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Known Participant
December 5, 2016
Answered

Publish Online and vector graphics

  • December 5, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 696 views

Why are vector graphics converted to bitmap when using Publish Online through InDesign?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Steve Werner

    Because you're creating HTML 5, CSS and JavaScript when you using Publish Online. It's the same as when you make an EPUB. The only web vector format I know of is SVG and InDesign (currently) doesn't support SVG.

    2 replies

    Community Expert
    October 20, 2021

    Hi Vector Ninja,

    you replied to a thread from December 2016.

    Steve's answer was the correct one back then for the InDesign versions that were available at that time.

     

    The good news:

    InDesign 2020 and 2021 do support placing SVG files.

     

    So if you want to see vector graphics in your Publish Online project place SVG files.

    But do not use "live" font information there; convert text to outlines.

     

    If you need a print-based workflow as well best store two versions of your InDesign document.

    One for print with perhaps CMYK based vector graphics in PDF or AI format.

    Another one with the SVG files placed where you always have something like sRGB as color in the vector graphics.

     

    The bad news:

    InDesign 2021 is still not able to convert placed PDFs, AIs, WMFs, EPSs vector graphics to SVG when exporting to Publish Online. It is also not able to convert its own native vector objects like graphic lines and graphic frames and so on to SVG when exporting to Publish Online.

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    Steve WernerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    December 5, 2016

    Because you're creating HTML 5, CSS and JavaScript when you using Publish Online. It's the same as when you make an EPUB. The only web vector format I know of is SVG and InDesign (currently) doesn't support SVG.

    Known Participant
    December 5, 2016

    Thanks for the reply, Steve. That is what I figured but I wanted to confirm. It seems odd that InDesign doesn't support SVG. Oh well, we can hope!