Inconsistent Color Changes in High-Res PDF Exports from InDesign

1. Is the output color profile the same?
2. Why did you use CMYK images? Use RGB images and convert upon PDF export.

BUT when I export the documents to print as High res PDFs

Hi @SimonHalls , How are you measuring the CMYK values in the exported PDF? Are you using AcrobatPro’s Output Preview panel? Does it happen if you Export to one of the default PDF/X presets with no alterations?

Hi @SimonHalls,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experience. I understand how frustrating it can be to deal with inconsistent color output in your PDFs.

The issue you’re describing could be related to color management settings or possible document corruption. You can try few steps: 

1. Check Color Management Settings:
   - Go to 'Edit' > 'Color Settings' and ensure your settings are consistent with your printing requirements. Make sure that the color profile used in InDesign matches the one used for exporting PDFs.

2. Check Export Settings:
   - When exporting to PDF, review the settings under the 'Output' tab to ensure the color conversion settings are correct. Make sure you are using the right color profile for your output.

3. Ensure that your document color mode is set to CMYK for print. You can check this in 'File' > 'Document Color Mode'.

4. Ensure you’re using the latest version of InDesign as updates often fix bugs related to color and export issues.

5. Clear InDesign Preferences:
   -To do this, hold down 'Ctrl' (Windows) or 'Cmd' (Mac) while launching InDesign and follow the prompts to reset preferences. Reference: Set preferences in Adobe InDesign

If the problem persists, your workaround of copying content into a new document is a good temporary solution, but it shouldn’t be necessary. For further reference, you might find this discussion helpful: Solved: PDF export problem with colour conversion - Adobe Community - 11887701. 

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Best,
Abhishek Rao