Embedded PDF Partially Cut Off when Exportting

[Heather Ritchey]

My InDesign file has 19 pages of another PDF embedded into it, but for some reason, elements of this one specific page are being cut off when exporting to PDF/X-1a:2001. I have to export using this Adobe preset by request of the book printer. As you can see from the screenshots, it doesn't appear in the ID file, only in PDF. It also doesn't seem to be affecting the page as a whole, but rather elements on the page. I have checked for hidden objects in the ID file that might be covering the embedded PDF, but there doesn't seem to be anything. Running ID 2023.

[leo.r]

Which version exactly of InDesign 2023?

[Heather Ritchey]

18.5

[leo.r]

InDesign 18.4 introduced multiple PDF export problems. Some of the known issues were fixed in 18.5 but not all. Some new issues are still being discovered. This may or may not have anything to do with your issue. Try to revert to 18.3 - will you still have the problem? You can do this from Creative Cloud app:

[Heather Ritchey]

No, this didn't seem to solve it, unfortunately.

[Willi Adelberger]

1. When you import/place PDFs into InDesign use PDF/X-4, the output can be whatever the printer requires. 
2. Never embed placed images, as it is the course of a variety of problems and damaged files afterwards up to destroyed INDD files.
3. Are the PDF boxes correct defined? If not, correct them in Acrobat Pro Preflight Tools. 

[Heather Ritchey]

1. How do you select this import setting?

3. Would the definition of the PDF boxes be in the PDF, then, and not the ID file?

[Willi Adelberger]

1. Is to define frame the creator.

3. in Acrobat, not in InDesign

4. Did you select the option when you imported the PDFs and select the bleed?

[Heather Ritchey]

I don't see that option when I import, nor do I understand what you mean with #1. I am also not viewing the PDF in Acrobat, but in Mac's preview, so I don't believe that is the issue. 

I re-placed the document into my indesign file and adjusted the crop selection to include the whole page, and now it is cutting off a different section of the text than before.

[leo.r]

Do you see the same in Acrobat (in Reader if you don't have the full version)? It can be a Preview issue.

[Heather Ritchey]

Yes, it appears in Acrobat as well.

[leo.r]

You mentioned that you have "19 pages of another PDF embedded into it". Is the PDF actually indeed embedded - or linked? Embedding, while inadvisable, still shouldn't cause the problem you're having. Still, if the PDF is embedded, try to link it instead (assuming you have the original PDF). If so, will it make a difference?

[Heather Ritchey]

I've tried both embedding and linking, and neither seems to resolve the issue. Might it make any difference to re-save the PDF I am including in the ID file?

[leo.r]

I've tried both embedding and linking, and neither seems to resolve the issue. Might it make any difference to re-save the PDF I am including in the ID file?

By @Heather Ritchey

I think it's worth trying. It's not clear yet why you're having this issue.

[Heather Ritchey]

I tried making a small edit to the PDF in Acrobat and saving it as a new file, still having the issue. 

[leo.r]

I tried making a small edit to the PDF in Acrobat and saving it as a new file, still having the issue. 

By @Heather Ritchey

Well frankly I'm not sure why you're having this issue.

As far as I understand it only happens with one particular element. So if you don't want to waste anymore time on trying to understand why it happens, then you can do something like this:

Save the PDF page as a hi-res image, crop the image to the problematic box, place the image in InDesign (and, of course, crop the respective portion of the placed PDF in InDesign to hide the problematic box).