Add Mp4 video and exporting it as Interactive PDF

Report · May 02, 2023

Hi everyone,

Although there were many conversations regarding the videos to be added to InDesign PDF, it seems that I still can't get the result I want.

What I would like to accomplish here is to import mp4 video (about 2mins long) to InDesign along with many different images and export the PDF which will be sent out to other people who are going to play it on their desktop/laptops. I would like the video to start playing when the page is loaded and keep looping until it goes to the next page.

Here are the challenges I encounter:

1. When I export PDF with interactive, the other images appear blurred and low quality.

2. When the PDF is open in Acrobat and the video is playing upon the page is loaded, I cannot go to the next page by simply clicking the arrow key. It actually shows it's going to the next page on the side slider but the page stays on the video page. I need to right-click on the video and choose "Disable Content" to go to the other page.

Is there a better way to export and play without losing the quality of other images etc? Thank you for your help!

Report · May 03, 2023

This won't work instead, include a link in your PDF to an external source, such as a Youtube video. Alternatively, use InDesign's Publish Online facility or possibly a FXL ePub.

Report · May 03, 2023

Hi Derek,

Thank you for the tip! I will try that.

Report · May 03, 2023

Movie support in PDF needs Flash. In Acrobat 9 and 10 Flash was included. But Adobe has stopped the use of Flash anywhere. Therefore movies are not supported in any PDF. Use alinkto an external source and do not expect to view movies in Acrobat.

Report · May 03, 2023

Hi Willi,

Thank you! It's good to know we cannot view videos in Acrobat anymore. I will see what else I can do to get the result.

Report · May 03, 2023

Again: not true. PDF can use Apple's QuickTime etc. if you set the preferences correct. I said that many, many times over now. BUT as this is a User Preference you can not be certain your readers set this preference, so I would advice against it.

But Acrobat can and will still play mp4's with the correct preference, so the 'needs Flash' is absolutely not true. Just saying (again) 😉

https://fvdgeest-dtp.blogspot.com/2020/06/interactive-pdf-en-video-en-geluid-na.html

(Dutch)

Report · May 11, 2023

Hi Frans,

Okay, it's getting complicated!! but I will make sure to check the link as well. Thank you for your advice.

Report · May 11, 2023

But as you can't normally control the end-users' Acrobat reader, it's not recommended. It's much safer to include a hyperlink in your PDF to an external source such as a Youtube video.

Report · May 11, 2023

Agreed. That is what I said: it is a user preference, so no guarantee...