Images in editable PDF not showing when emailed

Exactly, this is what I've said since my first reply. It won't open "any special program" and you need to open it in Adobe software.

You have been asking experts a direct question, but I don't think you accept the answer.

This file is an editable announcement that my client should be able to import their own photo and send via email.

I am sending the sample file here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GDr1CRcf5-hoRujihrNtmuS19PdYoL8u/view?usp=sharing​

When I exported the PDF I used the setting "Working RGB - sRGB IEC61966-2.1" under Output.

The photo shows up when opened in Adobe Reader, Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat.

I tried to open this in Preview - and the photo did not appear.

I need the photo to appear when the PDF is emailed and opened on a mobile device.

The end result should be that the client can update the image (and text) and then open on their mobile device.

I really appreciate everyone's input!

I appreciate the tips that everyone is offering - but this isn't resolving my issue.

I can walk through the steps of what I do to create my file - then what I need my client to do:

I create my file in InDesign.

I select File: Export - then save as a simple (high quality print) PDF.

I then open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and add my editable text fields and the image field.

(The client will be clicking and adding their own photo).

In the image field - I use the code

event.target.buttonImportIcon();

in Actions: Select Actions: Run Java Script.

I fill in the PDF with generic text and leave the image field empty.

The End Result:

The client should be able to open my editable file in Adobe Reader, click on the image icon - import their own RGB jpg file.

(This is how I am testing the file).

Then they should save the PDF to their desktop (computer) - and send via email.

When I test this on my own - the editable text shows up great, but the photo is missing.

If I take the same file and drop it into Photoshop, the image appears.

It is just when the PDF is emailed - the photo in the image field disappears.

Is there a way the file can be "flattened" in Adobe Reader?

I need to figure out a way to embed or flatten the file, once edited in Adobe Reader.

Thank you for your help with this! It seems so simple, but I'm sure I am missing a step that would make this work properly.

Viewing PDF forms on a mobile device seems to be the issue, you could add an additional step to flatten the form fields onto the regular pdf content by applying an Acrobat preflight profile to your pdf form. This should fix the mobile or browser viewing issue.

Test Screen Name has provided you with good advice. You can’t rely on non-adobe software to properly render the file. That being said, I’m curious what application created the PDF in the first place. If it was a creative application, the cause could be that the image is in CMYK mode. Web browsers and email clients typically can’t render this color mode. I’d try the following:

• Go back to the source document and change the color mode of the image to RGB and re-create the PDF file.
• If the source application isn’t available, you can also use the Edit tool in Acrobat to open the image in another application and convert to RGB.

I hope that helps.

What you certainly can't do is change the behaviour of email clients (including countless ones you or I never even heard of). PDF forms are not simple, not any more.

That's too big a "just". You cannot rely on non-Adobe software to correctly show fill in forms, still less let them be filled. Have you tested sending the file to Acrobat Reader on mobile?

Make sure the file is taken from the email, and opened in Acrobat Reader. NOT an email app or browser. Yes, it will be hard work to convince your clients this is worthwhile. I don't think forms are a good portable use of PDF. Not any more.

[moved from Adobe Creative Cloud to Creating PDFs]