How to stop images being editable when converting to PowerPoint

Report · Jun 28, 2023

Hi all,

Recently I've been tasked with creating a lot of presentations for clients using InDesign. They like to use PowerPoint to present these, however whenever I use the method of exporting to PDF > open in Acrobat > export to PowerPoint, this will make any text within images editable, as well as body text on the slides. For example some presentations will include images of document covers, with any text on these JPGs of the covers becoming editable upon conversion.

This leads to all sorts of problems with what fonts are installed and Acrobat/PowerPoint substituting them out etc. That and I just don't want the client to be able to edit them! This results in me having to export all slides to JPGs from InDesign and popping them into PowerPoint which is very tedious. It also means if there's any typos/text changes on the slides I have to make them as opposed to my client being able to.

I've had a look through the settings and had a browse online but I can't see an obvious solution to this. I want the body text in the slides to be editable, but not any text within placed imagery. Is there anything I'm missing? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Report · Jun 28, 2023

Your requirements seem to be self-contradicting. On the one hand you don't want the client to be able to edit the texts, but on the other you want them to be able to fix any typos they find... How is that supposed to work?

At any rate, the issue is most likely that Acrobat runs OCR when you're exporting the PDF to PowerPoint. To disable it go to Edit (or the Acrobat app menu on a Mac) - Preferences - Convert from PDF - PowerPoint Presentation and click Edit Settings.
Then tick off the "Run OCR if needed" check-box.

Report · Jun 28, 2023

Hi try67,

Sorry, I appreciate my explanation is a little confusing. I've attached an example of what I mean which hopefully clarifies it a little.

Essentially I want them to be able to edit the body copy and title of any slides I design, but not any text within embedded imagery.

I'll give your solution a go, thank you.

Report · Jun 28, 2023

If they can edit the file's static text then could also edit the images in it (using an image editor via Acrobat). There's no way to restrict one and allow the other.