Illustrator to Indesign Workflow for PDF Export

Question

Hi,

I'm working on a 300+ page book with some fairly large vector graphic vignettes from Illustrator. Many hands are working on these files so we are placing the illustrator files within the Indesign directly. We will eventually export as both a digital file for online viewing, and upload to Blurb for a magazine style book print.

What is the proper export method to prohibit issues from occuring? Is there a way to export so that the PDF does not struggle with all of the Illustrator layer information as you are flipping through the file, or would we have to export a PNG of all the files to place into Indesign prior to printing? I know there have been instances where the linework would disappear and take a while to load when scrolling through pages, etc., or export with black lines behind white linework, etc.

Thanks!

Willi Adelberger · Accepted Answer

When you have Illustrator files save them either as AI or as PDF/X-4 and place them in InDesign.

Why should anyone use PNG files, specific from Illustrator? It makes no sense. The best quality for any print workflow is to use PDF/X-4 or AI (which is technically the same if PDF compatibility it turned on).

If someone whants to publish as an EPUB he should consider to replace the PDFs in InDesign with their SVG counterpart. But this would result in PDF without the ability to be printed in high quality.

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