How to embed comments into pdf artwork on a Mac?

[sarahw24278164]

I'm looking for a way to embed comments into a pdf so that they will be visible when I import the pdf into InDesign. I have a workflow that works perfectly on a Windows machine, but I don't know how to do the same thing on a Mac.

I'll describe my Windows workflow below, hopefully someone can help me find a way to achieve the same end result on a Mac.

On Windows:

1. Analyst prints a document (a chart) as pdf
2. Analyst annotates the chart using Acrobat's commenting tools
3. Designer opens the pdf and reprints it to pdf with Document & Markups selected in the settings
4. Designer places the new pdf with the baked-in comments into InDesign, and all the comments are visible.

Note: If I were to skip step 3, then the comments layer would be hidden after I placed it in InDesign.

On Mac?:

1. Analyst prints a document (a chart) as pdf
2. Analyst annotates the chart using Acrobat's commenting tools
3. Designer opens the pdf and...

I know that Mac uses "Save as PDF" instead of "Print to PDF", but I don't know how to do this in a way that will make the annotations visible when I import the artwork into InDesign. Hoping one of you Mac users can help!

[Luke Jennings · Accepted solution]

If you have Acrobat Pro, you can use one of the Preflight fixes to do this, Mac or PC.

[sarahw24278164]

That did the trick, thank you!

[Luke Jennings]

You're welcome.

FYI, you can use the Action wizard to create a one-click action to apply the preflight fix up to one file, or a folder of files.

[gary_sc]

Here is a newer approach:

InDesign CC - Import PDF Comments (October 2018) | Adobe Creative Cloud - YouTube

[sarahw24278164]

That's a really cool feature and will be helpful for incorporating feedback, but it doesn't work for artwork that was created outside of InDesign. I do look forward to using it for revisions though.

[Luke Jennings]

That does look like a useful feature, I'm still on OSX 10.11.6 so I can't update to V14 yet to try it.

Hey Gary, I see you are a glass blower, I visited the Glass Museum in Corning NY earlier this month. Have you ever been there? I highly recommend it. Corning Museum of Glass

[gary_sc]

Hi Luke,

Yes, I've been there several times. In fact, I will be there next June for the next conference of the American Scientific Glassblowing Society. Although I've been retired for 3 years, I do keep (semi) active with the society. I was a scientific glassblower for over 40 years and have been a member of the society and still am for most of that time. Corning NY is a beautiful part of the country.