I am experiencing a reproducible issue in InDesign: A pure vector AI file (barcode) is placed and linked in the document. When exporting the PDF via File → Export using PDF/X-4 or similar, the AI graphic remains fully vector-based. However, when creating a PDF using File → Package → Create PDF with the exact same PDF preset, the AI graphic is rasterized and becomes an image in the resulting PDF. Expected behavior: The AI file should remain vector-based in both export methods when using the same PDF preset. Question: Does the Package → Create PDF function use a different internal export engine or rendering process compared to the standard Export workflow?Is this a known regression in recent InDesign versions?

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tomm92867746

Inspiring

Answered

InDesign 2026 PDF Package Export Rasterizes Illustrator Vector Files (PDF/X-4) on Windows and macOS

Forum|Forum|1 month ago
February 17, 2026
6 replies
172 views

I am experiencing a reproducible issue in InDesign:

A pure vector AI file (barcode) is placed and linked in the document.
When exporting the PDF via File → Export using PDF/X-4 or similar, the AI graphic remains fully vector-based.
However, when creating a PDF using File → Package → Create PDF with the exact same PDF preset, the AI graphic is rasterized and becomes an image in the resulting PDF.

Expected behavior:

The AI file should remain vector-based in both export methods when using the same PDF preset.

Question:

Does the Package → Create PDF function use a different internal export engine or rendering process compared to the standard Export workflow?

Is this a known regression in recent InDesign versions?

Correct answer tomm92867746

@Abhishek Rao Thanks, deleting the preferences resolved the issue.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

I tried the File > Package using your example file (and allowing it to use a similar PDF Preset to make a PDF in the Package) and it worked fine for me. The PDF contained a vector circle. It was not rasterized for me.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Is there any blend-mode happening on that area of the page where the barcode is?

Can you share the barcode.ai file?

Mike Witherell

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tomm92867746Author

Inspiring

@Mike Witherell No, the same happens with the simple test file I uploaded here. It works in INDD 20.5.2, so it must be a bug in INDD 21.2.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Hi Tom,

Does it change anything if you turn ON: “Include fonts and links from hidden and non-printing content”?

Mike Witherell

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tomm92867746Author

Inspiring

@Mike Witherell No, same result. The vector file gets rasterized.

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Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

Can you share screenshots of the the two PDF export options that are in use - your PDF settings for export singularly and also the package screen info where your PDF is being packaged from.

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tomm92867746Author

Inspiring

@Eugene Tyson here you gou ...

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @tomm92867746,

Thanks for sharing the details. I tested this on Illustrator 30.2.1 and InDesign 21.2 on my end, and I wasn’t able to reproduce the rasterization behavior when creating the PDF. To help me look into this further, could you please confirm the exact Illustrator and InDesign versions you’re using along with your OS details? It would also be helpful if you could share an affected sample AI file where this happens, so I can test it with the same setup. Please also let me know if you’re opening the AI file directly in InDesign or placing it, and whether this occurs with all files or only specific ones. If the file is confidential, feel free to share it via DM using any cloud-sharing service like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Looking forward to your update so I can assist you further.

Abhishek

T

tomm92867746Author

Inspiring

Hi @Abhishek Rao ,

Thank you for testing this on your side.

Here are the requested details:

Environment

InDesign version: 21.2
Illustrator version: 30.2.1
Operating System: macOS with Tahoe 26.2
Hardware: Mac Studio Apple M1 Max

Workflow clarification

The AI file is placed in InDesign, not opened directly.
The file is linked normally via File → Place.
The issue does not occur when exporting via File → Export.
The issue only occurs when generating the PDF via File → Package → Create PDF.
The same PDF preset is used in both cases.

Behavior

In the standard export PDF, the placed AI remains a vector object.
In the PDF generated via Package, the same object is rasterized and identified as an image in Acrobat’s inspection.

Reproducibility

The issue occurs with specific AI files that contain pure vector paths.

Please find attached the following files for testing:

The original AI file (pure vector artwork)
The InDesign document (INDD)
PDF exported via File → Export (vector remains intact)
PDF generated via File → Package → Create PDF (vector is rasterized)

Since the PDF preset and document conditions are identical, this suggests that the Package → Create PDF workflow may be using a different internal export process compared to the regular Export function.

Looking forward to your feedback.

Best regards,

Tom

Circle Test export.pdf

Circle Test packed.pdf

Circle Test.indd

Circle.ai

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @tomm92867746,

Thank you for sharing the files and the detailed information. I tested this using the AI, INDD, and the same workflow on my end, but I’m still not able to reproduce the rasterization behavior. In my test, the vector artwork remains intact even when generating the PDF via Package > Create PDF.

To make sure I’m not missing any specific step in your workflow, could you please share a short screen recording showing the exact packaging process, including the PDF preset selection and the final PDF inspection in Acrobat? This will help me confirm that we’re following the exact same steps and isolate where the difference may be occurring.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

BobLevine

Community Expert

What version of InDesign? What operating system?

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