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Participating Frequently
September 7, 2024
Answered

Error Exporting from InDesign. PNG Images Become Transparent. Background Shows Through.

  • September 7, 2024
  • 10 replies
  • 827 views

Every time I export my product catalog from InDesign, the images of the products in PNG format appear transparent. The background pattern shows through the bottles. This issue has only started recently. I don’t know what the problem is. Previously, InDesign never had issues with exporting.

What is the problem? Here are some example images showing how the output looks in InDesign and how it appears as a PDF.

 

inDesign:

 

exported PDF:

 


If you have other questions, feel free to ask!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Robert at ID-Tasker

it seems that the latest versions have problems with exporting in PDF/X1-A. I give it a try in PDF/X-4 and everything looks like it should be. 


Yes, PDF/X-4 is the latest standard. 

 

10 replies

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 7, 2024

There exists a PNG with transparency, nothing wrong. 
Better is to export as PDF/X-4, open that in Photoshop and export or save from there with better quality and more options. 

what is the purpose you want to have a PNG?

Participating Frequently
September 7, 2024

I have to export the inDesign file in PDF/X-1A because my printservice wants that. I didn't know that i can open PDF  with Photoshop?

 

I hope you get my issue right. In inDesign is the version it should look like, but when I'm exporting the file in PDF my pictures and the whole layer is transparent. You see the first layer "Background" shines through. 
is there an export issue? And how can I fix this? 

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 7, 2024

@defaultf0tuctem4wxg

 

I'm pretty sure, @Willi Adelberger is talking about steps before - using PDFs/PSDs instead of PNGs - not after.

 

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 7, 2024

What version do you have right now and which versions(s) were OK? 

 

Participating Frequently
September 7, 2024

The newest one. In the last one it works fine.

Should I install the last version?

Do you now what the issue could be?

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 7, 2024
quote

The newest one. In the last one it works fine.

Should I install the last version?

Do you now what the issue could be?


By @defaultf0tuctem4wxg

 

It's best not to use "latest" but operate on precise numbers. 

 

I've no idea what could be wrong - maybe a bug in the latest version. 

 

Have you checked - right now - on the previous version? Or it's just "was OK before"? Maybe your file got corrupted?

 

If you have a job to do - then going back to the last working version would be a right move. Then, if you have more free time - you could do more testing. 

 

If you want to confirm if your file isn't corrupted - try IDMLing - export as IDML, open, save with a new name - do not overwrite your original file.