Exporting PNGs with Transparency - Weird Lines on First Import, Fine on Second

Question

Hey folks,

When I export these files, they often have weird lines on them the first time I export them. The second time - they're fine. I can't put my finger on what is going on.

Here are the images:

Lines examples

No lines examples

Here are my settings:

Transparency blend mode: RGB

Quality: Maximum or High (doesn't seem to make a difference)
Resolution: 300 ppi

Colour space: RGB

Checked: transparent background

Checked: Anti-alias (is it this??)

On Windows 10, Indesign v 15.1.2 (I'll update soon, but this has happened across multiple verisons).

Let me know if you need any more info! Thanks

Avairion · Accepted Answer

Can you share one of the pages and its placed assets via Dropbox or your CC account?

So I'm starting to notice a pattern. If I have 3 versions of the image (say, for uncommon, rare, and very rare rarities), the first time the image is exported as a png (i.e. for the 'uncommon' version) it has the lines. The 2nd and 3rd times it does not have the lines, the transparency renders correctly.

To test this, perhaps duplicate the page in the indesign file I sent you. Then when you export tham all as spreads, you'll see what I mean (unless the error is at my end).

Vi Hastings · Answer

Avairion, you had it right. InDesign is having issues exporting content that contains pngs with transparency, but this only happens 1) the first time you export pngs after opening the file, and 3) only on the first of the pages you choose to export (whether you export a single page, or a range). So my three workarounds are:

A. Export your art as jpgs (*cries in lossy compression*), or

B. Have a blank page at the beginning of the InD file and export that along with your artwork, then throw it out, or

C. Export any page as a png, then throw that out and export your art for real. (If you don't want to mess up your file preview with a blank page).

I tested this about twenty different ways, and it doesn't have anything to do with anti-aliasing or any other export settings as far as I can tell--only the conditions above (which I might never have figured out without Avairion's observations) It's 2024 and I'm working with InDesign 2025 (Version 20.0.1) on Windows. For funsies, here's the artwork I was having issues exporting:

With lines (first export to png after opening file)

Without lines (second time exporting to png, with the same exact page, export settings, and range of pages exported)

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