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Participant
Jul 2, 2026 3:47 AM UTC
Answered

Preflight flagging vector image as low res

I have preflight set to flag images that are below 300dpi.  it works great except for one vector Illustrator file that it keeps flagging.  It’s vector, so it has no resolution?  this is the only vector image file it flags.  here are screenshots of the images, the preflight panel, and the preflight settings.  Why is it flagging this vector file as low res?

    Willi Adelberger
    Willi AdelbergerCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Jul 2, 2026 1:07 PM UTC

    Drop Shadows in InDesign have always a lower resolution than the psi (not dpi settings) In Illustrator is should use the raster effect settings. Rasterized effects are recognized as raster images in InDesign. Die you use the ai file with the current version or did you use an older version? 

    6 replies

    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Community Manager
    Jul 3, 2026 11:04 AM UTC

    Hi ​@mgthomas82,

     

    Thanks for sharing the additional details. Could you please try the suggestions shared by the experts, particularly checking the Document Raster Effects Settings in Illustrator and verifying whether the drop shadow is triggering the Preflight warning? Once you've tested those suggestions, please let us know the results so we can proceed accordingly if the issue persists.

     

    Best, 

    Abhishek

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    Participant
    Jul 4, 2026 11:18 PM UTC

    Yes, the shadow is the issue.  the shapes making up the “laptop” are separate from the shadow which is the “laptop shadow.ai” file.  attached are raster settings.  changing it to 300 altered the way it looks (so will need to do some adjusting).  but thank you all for this insight...knowing the blur is rasterized and not vector makes sense that it’s flagging the preflight.

     

    thank you  everyone!

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    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Willi AdelbergerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Jul 2, 2026 1:07 PM UTC

    Drop Shadows in InDesign have always a lower resolution than the psi (not dpi settings) In Illustrator is should use the raster effect settings. Rasterized effects are recognized as raster images in InDesign. Die you use the ai file with the current version or did you use an older version? 

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    leo.r
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Jul 2, 2026 3:50 AM UTC

    First, what error exactly is shown when you click the preflight errors? Also, does the Illustrator file contain any placed images?

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    Participant
    Jul 2, 2026 4:06 AM UTC

    the error:

    Problem: Color images must be at least 300 ppi

    Effective Resolution: 221 ppi

    Fix: Direct-select the image and use the Object > Transform > Scale command to change the scaling applied. Or edit the source file to correct the resolution problem.

     

     

     

    The Illustrator file contains no images.  We’ve tested the image at all sorts of sizes and it flags it no matter what.  here is a test showing it (the blurry grey shadow below the laptop.  the middle one is the original size.  all get flagged.

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    Brad @ Roaring Mouse
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Jul 2, 2026 4:22 AM UTC

    What are your Rasterize settings in the document? Your drop shadow is probably triggering this. In any case, 221 is more than enough for that purpose. I would just ignore it (prepress guy here)

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