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danb38214308
danb38214308
Participant
October 19, 2018
Answered

Exporting a design (11x24) repeatedly generates a PDF covered in solid Cyan

  • October 19, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 245 views

I'm banging my head against a wall trying to figure this one out. My 11" tall by 24" wide document consistently exports to PDF with a sparse few elements above a layer of solid cyan. I can't figure out why this is happening. That's more of what this post is about - trying to understand WHY it's happening.

I created a preset where it doesn't happen, and it seems that the PDF standards and compatibility dropdowns are the hangup, but does anyone know why it matters?

For instance, PDF/X-3:2002 with Acrobat 4 compatibility doesn't trigger the problem, but everything else will make my PDF export solid cyan.

There are some functions (Like, for instance, FusionPro) where I don't get PDF options when it exports, rendering this function useless for this particular document.

Any thoughts?


Dan

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer danb38214308

    Okay folks, so I found out the problem. I still don't know WHY it behaves this way but I figured it out.

    When my PDF exported it was solid Cyan but I realized that the last few objects I brought into the layout were on top of said cyan, and the second page was unaffected. Realizing this, I assumed there was some sort of bogus/funky item borking things up.

    I was right! So looking at the bogus PDF I was able to see that the last placed objects were above this malfunctioning cyan explosion. I went to the layers panel and slowly started peeling back those objects by hiding them, until I found an object I did not recognize. An ominously labeled object called <point>. That's it, just <point>.

    For whatever reason, any Compatibility settings during Export above Acrobat 4 made <point> turn into a Cyanageddon. Once I trashed this feeble, useless, and unwelcome <point>, the PDFs started exporting properly again.

    Now, my question was more of a thinktanky/detectivey thing. What was that <point>, and why do you think it might have been wrecking up my house like Gary Busey on meth?

    2 replies

    danb38214308
    danb38214308AuthorCorrect answer
    Participant
    October 19, 2018

    Okay folks, so I found out the problem. I still don't know WHY it behaves this way but I figured it out.

    When my PDF exported it was solid Cyan but I realized that the last few objects I brought into the layout were on top of said cyan, and the second page was unaffected. Realizing this, I assumed there was some sort of bogus/funky item borking things up.

    I was right! So looking at the bogus PDF I was able to see that the last placed objects were above this malfunctioning cyan explosion. I went to the layers panel and slowly started peeling back those objects by hiding them, until I found an object I did not recognize. An ominously labeled object called <point>. That's it, just <point>.

    For whatever reason, any Compatibility settings during Export above Acrobat 4 made <point> turn into a Cyanageddon. Once I trashed this feeble, useless, and unwelcome <point>, the PDFs started exporting properly again.

    Now, my question was more of a thinktanky/detectivey thing. What was that <point>, and why do you think it might have been wrecking up my house like Gary Busey on meth?

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 19, 2018

    Which version of InDesign and OS?

    PDF/X-4 is the recommended InDesign PDF preset.

    If it continues maybe resetting your InDesign preference will help.

    danb38214308
    danb38214308Author
    Participant
    October 19, 2018

    Windows 10, CC2017

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 19, 2018

    Without seeing the files and screenshots there is zero chance of analyzing the problem. BTW, you're now two full versions of InDesign out of date. Try it with CC2018 or CC2019.

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