Export to PDF from InDesign

[Kristen Bakken]

Hello, 

I'm having issues exporting to PDF. I just purchased the new M3 max chip and wondering if this is related. I can export to interactive PDF, but not print. A font issue keeps presenting in the background tasks. I deactivated that font and still nothing is working. 

Thanks.

[Steve Werner]

What Mac OS are you running? If you're running Sonoma (might be necessary for new M3 machine), that's the problem. InDesign 2023 and 2024 are not yet compatible with Sonoma. (There are several threads here about that.)

[Kristen Bakken]

I'm running Sonoma with the M3 chip. I'm able to use InDesign, but not export to PDF. Thank you. 

[leo.r]

I wonder if the antique way of exporting to PostScript then distill to PDF will provide a solution for the time being?

[Steve Werner]

The question is whether Acrobat Distiller [the application that does the distilling] can run on Sonoma!

[Steve Werner]

You could also transfer the PostScript to another computer to use Acrobat Distiller.

[Steve Werner]

I'm running a MacBook Pro M1 computer with Ventura 13.6.2. I successfully printed a small multipage file to PostScript file:

Then I could launch Acrobat Distiller and opened the PostScript file and it was successfully save to Adobe PDF.

Not easy but possible

[Steve Werner]

It's certainly is worth trying on an M3 Mac and Sonoma with the same process.

[Kristen Bakken]

I saved to Postscript and then it opened in Illustrator, and only one page. For now, I'll print to an interactive PDF. Thank so much for your help Steve and Leo! 

[leo.r]

I saved to Postscript and then it opened in Illustrator, and only one page. For now, I'll print to an interactive PDF. Thank so much for your help Steve and Leo! 

By Kristen Bakken

You simply need to open your PostScript file in Acrobat Distiller (not Illustrator). Distiller is located in your Adobe Acrobat DC folder (if you don't have Acrobat installed, you can do so from the Creative Cloud app). In Distiller you'll be able to select the same Adobe PDF export options you see in InDesign. Distiller, in theory, should create the desired PDF for you (however, we simlply don't know if you'll run into the same font problem you experience in InDesign until you try the Distiller process). As @Steve Werner said it's certainly worth trying.

[Kristen Bakken]

I've almost gotten this to work, but I'm unable to capture the full page. Where do you spec the page size in Distiller? I used to use this when I worked in magazines and can't remember now. Thanks!

[Steve Werner]

The page size is set when you choose File > Print in InDesign and select PostScript as the printer. Distiller just processes the PostScript into a PDF file.

[Kristen Bakken]

That's what I thought, but it was "grayed out" and I couldn't adjust it. I'll keep trying as this does seem to work (once I can capture the full page size). Thank you!

[leo.r]

The question is whether Acrobat Distiller [the application that does the distilling] can run on Sonoma!

By Steve Werner

Distiller works for me on Sonoma. This doesn't necessarily mean that it will solve the specific issue @Kristen Bakken experiences - but she sure can try.

[Steve Werner]

Here's a thread about Sonoma and InDesign 2024:

InDesign on Sonoma