Export to PDF split layers incorrectly

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 24, 2025
3 replies
255 views

The bug has been present in many versions now (including the newest one).
Exporting InDesign file to interactive PDF breaks and group objects randomly.
Example:
The word "More" (shapes not text) in InDesign is present as one element.
You export the file from InDesign as an interactive PDF.
Open in Illustrator. Release to layers.
"M" is a separate layer. "ore" is a separate layer.
Why? Is there a workaround to have a proper export from InDesign to Illustrator?
If not, can we have a fix in the next update please?
Thank you.

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

PDFs exported from InDesign are not intended to be opened in Illustrator.

Illustrator is not designed as a PDF editor. Only PDFs created in Illustrator with the "Preserve Editing Capabilities" option enabled should be reopened in Illustrator for editing.

InDesign and Illustrator handle PDF structures differently, which is why you're seeing the issue where grouped elements are split into separate layers. This isn't a bug; it's simply how the two programs work.

If you need consistent results for editing, consider keeping your work within one app where possible, or use formats better suited for cross-program workflows.

Hope this clears things up!

leo.r

Community Expert

And do you have the same problem when exporting to normal (print) PDF?

J

Jeffrey_Smith

Community Expert

If there were a direct export to .ai (Illustrator) from Indesign, this might be considered an issue. But the export from Indesign goes through PDF and then converted/opened to Illustrator. IMO, you take what you get with no guarantee that content is replicated with 100% perfect results.

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