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A
Anonymous
January 23, 2026
Question

InDesign dropshadow moves on PNG export

  • January 23, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 78 views

I am having issues exporting from InDesign to PNG when my type layer has a drop shadow applied. I do not believe it's just. a screen redraw issue, because exporting as JPG works fine, but exporting as PNG moves my dropshadow down and away from its proper location. 

 

For confidentiality reasons, I may not be able to post samples of my graphic.

 

(I am at a new job where they build their files in InDesign and have set requirements for export formats, so I can't just go with a different format. I may push for using llustrator vs. InDesign for issues like this, but for now as it's my second day, we are sticking with InDesign as I'm not ready to rock the boat. Yet.)

    1 reply

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 23, 2026

    Before we chase fixes, it’d help to nail down the exact setup, because PNG export + effects can behave very differently depending on version and settings.

    If you’re able to share (no artwork needed), could you confirm:

    InDesign & system

    • InDesign version (e.g. 2024 / 2025 / exact build)

    • OS and version (macOS / Windows)

    • Machine type (Intel vs Apple Silicon, GPU if known)

    • RAM etc.

    Drop shadow details

    • Is the drop shadow applied to:

      • live text

      • a text frame

      • a grouped object

    • Any non-default settings? (X/Y offset, spread, blend mode, opacity)

    • Is the object scaled, rotated, or inside a transformed group?

    • (maybe you can share screen shots of your settings)

    Export settings

    • Export method: File > Export > PNG?

    • Resolution (72 / 144 / 300 ppi)

    • Background: transparent or white

    • Anti-aliasing setting

    • RGB or CMYK document?

    Repro steps

    • Can the shift be reproduced in a brand-new document with:

      • one text frame

      • one drop shadow

      • default export settings?

    The fact that JPG exports correctly but PNG shifts the shadow strongly suggests:

    • a transparency flattening / rasterisation issue, or

    • a long-standing PNG + live effects bug that’s version-specific

    Once we know the version + export settings, we can usually narrow this down fast (and often there is a reliable workaround that doesn’t change formats or upset workflows).

    S
    Simeon!
    January 26, 2026

    I’m seeing the exact same issue and can provide the details you asked for.

     

    InDesign and system

    • InDesign 21.1

    • macOS Sequoia

    • Apple M2 Pro

     

    Object and effect details

    • Drop shadow is applied to a text frame

    • The text itself has a 12 pt text stroke (the text frame has no stroke)

    • Blend mode: Normal

    • Opacity does not change the result (tested 100% and 50%)

    • The object is not scaled, rotated, or inside any transformed group

    • I’m using a drop shadow preset that I use all the time, and it never caused issues before

     

    Export settings

    • File > Export > PNG

    • 72 ppi

    • RGB document

    • Background tested with a solid green background and with alpha

    • Anti-aliasing tested on and off

     

    How to reproduce (important part)

    • In a completely brand-new document, I cannot reproduce it with newly created text + drop shadow. The PNG export looks correct.

    • The issue only appears when I copy the affected text frame from an older existing file into a new document. Then the exported PNG shows the wrong or shifted drop shadow.

    • If I create a fresh new text frame in the new document, the export is fine.

    • I have many template-based files/presets, so manually recreating every text frame is not realistic.

     

    Any ideas what could be “stuck” in the old file/object and how to reset it without rebuilding all text frames?

    I’m seeing the exact same issue and can provide the details you asked for.

     

    InDesign and system

    • InDesign 21.1

    • macOS Sequoia

    • Apple M2 Pro

     

    Object and effect details

    • Drop shadow is applied to a text frame

    • The text itself has a 12 pt text stroke (the text frame has no stroke)

    • Blend mode: Normal

    • Opacity does not change the result (tested 100% and 50%)

    • The object is not scaled, rotated, or inside any transformed group

    • I’m using a drop shadow preset that I use all the time, and it never caused issues before

     

    Export settings

    • File > Export > PNG

    • 72 ppi

    • RGB document

    • Background tested with a solid green background and with alpha

    • Anti-aliasing tested on and off

     

    How to reproduce

    • In a completely brand-new document, I cannot reproduce it with newly created text + drop shadow. The PNG export looks correct.

    • The issue only appears when I copy the affected text frame from an older existing file into a new document. Then the exported PNG shows the wrong or shifted drop shadow.

    • If I create a fresh new text frame in the new document, the export is fine.

    • I have many template-based files/presets, so manually recreating every text frame is not realistic.

    T
    Timothy25434416vgci
    January 26, 2026

    I have the same issue.

     

    InDesign and system

    • InDesign 21.1

    • Windows 11 Pro

    • Dell XPS 15 9530

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