBB 

     

    I’m sorry to hear you’re still having trouble with this. Could you confirm the current versions of the OS/InDesign installed, provide a sample file, and share screenshots or a brief screen recording of the problem so we can further assist you?

     

    Looking forward to hearing from you.
    Anubhav

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    tonks_the_auror
    Community Expert
    tonks_the_aurorCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Jun 8, 2026 2:03 AM UTC

    Windows 11, updated to InDesign 21.4 this morning. The drop shadow issue has not been fixed in this version.

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    Pjot
    Pjot
    Participant
    Jun 6, 2026 10:33 AM UTC

    Issue still inside 21.3 on windows :-/

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    Rodney5E36
    Rodney5E36
    Participant
    Apr 2, 2026 8:16 PM UTC

    Same issue.  I was able to resolve it by saving my InDesign doc out as an IDML file.  Then I opened that IDML file and followed the same export… and the PNG export @ 72dpi worked for me.  Hope this works for others.

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    Rodney5E36
    Rodney5E36
    Participant
    Apr 2, 2026 8:38 PM UTC

    FYI - Once I resaved the IDML as a file and made any additional edits in my doc (like moving a box around that had the drop shadow), the issue started all over again on those elements only for future PNG exports @ 72dpi.  I had to resave again as an IDML to solve.

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      Abhishek Rao
      Community Manager
      Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      Mar 9, 2026 5:05 PM UTC

      Hi everyone,

       

      Thanks for reaching out, and I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing this issue. Could you please check this thread and confirm if the behavior, you’re seeing matches what is described there?

      If it appears to be the same issue, a bug has already been logged and the product team is working on a fix.

      I’ll keep you posted here as soon as I have any updates from the team.

       

      Thanks for your patience.

      Abhishek

       

      <Marking the response as correct for better visibility on the thread>

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        Jagubim
        Jagubim
        Participant
        Mar 12, 2026 2:40 PM UTC

        I believe the issue is still on, I need to export as a PDF file and then open on Photoshop to export the correct PNG file. I will follow up everyday here, thanks

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        Jagubim
        Jagubim
        Participant
        Mar 12, 2026 2:47 PM UTC

        On time, maybe it's been said already, but, with JPEG export it's fine. It's a matter of PNG Exporting.

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          prdh67
          Inspiring
          Feb 25, 2026 11:46 PM UTC

          I can confirm this bug in InDesign 21.2 on a mac M4 Max. It can be easily reproduced by creating an object or a text frame with a drop shadow, rotating the object, then moving the object around the page. The drop shadow offset will start moving erratically (it takes between 1-10 moves to trigger it). Once triggered, you can see the correct drop shadow by toggling on Overprint Preview, but with it off, the incorrect drop shadow is shown. If you export to PDF, the correct drop shadow will be in the PDF. If you export to PNG, the incorrect drop shadow is in the export. I have a screen recording that I’m not able to attach here, if needed. 

          This is a significant bug. 

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            SYBILRHODES27
            SYBILRHODES27
            Participant
            Feb 20, 2026 1:56 PM UTC

            Having the same issue with 21.2 build. Even the jpg export does the same thing. Been making screenshots to get by. Maddening!

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