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InDesign Print Engine has failed

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
October 7, 2025
6 replies
912 views

Hi everyone,

I'm running into a frustrating issue when trying to print directly from Adobe InDesign (v. 16.0-20.3) to our offset press via Presstek RIP. Every time I send a job to the press, the InDesign print dialog initiates the job, but then fails with a "Print Engine Error" message.

Here’s a breakdown of the setup and what I’ve tried so far:

Software: Adobe InDesign 16.0 (this has traditionally worked - anything newer gets the error every time)

RIP software: Presstek RIP

Press: Presstek DI press

Connection type: Network

What I’ve tried:

Restarted InDesign and the RIP software

Verified printer presets and PPDs

Has anyone experienced something similar—especially the Print Engine Error when going directly from InDesign to RIP for offset printing? I’m wondering if this is a compatibility issue, a bad PPD, or something deeper with how the RIP interprets InDesign’s print job.

Any suggestions, troubleshooting tips, or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Print

Correct answer Peter Spier

I'm working with client supplied "press ready" pdfs that I know they are creating in canva. It's not ideal for me to manipulate them in anyway to another format really. Is anyone else having the same issues with Canva pdf files?

You are not the only one reporting errors with Canva PDFs...

So, this brings up the question of why you are bringing the PDF into InDesign in the first place? And you doing some sort of imposition? Does the RIP not communicate direct to Acrobat?

While I agree that exporting PDF and printing that is usually a better workflow, there has been at least one recent post about major problems exporting placed Canva PDF from InDesign and finding missing elements, so I hesitate to recommend that approach in this case.

Any chance the client can supply the assets and let you re-build the file in inDesign?

reproo2773183

Inspiring

I'd try to simplify the Canva pdf before placing into InDesign. Use Acrobat Pro to convert to PDF/X or Outline Fonts or Color Convert, if you have Pitstop they now have a Just make my Canva Work Preflight Profile.

Longer term, I suspect your workflow will break when PDF v2.0 becomes mainstream.

rob day

Community Expert

Hi @tiffanykustwan11 , Does Print Engine failure happen with all documents—if you create a new document with just default fonts and no placed assets do you get the error when printing separations?

T

tiffanykustwan11Author

Known Participant

So to answer this question, it is currently only happening with 1 file. We have to send files using InDesign 2021 because I have tried anyting newer and all files will fail at that point. The attached file is the only one giving me an issue. I have run all different pre-flights and fixes as I have a feeling it has to do with the fact it's a client supplied file that was originally design in Canva. It seems we are having more and more issues with supplied canva files like it is getting harder to work cross platform with adobe/canva. I also tried converting to .eps file and it still won't print out of InDesign.

Any other ideas?

11983_Appeal_Selfmailer.pdf

rob day

Community Expert

it is currently only happening with 1 file.

You might start by looking at the placed assets’ formats. I’m guessing if you opened all the images and resaved them as .PSDs, and resaved any vectors as .AI format in Illustrator, that might be a fix. Avoid EPS if you can.

leo.r

Community Expert

An older thread on the same issue:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/printing-error-the-adobe-print-engine-has-failed-to-output-your-data-due-to-an-unknown-problem/m-p/9319837

leo.r

Community Expert

Adobe's recommendations for this error:

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/error-print-engine-failed-print.html

You can also try these general troubleshooting steps:

https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

T

tiffanykustwan11Author

Known Participant

I have tried all of this and it is still not working.

leo.r

Community Expert

print directly from Adobe InDesign (v. 16.0-20.3)

By @tiffanykustwan11

Try to update InDesign 2025 to its latest version, 20.5 - will it make a difference?

Also, what's your Windows version and how much RAM do you have?

T

tiffanykustwan11Author

Known Participant

Our RIP software doesn't communicate with any Indesign newer than 2021 with any files.

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

I would always recommend to export to PDF first and print from Acrobat. This normally faster and more secure. And Acrobat is more tested against all printer drivers, InDesign is not.

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