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Export a flattened PDF (without layers) from InDesign?

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
August 24, 2016
5 replies
49699 views

My printer has requested a flattened PDF for printing so there is no layer confusion. They explained to me that I will need to open each page and flatten it in Adobe Acrobat. Is there a way I can just export it from InDesign with these settings? As far as I can see the PDF gives you layers options, but it doesn't give you an option to flatten layers.

Thank you for any help.

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Correct answer Barb Binder

Yes. Uncheck Create Acrobat Layers on export.

A

Atom Man

New Participant

I too am having this issue with exporting a PDF without the layers being visible and editable.

I have tried with and without the "Create Acrobat Layers' being checked. I have also tried each option of Acrobat version.

However, when I export it and try to open the PDF in something like Affinity Publisher', the layers are still there and editable!

Any help would be much appreciated as it's driving me crazy!

BobLevine

Adobe Expert

The only thing the export supports is Acrobat Pro or Reader. If you're messing around with other applications, all bets are off. That said, this discussion dates back more than 6 years. If you want specific help on this, please start a new discussion with full details including screenshots.

donm19934319

New Participant

36 yrs in printing...I worked for one printer 25 years........PDFx1A........ then call the prepress dept...... and talk to the manager or computer tech, upload a file and ask them to check it. that simple 25 years and customers just would not call!!!

good luck

D

default0cmt1n60ejx2

New Participant

Please help. I have tried absolutely everything to get a flattened, no transparency, no layers PDF uploaded to Amazon KDP and I have literally been doing it for two weeks. Was on the phone with KDP in India as he walked me through the process. Thought we got it, finally, but no - still error. What in the world can I do? The document is huge, 306.1 mb, and has pictures on each page. I've spoken with Adobe tech support and did what they suggested: Open the file in Chrome browser and print to pdf. That will flatten the heck out of any layers or transparency. KDP still says there are layers. Help.

BobLevine

Adobe Expert

Use PDF/X1-a

Barb BinderCorrect answer

Adobe Expert

Yes. Uncheck Create Acrobat Layers on export.

cdschlenkerAuthor

New Participant

Does the "Compatibility" have to be "Acrobat 6 (PDF 1.5)" for this to work? I ask because with I have it toggled to Acrobat 5, the option for create Acrobat Layers is greyed out. I have never had this option checked previously; however I was exporting with the Acrobat 5 compatibility, not the Acrobat 6.

Barb Binder

Adobe Expert

Layer support began at 6. Acrobat 5 didn't support layers, so the option is always unchecked, and not an issue.

MW Design

Inspiring

I don't believe any of the PDF/X type of PDFs allow Layers and are therefore flattened as regards Layers. They also may mean transparency gets flattened and at that point, PDF/X-4 is out if you have any transparency in the file or a linked file.

Mike

cdschlenkerAuthor

New Participant

I do have transparency in my layers, so I am not sure this will be the solution for my process. That is valuable information to know however.

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