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johnb78460815
johnb78460815
Participant
January 24, 2019
Question

Saving a 16 bit PDF from InDesign

  • January 24, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 6161 views

Is it possible to output a 16 bit PDF from InDesign?

(I have been asked to supply a 16 bit PDF generated from InDesign!).

My doc is set up with links to 16 bit .psd files (.psd files are 16 bit RGB @ 450 dpi as specified by output provider).

They also insist upon no compression.

Therefore I have created a PDF at:

PDF/X-4 2010 standard

PDF 1.7

450dpi

Not Downsampled

Compression: None

Output: No Color Conversion

Profile Inclusion: Include All

I can't see any options for 16 bit output and it looks as though I'm only getting 8 bit as when I open the PDF in Photoshop it's 8 bit.

Can anyone advise?

Thanks

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

johnb78460815
johnb78460815Author
Participant
January 24, 2019

Hi, The output provider is insisting upon having 16 bit files as they say get a better result from their plotter. I don't believe it myself and have never had to supply 16 bit to any other provider.

They have output from 16 bit TIFFs in the past but I would rather use InDesign to create the artwork.

hammer0909
Community Expert
hammer0909Community Expert
Community Expert
January 24, 2019

I'd have to agree. I could be wrong, but I don't think a plotter has a resolution high enough for 16-bit to make a difference. Plus the files must be huge!

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 24, 2019

    Hi John,

    what you can try is to open your image in the PDF from Acrobat in PhotoShop.

    Now change the image to 16Bit, open the original 16Bit image file with PhotoShop and move the original 16Bit data over to the one opened from Acrobat. Then simply save the opened image from Acrobat. Close the image. Return to Acrobat and check if the image data is 16Bit within the PDF.

    FWIW I did not test this workflow.

    The other workaround you could try (also not tested ):

    Save the original 16Bit image in PhotoShop as PDF and place that PDF with InDesign.

    Best after you checked if the image data remained 16Bit with Acrobat Pro.

    If you find that PDF/X-4 export from InDesign will change the bit-depth to 8Bit try other PDF export settings and convert the exported PDF with Acrobat Pro to PDF/X-4. Hm. I cannot see that PDF/X-4 is only allowing 8Bit data.

    Regards,
    Uwe

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 24, 2019

    I was litreally testing that

    I had a 16 bit image and an 8 bit image on the same page

    I replaced the first image in photoshop - with the 16 bit image

    And left the 8 bit image alone

    Results from the object inspector

    Replaced the 16 bit image and now it's bits/pixel: 64

    Original image bits/pixel:32

    Seems to have desired affect.

    hammer0909
    Community Expert
    hammer0909Community Expert
    Community Expert
    January 24, 2019

    I don’t believe it’s possible to maintain 16-bit image format in a generated PDF file. I’ve never heard of anyone trying to do this and am curious why it’s necessary. Can you provide more details?

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