When emailing a PDF booklet created through InDesign, one QR code is repeatedly showing up blank

Forum|Forum|13 days ago
February 10, 2026
3 replies
47 views

I use InDesign to create our church bulletins each week, and we include several images and QR codes (not generated by InDesign, but imported as images). After I complete and edit everything, I created a “print booklet” and email it to our office administrator. But beginning in January, we have had trouble with a single QR code. It shows up on my computer, but when I email it to her all of a sudden the file shows a white circle where the QR code used to be. All of the other images appear to be fine.

I have tried re-placing the QR code, generating a new QR code and placing the new image, embedding the image. None of it seems to work.

What’s going on and how do I fix it?

cpcbulletinstaffAuthor

Participating Frequently

Well, I managed to solve my issue. The QR code had a blue box behind it, so I deleted that box and recreated the exact same thing. Now it’s printing and emailing just fine. I still have no idea what went wrong or why that worked to fix it, but I’m glad it’s resolved!

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

When you say it shows up on the computer, do you mean in the PDF?

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

cpcbulletinstaffAuthor

Participating Frequently

Yes - after I create the print booklet PDF, I can open the PDF on my own computer and see the image. But as soon as I email it, it disappears from the attached file and shows only a white circle for the person who I am sending it to.

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

What application is used to view it.

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

I create also our weekly church bulletin. I had the same problem. I export a print PDF and a version as interactive PDF. I create the QR code in InDesign. Then it happens that the QR was invisible in the printed version.

I made the code as interactive button, so PC users need not to use the handy to read the QR code.

My error was, that the button was set for Acrobat to be visible on screen, but not on print. After realising what I did wrong, I changed the visibility to both states and it worked fine.

Maybe that it is also your problem?

cpcbulletinstaffAuthor

Participating Frequently

I’m trying to figure out how to check this setting, but I’m not sure where to look...

cpcbulletinstaffAuthor

Participating Frequently

Okay, I finally found in InDesign the image’s Attributes panel and “nonprinting” is NOT checked.

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