Export highest quality PDF

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
October 10, 2017
3 replies
11518 views

I use inDesign cs6 with Windows 10 to create feature sheets, brochures, etc. I always use high res photos, but for some reason when I export and print them, they don't seem as crisp as on my screen. I've tried printing with my in-house printer (canon c3525) and have ordered printing from a printing company and I feel like my issue might be that it is not exported the best quality. I have it set to maximum quality but was wondering if I need to change the presets? Thanks!

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J

Jeffrey_Smith

Community Expert

Have you checked the resolution of the images in Acrobat?

Have you changed the downsampling resolution in your PDF export setting?

Have you tried the ZIP compression method, instead of JPEG compression when exporting?

jane-e

Community Expert

When you look in your Links panel, are all of the images properly linked? If you aren't certain, resize the panel wider and post a screenshot.

S

stephaniel34570423Author

Participating Frequently

Yes, I've double checked and images are properly linked!

rob day

Community Expert

I always use high res photos, but for some reason when I export and print them, they don't seem as crisp as on my screen....
Anywhere from 564 to 2144

When you export to a default PDF preset your 564-2144 ppi images are being downsampled, usually to 300ppi so there is a loss of resolution.

In addition to the down sampling (which you can turn off): if you are viewing the higher res images at 100% in Photoshop of course they will seem to have more detail because you have zoomed in considerably relative to the print size. A fairer comparison would be viewing at 100% in Acrobat—by default both Acrobat's and InDesign's 100% view is the print output size and not Photoshop's 1:1 image/monitor pixel view.

For example this 600ppi image at 100% in the two apps—InDesign shows the print preview reduction: